[George F. Richards]
Last night I had a remarkable dream which left upon my mind a good and wonderful impression. I dreamed that I and a number of other men of non German extraction were gathered in a group for some unexplained purpose where were the German Keiser or Ruler, no name attached, and a number of uniformed German soldiers. They seemed to be engaged in sharpening their swords and otherwise preparing for war or executions or something of the sort. They fell in line and marched round in a large circle. Then we non Germans were marched in a smaller circle before them, and as they marched one after another chopped out of the circle and I was one of them. If it was for execution or what not I did not know, but I walked straight toward the Keiser who was sitting apart from the other soldiers. He seemed to be well uniformed and a very dignified personage. I addressed him as if I had an appeal to make to him though I had no fear, and he gave me attentive audience. While I do not remember the exact words I used and I do not remember that he said a word, I addressed him as follows. I am your brother. In the Spirit world you were a son of God. I also was His Son. We lived together in the same heavenly family. We loved each other as brothers. As I spoke feelingly and deliberately, I seemed to feel that his feelings were touched so that he believed my words, and that [he] believed and felt as I did a real brotherly love for one another. It became so intense that we embraced each other and kissed each other on the lips a brotherly kiss or kiss of affection. Then I saw these soldiers marching again, and the Keiser stepped out of line as he passed, and again kissed me on the lips. This ended the dream, and I was left with the thoughts, Why can we not feel thus toward all men for we are really and truly brothers. I was made to realize as never before that the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves and to even love our enemies is possible and the command is consistent. Were we living together in such brotherhood, the Evil One would have no power to divide us, through bearing false witness, evil speaking, back-biting, exhagerating the weaknesses of others, cheating, stealing from another or any other unchristian like conduct towards others. We do not knowingly injure one we love.
[George F. Richards, Diary, as quoted in Minutes of the Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1835-1951, Electronic Edition, 2015]
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