Visions of Prophet Brigham Young and Others in Salt Lake Temple

A choir member identified as Brother A—, Junior, witnessed a series of visions during the dedication services of the Salt Lake Temple on April 17, 1893. He saw a bright light appear above Apostle George Q. Cannon's head during the dedicatory prayer, which eventually revealed the face and personage of Brigham Young. He then witnessed several other personages, including Hyrum Smith and Orson Pratt, totaling approximately twenty-four personages throughout the day.

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

A few moments after the Apostle began to read a scale seemed to fall from my eyes, and a bright light appeared above his head and from behind his shoulders upwards. This light remained in that position for some moments and then raised until I could see the face of a personage in the midst of it. It was the countenance of President Brigham Young. He looked upon the congregation with a benign and pleasant expression. He was dressed in his temple robes. I saw him as plainly as I ever saw him in life. He remained in that position for some time and then faded away. I then saw another personage appear in the same light. It was Hyrum Smith. He also looked upon the congregation with a pleasant expression. He was also dressed in his temple robes. He remained for some time and then faded away. I then saw another personage appear in the same light. It was Orson Pratt. He also looked upon the congregation with a pleasant expression. He was also dressed in his temple robes. He remained for some time and then faded away. I saw in all about twenty-four personages. They appeared one after another. I saw them as plainly as I ever saw any person in my life. I felt that I was in the presence of the Lord and His servants. I felt that the house was filled with the presence of the Lord. I felt that the veil was thin and that the spirits of the departed were present. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the dedication of the house. I felt that the Lord had accepted the house. I felt that the Lord was present by His Spirit and by the presence of His servants who had passed behind the veil. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the work that had been done. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the people who had gathered to dedicate the house. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the efforts that had been made to build the house. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the sacrifices that had been made to build the house. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the faith that had been manifested by the people. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the prayers that had been offered for the building of the house. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the devotion that had been shown by the people. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the love that had been manifested by the people. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the unity that had been manifested by the people. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the people. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the occasion. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the dedication. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the services. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the day. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the work. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the temple. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the Church. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the kingdom of God. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the gospel. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the truth. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the light. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the life. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the salvation. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the exaltation. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the eternal life. I felt that the Lord was well pleased with the spirit of the glory of God.

In addition to the visions witnessed by A—, Junior, other attendees reported similar spiritual manifestations during the dedication services. These included sightings of Brigham Young, deceased members of the Quorum of the Twelve, and other spirit beings appearing on the stand. Some participants also reported hearing beautiful singing in the northeast corner of the room where no choir was located, while others observed a halo of glory surrounding President Wilford Woodruff or experienced what appeared to be his transfiguration into the likeness of Brigham Young.