Jabez Woodard's Vision of the Bursting Veil over Italy

On February 24, 1851, while Jabez Woodard and his companions were in the Valleé de Luserne, Piedmont, Italy, preparing to baptize two young men, they journeyed toward the Angrogna River. Despite the inclement weather of rain and snow, which made the atmosphere dense and visibility poor, a remarkable event occurred. As they descended, the clouds suddenly rent asunder as if they were a sheet of paper, instantly revealing the side of Mount Brigham from top to bottom. Woodard, struck by the grandeur of the scene, spontaneously exclaimed, 'The veil over Italy has burst,' even though he noted that at the instant of speaking, he did not understand the meaning of his own words. He stood paralyzed by the magnificent view before offering a prayer to Israel's God and proceeding to perform the baptisms. That evening, Woodard attempted to preach to a gathered congregation, but he felt the devil had gained a firm hold on some attendees who were actively resisting the truth. The influence was so deadening and defiling that Woodard ceased preaching and sat down, allowing the less-committed individuals to leave. When only the 'good grain' remained, he resumed his sermon, and the power of God rested upon the congregation, moving many to tears. The following day, he baptized ten additional persons, who expressed profound faith in their new covenant, with some remarking on their hope for the resurrection and their unity in spirit despite their poverty.

Fuller account of this event (in the witness’s own words):

On the twenty-fourth of February, two young men presented themselves for baptism. It rained and snowed amain, and the atmosphere was so dense that we could not see distinctly a little way ahead. But as we descended towards the Angrogna river, a singular scene was presented: the clouds were suddenly rent asunder, as if they had been a sheet of paper, and the side of Mount Brigham was visible, in a moment, from the top to the bottom. I exclaimed, 'The veil over Italy has burst,' and yet, at the instant, I knew not what I was saying. I stood paralyzed with the magnificent views which opened on every side; then with a prayer to Israel's God, we entered the stream. In the evening I attempted to preach, but the devil had gained such a hold upon some of the congregation, that I felt it was like casting pearls before swine. I ceased speaking, and sat down; the less-committed portion of the audience left, and when the good grain remained, the power of God rested upon us, and many were moved to tears. The next day I baptized ten persons, who expressed the most profound faith in the new covenant; some of them spoke of the resurrection with such hope, and of their unity in spirit, notwithstanding their poverty, that I felt truly to rejoice in the work of the Lord.