Yvonne P's Experience
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Experience description:

I had been up late reading from the Book of Mormon until about 3 a.m. and was so tired when I finally went to bed that I fell asleep right away.  The next thing I recall was standing beside my bed and watching myself as I lay there sleeping.  My first thought was that I had died, for how else could I be standing there beside myself watching me sleep?  But the thought that I was dead didn't bother me at all, I felt fine!  What I was feeling was merely "curiosity" about what was happening.  My next thought was that I must be dreaming, and to prove it to myself, I felt my arm lying beside my sleeping body and was surprised that I could actually feel my warm flesh!  Convinced then that I was not dreaming, and that what was happening was real, I thought, "I must be dead!  But I can't die now!  I still have a young son at home who needs me!"  It wasn't that I minded being dead, because I felt just fine, but the thought that my son would have no one to care for him caused me concern.  But no sooner than I had thought, I heard someone say, "Don't worry, you're not dead, yield yourself."  It then occurred to me that I wasn't alone, that there was someone in the room with me.  Although I could not see anyone, I knew that whomever was with me was a male, because it was a male voice, and I was not afraid, and I found myself yielding to this strange experience, curious about what was happening, instead of resisting, as one would do if having a bad dream. 

The next thing I recall was being high in the sky with the darkness all around me and the stars twinkling in the distance.  I felt myself moving though the sky and could even feel the breeze blowing through my hair and gown.  I looked down and saw the ground far below and it suddenly occurred to me that I was actually high in the sky and I thought, "I'm gonna fall, I'm gonna fall!"  And no sooner than my thoughts were out, I heard that same male voice assuring me, (and there seemed to be a bit of amusement in his voice), "Don't worry, you're not going to fall, you're not going to fall." 

When I looked down again, I could see a city below, and I knew from the shape of the houses and buildings, as well as the large round gold dome of the temple mount, that I was over Jerusalem in the Holy Land.  

I don't recall descending, but the next thing I knew, was that I was standing on the temple mount and a group of about seven individuals dressed robes and wearing sandals, were coming to greet me.  I noticed a very tall gentlemen in front was dressed differently than the others; he was dressed in clothing from the 18th century, and as we were shaking hands, I realized he was the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Then I was shaking hands and talking with the others..... 

and the next thing I recall was waking up in my body on my bed,  Immediately, I grabbed a pen and some paper and began to write down everything that happened, which is still so vivid in my mind after all these years.

 Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?     No      

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No      

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          No      

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?           It was exactly the same as if I had been in my physical body, except I did not feel any emotion at all.  As I wrote earlier, I was curious about what was happening, but there was no fear, astonishment, excitement, none of those things I would have felt if I had been in my body of flesh.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No, it was not.  I have had dreams many times, and I always know when I am dreaming. If I have a bad dream, I will force myself to wake up and I do!  If I am having a good dream, and wake up naturally, I will actually try to go back to sleep to take up where I left off!  Dreams are also hard to remember, especially in detail. When you are "in the spirit and out of the body," it is just like being there in your body and in control...there is just no "emotional" feelings but complete serenity.

 Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     No       Not in this experience, but I have felt this separation in other experiences.  I first started having "out of body" experiences when I was 18, when I could feel this separation which really frightened me; I thought I was dying and my spirit was leaving my body!  That was long before I gained knowledge of what was really happening, which is a natural thing.

 What emotions did you feel during the experience?            curiosity; and just once, when I realized I was high in the sky like an airplane, and thought I would fall, there was a "tinge" of excitement, but not really fear or fright, as if you were in your body.  In the spirit, I am calm, cool and collected.  l guess that is the best way to describe it.

 Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?           Only the voice that spoke to me.

 LOCATION DESCRIPTION:  Did you recognize any familiar locations or any locations from familiar religious teachings or encounter any locations inhabited by incredible or amazing creatures?    No response      Yes, I immediately recognized the Holy land and the City of Jerusalem, especially the Dome Rock on the temple mount.

 Did you see a light?           No      

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes     The individuals who met me on the temple mount; they were dressed in ancient Israelite cloting, robes and sandals except for Joseph Smith, who was dressed like he was in life.

 Did you experiment while out of the body or in another, altered state? No      

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          No      

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?          Yes     I could see, feel, and hear.  As for talking, I am not sure if it was "telepathically" or vocal, but it did sound like it was vocal.

 Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   No      

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    No      

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?             No      

Did you become aware of future events?       No      

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?       No       Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?   Yes     I can "Discern" some things people are thinking or when something is going to happen, but only certain times when it comes to me,  For example, I knew that California was going to have an earthquake on Easter Sunday this year.  And it did.

 Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   No      

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       I know the real meaning of death, that death is merely a separation of the spirit from the body, and is nothing to fear; that an individual has a physical body and a spirit body, that are identical in appearance.

 Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         No      

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     Yes, and it is well received.

 What emotions did you experience following your experience?  An increased interest and zeal in obtaining as much knowledge and wisdom as I possibly can about God and the spirit realm, angels, etc.

 What was the best and worst part of your experience?      There was no worst part; everything was good!

 Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        When I had my patriarchal blessing, which was years after I had this experience, I learned I was descended from the tribe of Benjamin, one of the 12 tribes of Israel, and I believe that is why I was carried to the Holy Land because it is really where I came from as thousands of Israelites were scattered among the nations and never returned.

 Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No      

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?               Yes    

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.    Not this experience, but I have had many more experiences over the years that would be of interest to you.