Andrew C. Nelson's Dream: His Father Appears from the Spirit World and Describes Preaching the Gospel Beyond the Veil (1891)

Andrew C. Nelson — paternal grandfather of President Russell M. Nelson — recorded in his journal one of the most detailed accounts of a visitation from the spirit world in Latter-day Saint family history.

His father, Mads Peter Nielsen (later Nelson), an early Danish convert and pioneer of Redmond, Sanpete County, Utah, died on January 27, 1891. A.C., away at school in Salt Lake City, could not reach the family before his father passed, and mourned him deeply.

On the night of April 6, 1891, he recorded: "I had a strange dream or vision in which I saw and conversed with my father who died January 27, 1891." His father came and sat on the side of the bed. He told his son that three days after his death he had received his commission to preach the gospel in the spirit world, and that ever since he had been traveling and laboring with Apostle Erastus Snow. He described the great work being accomplished there, and the many spirits "anxiously looking forth to their friends, who are still living, to administer for them in the Temples." When A.C. said the family intended to go to the temple and be sealed to him, his father answered: "That, my son, is partly what I came to see you about. We will yet make a family and live throughout Eternity."

President Russell M. Nelson has shared this account from his family history as a witness of the reality of the spirit world and of the sealing power that unites families beyond the grave. The experience has blessed the Nelson family for generations.

Fuller account of this event (as retold in The questions President Nelson’s grandfather asked a visitor from the spirit world, and their surprising answers - LDS Living):

When my Grandfather A. C. Nelson was a young husband and father, just 27 years old, his father died. Then, about three months later, his father, now deceased, came to visit him. The date of that visit was the night of April 6, 1891. Grandfather Nelson was so impressed by his father’s visit that he wrote the experience in his own journal for his family and his friends. And thanks to your encouragement, I took his journal entry and created this document and made copies of this document for every member of the family. ‘What have you been doing since you died, Father?’ ‘I’ve been traveling together with Apostle Erastus Snow ever since I died. That is, since three days after I died. I received my commission to preach the gospel. You cannot imagine, my son, how many spirits there are in the spirit world that have not yet received the gospel. But many are receiving it, and a great work is being accomplished. Many are anxiously looking forth to their friends, who are still living, to administer for them in the temples.’ Grandfather Nelson then asked, ‘Father, we intend to go to the temple and get sealed to you as soon as my school is closed.’ His father answered, ‘That, my son, is partly what I came to see you about. We will yet make a family and live throughout eternity.’