Led by the Hand of Christ
By Suzanne Freeman
Synopsis: This is a book about the Near Death Experience of Suzanne Freeman, an LDS woman, in 1999. It is one of the most expansive accounts of a single Near Death Experience that a reader is likely to come upon, and is written from a Latter-day Saint perspective.
Strong Points: This is a very fascinating Near Death Experience, and is amazing and incredible on so many levels. In her panoramic journey through the spirit world, Mrs. Freeman was greeted firstly by Christ, and saw scores of Bible and Book of Mormon prophets, each of the Presidents of the Church, the Founding Fathers of the United States, etc. She comes away from her experience with incredible nuggets of insight about many topics that so many Church members would have wondered about. She gives amazing insight into what occurs in the spirit realm with miscarriages or aborted babies. She also provided an explanation for why many Near Death Experiencers sometimes believe that their experience validates the idea of reincarnation (a false doctrine), as well as a theoretical framework for hauntings (see the quote below about ‘homebound’ spirits). She also gives insight into Book of Mormon geography that fits in with the Heartland Theory, saying that Nephi settled in the Eastern United States (p. 84). I also find it interesting that her book corroborates many of the conclusions I have come to, such as the larger size of antediluvian people. Also, it is interesting that she claimed that Joseph of Egypt had flaming red hair (p. 77-78). I have watched a documentary film (that came out after this book) about the plausible discovery of the Egyptian tomb of Joseph in Egypt, and the statue figure of Joseph depicted him with bright red hair, and this fact was pointed out carefully in the documentary. Things like that score an impressive victory for the believability of this book and its message.
Weak Points: While this book is fascinating, it has strange elements to it. For instance, as she encountered ancient peoples, it seems like they just get taller and taller, in the 9 foot range as a common height. Now, this may be the case, but it got more and more extreme as you went through the book, almost as though to out-do the previous experience. And while I'm sure the antediluvians were very tall, she makes unexpected statements like Joshua in the Old Testament is 8 feet tall (p. 79), Nephi is 7 feet tall (p. 84), and the Jaredites were 9 feet tall on average (p. 85). (The last one fits into my preconceived notions a little better than the other two claims about size, but still seems exaggerated.) Perhaps people can increase their size in the spirit world? But this was not explained to be the case. The 2,000 Stripling Warriors were also described as "well over six feet tall," even though they were supposed to be presenting themselves in spirit as young boys, and some of them had blonde hair and blue eyes despite being of Lamanite lineage (p. 91), which remains unexplained in the book. One thing that I find troubling is that Joseph Smith was presented as living with his wife Emma in the spirit world. But Emma left the Church after her husband’s death, due to disagreements over plural marriage and the leadership of Brigham Young. I don’t see how it’s doctrinally possible for Emma to have been in the circumstances she was claimed to have been in, and no explanation of this inconsistency was given. And none of Joseph’s other faithful wives were seen or mentioned, which seems at odds with his teachings. Also, I know that the writer and her assistant who helped her craft the book were trying to be detailed, but I think there could have been so much more detail added, considering the scope of her experiences.
Interesting: 5/5
Must Read: 2.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Pages: 150
Selected Quote: “It was made known to me that sometimes a miscarriage is allowed as a challenge for the mother or family, and the brief time spent in the mother’s womb has fulfilled that particular spirit’s mission. Sometimes a miscarriage occurs because there is a problem with the DNA or some other facet of development, and the spirit that would have claimed that body may come again.
“Depending on the cause and purpose of the event, miscarried babies may be able to choose whether the miscarriage is their total earthly experience, or whether they want to go again. Brook appeared to be having too much fun to want to wait around for an earthly nine months to give it another go. Besides, she had said she had to stay, and in my heart of hearts, I knew it was the right thing for her to do.
“This choice is only offered to those spirits who miscarry. In the case of abortion, the baby’s agency is taken away, and those spirits are taken to the reassigned children area. What was shared with me is that since the choice was taken from them, then they will have another chance. They need to have the right to experience life and fulfill their mission on earth as planned in the grand council in the pre-mortal world.” (p. 114-115).
“There is no such thing as reincarnation. You deny the Atonement ever happened if you believe in multiple mortalities. Can you imagine Heavenly Father saying, ‘You failed this life so now you have to live another one with no memory?’ How do you know what test you failed the previous time if you have no memory? It simply doesn’t make sense.
“If people have memories of times from before, then they most likely saw that time when they were a spirit. Since we can sometimes watch what happens on earth from the pre-mortal world, then some people may carry memories of things that happened before their time on earth, and mistakenly think it’s reincarnation. Perhaps they acted as guardian angels in certain places or for certain people, and their vague memories of that time make them think they were reincarnated.” (p. 115-116).
“Children who are spontaneously aborted by women who get pregnant and then intentionally misuse drugs or other substances harmful to their bodies also end up in the reassigned children area.
“Joseph and Emma Smith joined us along the way. They love to go to the reassigned children area, and often visit simply to spend time playing with the children. …
“I was able to see one child actually leave for his new earthly home. It was quite a send-off, even more joyous than when I chose my new son. I loved being in that place, and felt like I could have stayed there forever.
“As I wondered about the children around me, it was made known that some of the children waiting in the reassigned children area were spirits with special missions who had been promised by particular parents that they would have them in order for the child to carry out his earthly purpose. But the parents had somehow lost track of the thread that tied them to their pre-mortal agreements and had chosen to limit their families, or else made their bodies unfit or unable to conceive and bear a child.” (p. 117, 121-122).
“Some spirits are ‘homebound,’ meaning they stay on this earthly plane because they don’t’ realize they have passed away. Even if other spirits tell them they’re dead, these homebound spirits must choose whether or not to believe it.
“Most of the homebound spirits aren’t here for any good purpose. Some don’t want to look up, and some may not even know how to look up and see the light.” (p. 134-135).