Ann Booth — A British Convert's Vision of the Martyred Apostle David W. Patten Baptizing John Wesley in the Spirit World (March 12, 1840)

Ann Booth, a recent convert in Manchester, England, received a remarkable vision on March 12, 1840, in which she saw the martyred Apostle David W. Patten appear as a heavenly messenger to baptize John Wesley and other departed spirits in the spirit world. Her vision is one of the most extraordinary angelic visitation accounts in early Church history and played a role in the development of the doctrine of baptism for the dead.

Ann Booth was the wife of Robert Booth of Manchester, England. She had been a Methodist before joining the Church, and many of her departed loved ones — her grandfather, an uncle, a sister, and her mother — had lived and died as Methodists. Her concern for their salvation was deep.

On March 12, 1840, Ann Booth was "carried away in a vision to the Place of departed spirits." In the vision, she saw twelve prisons, one above another, very large and built of solid stone. Arriving at the door of the uppermost prison, she beheld "one of the 12 apostles of the Lamb who had been martyred in America" standing at the door of the prison, holding a key in his hand with which he unlocked the door and went in. She followed him.

The apostolic messenger appeared "of large size, thick set, dark hair, dark eyes, and eyebrows of a smiling countenance, and on his head was a crown of gold or something brighter. He was dressed in a long, white robe, with the sleeves plaited from the shoulder down to the hand. Upon his breast were four stars apparently like gold or brighter, and a golden girdle about his loins. His feet were bare from above the ankles downward and his hands were also bare."

As the angelic apostle entered the prison, "he seemed to stand about 3 feet from the floor (which was of Marble) as if the place was not worthy for him to stand upon. A very brilliant and glorious light surrounded him, while the rest of the prison was dark. But his light was peculiar to himself and did not reflect upon others who were in the prison who were surrounded with a gloom of darkness."

Inside the prison, John Wesley — the founder of Methodism — greeted the angelic messenger with a shout of praise and announced to those surrounding him: "Deliverance has Come!" With the attention of the entire assembly, the Apostle (whom Ann Booth identified as David W. Patten, one of the Twelve who had been martyred in Missouri in 1838) proceeded to preach baptism and confirmation. Hearing the good news, hundreds followed Wesley's lead in shouting praise.

Then "the marble floor was removed and a River of water clear as Crystal seemed to flow in its place." Patten and Wesley entered the pool together, and the father of Methodism was the first to be baptized. Then Patten ordained Wesley to the Aaronic Priesthood, and Wesley baptized the rest of the prisoners — including Ann Booth's grandfather, uncle, sister, and mother, all of whom had lived and died as Methodists. Following their baptisms, Patten confirmed them members of the Church and bestowed the gift of the Holy Ghost. "Then instantly the darkness dispersed and they were all surrounded and enveloped in a Brilliant light, such as surrounded the Apostle at the first."

The vision concluded with a brief reunion between Ann and her departed loved ones. Her grandfather blessed her and asked: "Art thou come to see us delivered?" Then her mother embraced her, kissed her three times, and offered a blessing: "The Lord Almighty Bless thee for ever and ever."

Remarkably, Ann Booth testified that at the time she had the vision, she had never heard of the death of David W. Patten. She said: "At the time I had the vision I had never heard of the death of David Patten, whom I have since learned was one of the twelve Apostles of the Latter day Saints in America and was martyred in the late persecution in the fall of 1838. But in the vision I knew it was an Apostle who had been slain in America."

When she awoke, she roused her husband and together they "providentially" opened the Bible three times, each time discovering a passage related to her revelation: Isaiah 24:22 ("they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit...after many days shall they be visited"), John 1:5 ("the light shineth in darkness"), and 1 Peter 3:18–20 (Christ preaching to the spirits in prison).

Ann Booth's vision is remarkable as an angelic visitation and conversion-era witness for several reasons:

— A martyred apostle appeared as a heavenly messenger. David W. Patten, who had been killed in the Battle of Crooked River in 1838, appeared in glory — with a crown, white robe, golden girdle, and four stars on his breast — to administer the gospel in the spirit world. This is a powerful witness that those who die in the faith continue their ministry beyond the veil.

— The convert had no prior knowledge of the messenger. Ann Booth did not know Patten had been killed, yet she accurately identified him as an apostle martyred in America. This is a powerful confirmation that the vision was genuine and not a product of her own knowledge.

— The vision prepared the Saints for the doctrine of baptism for the dead. Joseph Smith himself referenced Ann Booth's vision in his October 5, 1840 sermon on baptism for the dead, using it to articulate truth (the dead may receive the gospel) and to correct error (spirits cannot be baptized but depend on vicarious ordinances). Her vision helped awaken interest in the redemption of the dead among the early Saints.

— The scriptural confirmations were providential. When she opened the Bible three times with her husband, each passage she found — Isaiah 24:22, John 1:5, and 1 Peter 3:18–20 — directly related to her vision of spirits in prison being visited by light.

Ann Booth's vision stands as a powerful witness that the Lord reveals His work of salvation to faithful converts, that martyred apostles continue their ministry beyond the veil, and that the Lord prepares His people for new doctrines through visions and angelic ministrants.