"Heaven is Real": Lds perspective?

[eddified]

Everyone who has read "Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back" by Todd Burpo, please comment on the book's factual assertions about heaven.

If you have not read the book, I'd like to hear your opinion:
If I were to try to believe the book, how would I explain the assertion that everyone in heaven has wings? In the book, family members who have died are described as having wings. Also, God is described as being "very large". (Kind of like a giant?) What do you think of this?

The pastor in the book (the author) asserts that God asked him to be a pastor through a still, piercing feeling. Why would the Spirit prompt someone to practice priest craft? (I define priest craft as getting paid to preach.)

How could the boy have "risen out of his body" and visited heaven while on the operating table if the boy's body never died? (heart never stopped, breathing never stopped, etc)

Etc..

[skippy740]

I believe that God can communicate with anyone in a way that they will understand and appreciate.

While "wings" is not necessarily consistent with LDS doctrine, if it provides comfort to that person, then God will communicate comfort to that person.

I won't tell someone that their experience wasn't real or true. Who am I to say so?

[jerome1232]

Originally Posted by eddified

If I were to try to believe the book, how would I explain the assertion that everyone in heaven has wings? In the book, family members who have died are described as having wings. Also, God is described as being "very large". (Kind of like a giant?) What do you think of this?

My understanding is that most near death experiences descriptions are generally consistent with what they'd expect to see in the afterlife.

I've read a few of these experiences and draw insight from them, but I'm hesitant to draw conclusions regarding their authenticity or to base doctrine around them. I also do not define priest craft as merely getting paid to preach, it's preaching for the money and not with intent to spread Gods word.

[angel333]

This book lost me when the boy said he saw wings on angels.

[MarginOfError]

Originally Posted by angel333

This book lost me when the boy said he saw wings on angels.

Isaiah's book lost me when he said he saw wings on his angels.

Also, Moses's books lost me because of the wings on the cherubim.

[Dravin]

Why would the Spirit prompt someone to practice priest craft? (I define priest craft as getting paid to preach.)

Some past discussion on what qualifies on priestcraft if you are interested:

Who gets paid?

If you aren't interested just keep in mind that not everyone accepts your concept of priestcraft. And I'm not talking about non-LDS. To further complicate things, was he inspired to become a professional preacher? Or was he inspired to share the gospel and carry it to others and becoming a preacher is how he realized that inspiration?

[Eowyn]

I suspect he had some coaching, and I tend to agree that, especially for children, they would see what would be most familiar to their understanding.

[norah63]

How about Ezekiel 1 ? Were those angels?

[carlimac]

I thought it was sweet but not terribly authentic. The rainbow colored animals seemed pretty out there. I got the impression it was perhaps part visiting with dead realtives and part fantastic dream. I had the feeling that as well-meaning as his dad is, he might be exploiting his son's story a bit. I just didn't have a good warm feeling about it.

[eddified]

Originally Posted by Dravin

Some past discussion on what qualifies on priestcraft if you are interested:

Who gets paid?

If you aren't interested just keep in mind that not everyone accepts your concept of priestcraft. And I'm not talking about non-LDS. To further complicate things, was he inspired to become a professional preacher? Or was he inspired to share the gospel and carry it to others and becoming a preacher is how he realized that inspiration?

Thank you for the link. I found it informative. I did not have any expectations that my concept of priest craft was broadly accepted, or accepted at all. I was merely stating what I was using as the criteria to determine whether priest craft was being practiced. Think of it as a qualifier of the preceding statement.