Visions

Zerah Pulsipher Visits Wife in Vision After Her Death

1820s · 1815
Vermont, home of Zerah Pulsipher
Zerah Pulsipher, his deceased wife Polly/Mary Randell

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After the death of his first wife Polly (or Mary Randell), Zerah Pulsipher experienced profound grief regarding her spiritual condition. As he recorded: 'After the death of my wife (Polly or Mary Randell) I had some anxiety about her state and condition, consequently in answer to my desires in a few weeks she came to me in vision and appearing natural looked pleasant as she ever did and sat by my side and assisted me in singing a hymn - beginning thus: "That glorious day is drawing nigh when Zions Light Shall Shine."' This heavenly visitation provided immense comfort to the grieving widower. Zerah observed: 'This she did with a seeming composure. This vision took away all the anxiety of my mind concerning her in as much as she seemed to enjoy herself well. This hymn which she introduced and sang with me applied to the great work of the last dispensation of the fullness of times.' Zerah noted the prophetic significance of this visitation: 'This transpired about ten years before Joseph Smith had discovered the first revelation of the work of the last days.' He concluded: 'My mind became calm as respecting her condition in the spirit world.' This miraculous visitation from beyond the veil reassured Zerah of his wife's wellbeing and became a testimony to him of the reality of the spirit world and continuing relationships after death.

In Their Own Words

“"After the death of my wife (Polly or Mary Randell) I had some anxiety about her state and condition, consequently in answer to my desires in a few weeks she came to me in vision and appearing natural looked pleasant as she ever did and sat by my side and assisted me in singing a hymn – beginning thus: 'That glorious day is drawing nigh when Zions Light Shall Shine.' This she did with a seeming composure. This vision took away all the anxiety of my mind concerning her in as much as she seemed to enjoy herself well. This hymn which she introduced and sang with me applied to the great work of the last dispensation of the fullness of times. This transpired about ten years before Joseph Smith had discovered the first revelation of the work of the last days. My mind became calm as respecting her condition in the spirit world."”

— Zerah Pulsipher, in his autobiography, recounting how his deceased wife came to him in vision in Vermont, about ten years before the Restoration, and sang with him a hymn of the last dispensation

Sources & References

Zerah Pulsipher, Autobiography (c. 1803-1862), Typescript, HBLL (Brigham Young University Harold B. Lee Library) ; Zerah Pulsipher, Autobiography (c. 1803-1862), as published on Doctrine and Covenants Central, https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/history/zerah-pulsipher/

Miracles of the Restoration
A collection of faith-affirming accounts from the Restoration era to the present day.