Vision of Sister's Heavenly Light and the Glory of God
Published October 5, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
In July 1884, while serving as a missionary in the British Mission, Elder Thomas Waddoups encountered a sister in Coventry who had been suffering from severe attacks of consumption. One day that July, feeling compelled by her illness to rest, the sister entered a state of sleep or vision. In this experience, she found herself standing on the threshold of her own home, engaged in a conversation about the Gospel with Elder Waddoups. Suddenly, she was struck by the appearance of a heavenly light, the brightness of which exceeded that of the sun; it was of indescribable and matchless splendor. As she gazed upon it with wonder, the light seemed to open, and a voice spoke to both her and Elder Waddoups, proclaiming, 'That is the Glory of God!' Upon awakening and reflecting on the experience, the sister realized she had not yet been baptized by immersion. She discussed the significance of the vision with Elder Waddoups, who confirmed its meaning, and she proceeded to be baptized the following week.
In Their Own Words
“I have been a great sufferer for some time past with what the doctors call consumption, and have been confined to my bed for weeks together. One day of July, while suffering from one of the aforesaid attacks, I felt compelled to rest, and while wrapped in the folds of sleep, I thought I was standing on the threshold of my home, conversing on the Gospel with Brother Waddoups, when all to my surprise I beheld a most heavenly light, the brightness of which exceeded that of the sun; it was of indescribable and matchless splendor. While gazing upon it with wonder and surprise, it, as it were, opened, and to my astonishment a voice said to Elder Waddoups and me, 'That is the Glory of God!' I awoke, and the impression made upon my mind was so powerful that I could not rest until I had seen Brother Waddoups and told him of my dream. I asked him what it meant, and he told me it was a manifestation of the power of God, and that I had not yet been baptized by immersion for the remission of my sins, and that the Lord was calling me to repentance. I felt the truth of his words, and the following week I was baptized, and I can truly say that I feel a different person, and I know that the Lord has heard my prayers and is blessing me.”
— A sister in Coventry, The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), 18 February 1884 (Vol. 46, No. 7). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1884-02-18_46_7 (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high) Additional sources (periodical research): Church History Biographical Database, Thomas Waddoups (1850–1934), Person PER-0ZTRV9B. https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/chd/individual/thomas-waddoups-1850?lang=eng Full first-person account: The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 46, No. 7 (18 February 1884), p. 107 https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1884-02-18_46_7 Full first-person account: The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 46, No. 7 (18 February 1884), p. 107 https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1884-02-18_46_7
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