Joseph Holbrook Receives an Open Vision of Countless Solar Systems and Endless Creations While Mowing in His Field

In the summer of 1845, Joseph Holbrook was mowing hay alone on the prairie about ten miles from Nauvoo. He had been wrestling in his mind with the doctrine of celestial marriage — he believed it was revealed of God through Joseph Smith, but struggled to fully understand it.

Then, without warning, a heavenly vision overtook him:

'All at once a sensation came over me that I could see worlds upon worlds and systems upon systems and endless eternity of them that no man could number. For thousands of solar systems like unto the one that our earth forms a part seemed to pass before me in quick succession. And I marveled at the power of which all these systems moved in so much harmony for there were systems upon systems moving in their orbit as harmonious as our earth with other planets move in their orbits around the grand center of our system and as space was endless so were the creations of God endless in point of time or duration.'

And then a voice: 'All this is brought about by the revelation I have revealed to my servant, Joseph Smith, and there is an endless exaltation to man if he will so receive it. Amen and Amen.'

He recorded: 'When I came to myself, I was standing in my [field] with the hull of my scythe on the ground which I had been mowing, as though nothing had happened. From that time to the present time, there had been no doubt in my mind' about the fullness of the everlasting covenant.

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

In the summer of 1845 I was mowing hay on the prairie about ten miles from Nauvoo. I had been reflecting on the principle of celestial marriage and had been trying to get a testimony for myself whether it was of God or not. I had been told that it was revealed through Joseph Smith but I wanted to know for myself. All at once a sensation came over me that I could see worlds upon worlds and systems upon systems and endless eternity of them that no man could number. For thousands of solar systems like unto the one that our earth forms a part seemed to pass before me in quick succession. And I marveled at the power of which all these systems moved in so much harmony for there were systems upon systems moving in their orbit as harmonious as our earth with other planets move in their orbits around the grand center of our system and as space was endless so were the creations of God endless in point of time or duration. And a voice said to me, 'All this is brought about by the revelation I have revealed to my servant, Joseph Smith, and there is an endless exaltation to man if he will so receive it. Amen and Amen.' When I came to myself, I was standing in my field with the handle of my scythe on the ground which I had been mowing, as though nothing had happened. From that time to the present time, there has been no doubt in my mind that with regard to those who embrace the fullness of the new and everlasting covenant.