A Greater Tomorrow by Julie Rowe - Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Earthly Cities of Light
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As I continued to look into “The Window of Heaven,” I witnessed many national events that have since taken place, as well as several that will still happen in the near future.
The nation was still experiencing economic trouble and there were small-scale natural disasters, but for the most part there wasn’t anything to signal major problems ahead.
During this time, the leaders of the LDS Church scheduled a special meeting concerning preparedness that was broadcast. They also sent letters to stake presidents asking them to determine what supplies the Saints had and how much food storage they had. So meetings were held where local leaders passed out a list asking Church members to indicate the supplies they had available if needed. The list included axes, hammers, food storage, blankets, sanitary supplies, fabric, clothing, hoes, rakes, nails, horses, cows, and more.
These meetings enabled Church leaders to determine which families in their wards and stakes were temporally prepared, as well as determining those who were spiritually willing to share their possessions with others.
Then the invitation came from the prophet for Church members to gather at camps that had been prepared as places of refuge. Some of these were the previously established Girls Camps, while other locations were Church-owned properties that hadn’t been fully developed yet.
This invitation wasn’t a surprise at all to the Saints who had already been involved in the previous meetings on preparedness, but it came as a shock to the majority of the Church members. Most refused to even consider the idea of leaving their homes. Only a small percentage of the members went to the camps, either because they did not have the faith, or they were not prepared.
Within hours of the prophet’s invitation, everything was put into motion. White semi-trucks came, and they were loaded with supplies and food storage before traveling to the camps.
I noticed that the circumstances in the United States were not that bad. People were still working, going to school, and performing their normal daily activities. There was still power and electricity, and cars were still on the road.
The Gathering Begins
Despite these seemingly peaceful circumstances, the faithful Saints across the country heeded the prophet’s invitation. The Saints throughout the Western states began gathering as they had been instructed, and I also saw hundreds of people driving from the Eastern states to the Kansas City area. They usually traveled in caravans, and some had two-way radios to communicate with other vehicles. There were some who came in campers and RVs, but I saw many vans and SUVs, along with several smaller cars.
These people had been organized very well, and they had been given strict counsel and guidelines for their trips. They had maps and directions, and I could see they were following specific, similar routes to get to their destinations.
They had been instructed to avoid certain cities and towns on their way. They could stop for gas, but nothing else. They seemed to be able to gas up at certain stops, and at other places they just went right on by, even though gasoline was needed for their vehicles. In a miraculous way, the gas in their tanks took them further than it normally would have.
There were some roads and highways that were very dangerous. These people did their best to avoid these areas, but on occasion, they were harassed and stopped by individuals and groups of marauders who had ill intent. There was a real sense of urgency that they arrive to their destinations in a timely manner.
Many of these people had left their homes without much prior notice. I saw them packing their vehicles quietly but quickly. The turnaround time for the initial group was only about twenty four to forty-eight hours. There was a second group that left shortly after that, and then a third group that left later.
I am not sure how much time elapsed between when the first group left and the last group left, but it was only a few weeks at most. Some who were delayed—either by choice or other circumstances—still made it to the camps safely, but under much more dangerous and urgent circumstances. Many left too late and did not make it to their destination.
Just in Time
The last of these groups of people just barely made it to the designated camps as foreign troops hit the West Coast and were coming into California, which I will discuss later. It was as if these people were in a race for their lives. By this time, there were military helicopters, jets and airplanes flying over much of the United States, especially in the West. Police officers and military personnel began patrolling the streets and setting up checkpoints that limited travel throughout the country.
In response, I saw families hiking with packs into the mountains. Many of them hiked for great distances. Others did not have as far to go. Once they reached the camps, they immediately began to set up their tents in campsites that had been assigned to them. I saw people taking care of their children, making campfires, cooking meals, singing and dancing around the campfires, and talking one with another.
There was water nearby, but in most camps it did not go through the camp or alongside it. The campers had to fetch the water on a very regular basis. Most of the water had to be treated because it was not fit for drinking.
My Family Departs for the Camps
I then was shown my own family’s journey from our homes to the places of refuge. We were assigned a particular camp in the Rocky Mountains. We traveled from the Kansas City area, in a southern direction, to avoid Denver, which had become too dangerous for travelers. Then I saw us drive an alternate route through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and then into Utah. I saw us pass through the Moab area, then proceed north through Price Canyon in central Utah. When we entered Price Canyon, there were men there to help us through safely. We soon reached our place of refuge in the safety of the Rocky Mountains.
There was a strong feeling of urgency that accompanied these scenes. Thousands of others were doing the same thing. The majority of the Saints were attempting to reach campgrounds in Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, and Washington, but I also saw camps in Florida, the Northeast, and other places. Some families temporarily camped in the Midwest on their way to more established camps.
I was shown scenes like this many times. One scene started out with an aerial view of the United States where I could see the various camps. There were other camps throughout the world, but most of what I was shown pertained to the United States. I was shown that the Lord will gather the righteous Saints to protect and spare them prior to the worst of the devastation and destruction. Then the cleansing will begin.
I also saw tent cities all over the country that were not organized by the LDS Church. These served as gathering places of safety for good people who were seeking refuge for various reasons.
Three Types of Camps
I was shown that there were distinct differences between tent cities, Places of Refuge, and Cities of Light. All three camps involved people living in tents, but “tent cities” was the general term for groups of people who gathered together when things got rough—due to famine, pestilence, martial law, economic hardship drought, sickness, war, and so on.
These camps consisted of groups of non-LDS people, although there were be some members of the Church there who did not heed the prophet’s call to go to Places of Refuge prepared for and organized by the Church.
The camps known as Places of Refuge were a step above the tent cities. They were organized by Church leadership, and for the most part the Saints were assigned to specific locations. These were mainly made up of active members of the LDS church, but in some cases there were non-members who were allowed to join the communities.
Cities of Light represented a whole different level. These were also organized by the Church and were places where the saints were gathered with the intention to eventually live the Law of Consecration. In these Cities of Light, tent tabernacles and small courtyards were built for temple worship in the wilderness. As in the days of Moses, pillars of smoke were over the tabernacles by day, and pillars of fire hovered above them at night.
There were few Cities of Light compared to the total number of tent cities. Some of the camps that started off as Places of Refuge eventually developed into Cities of Light.
I saw that many of those who endured these camps that were established by the Lord were then called back to establish New Jerusalem in Jackson County, Missouri. Not everyone, however, was called back to Jackson County. The Lord has an individual plan for each of His children, and Saints were serving in various places as they helped to usher in the Millennium.
Discord in the Camps
Some people who originally came to the Places of Refuge ended up leaving of their own accord. On occasion, there were some who were “escorted out” and forced to leave the camps because of disobedience. There were many reasons people left—not following the rules of the camp, stirring up trouble, false teachings, and unwillingness to live the higher law, and so on.
Some just lost faith and gave up. Many decided it was not worth it and they would rather go back to Babylon, not realizing the great turmoil that was soon coming to the nation.
Children were born, people were healed from terrible sicknesses and disease, and in some cases people were raised from the dead. It was a true test of faith for all involved. There were some people who died in the camps, when others did not.
There were some who were asked to defend the faith, protect the camps, and in many cases to fight for freedom.
The first season of camping seemed to last a year or two. Then there was some type of reorganization where camps were moved or were combined into larger groups. This season lasted much longer—perhaps three years or more. It was during these experiences that the Saints learned to become a Zion people and they witnessed many miracles.
They also experienced tremendous trials and tribulations, but although life in the camps was very difficult, those gathered at these sites were far better off than those who had not. Many Saints who had passed to the other side were working as ministering angels. They played a key role in protecting the Saints, not only from real threat and danger from wicked men and women living on the earth, but also from demonic forces who were raging.
There were protective shields, if you will, placed around the camps, with varying levels or degrees of protection both from living priesthood holders who kept watch and guard, as well as from angels whose purpose it was to protect their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, parents, etc., from these evil forces. The Saints who had been gathered were protected physically and spiritually from the adversary as they worked together and obeyed the Lord’s commandments.
Close-up View of a Tabernacle
As I looked down upon the United States, I saw the land become dark, except for spots of light in different parts of the country. This was both literally and figuratively.
I could see a few Places of Refuge in Colorado, and at least one in the state of Washington. I saw several camps in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. Most of the tent cities in Utah were in the northern part of the state, but there were a few near Moab and St. George. Some areas just had a mellow light surrounding them, while other areas were glowing with what looked like a small fire, which I felt were Cities of Light.
I then began to move toward the earth. The view narrowed in on one of the camps. As the scenery grew closer, I saw white tents, and several other tents of varying colors. Off to the side of the camp there was a huge white tent.
It looked similar to the pictures of the tabernacle the Jews had while wandering in the wilderness with Moses, although there was no altar in the courtyard area.
I could see a very bright light above it and it looked as though fire was coming out of the top of the tent — but it was hovering in place. The thought came to me that this was indeed a temporary temple. I saw people dressed in white clothing standing near the entrance of the tent, as if they were guarding it. There was a fence surrounding the perimeter, and two armed men were outside of the fence, guarding the area. I saw a man and a woman enter the tent after talking to a man dressed in white who was standing near the entrance. I heard the words “temple work” and the scene ended.
The view panned out again and I was looking at the United States from the sky again. I knew that the fire represented the presence of the Spirit of the Lord at these places. I am not sure how many there were, because the scene did not last long, and by the time I realized what I was looking at, I did not count them. It seemed like there were several, but there were more areas without fire than those with fire.
Another View of a Camp
Then I zoomed in on a different camp filled with dozens of tents. It seemed later in the year. I saw people dressed in warm fall clothing, preparing camp fires, fixing food, and cleaning around their campsites. Some were not adequately dressed for the chilly weather. They were wearing lighter clothing more fit for summer weather.
Off to the side of the camp there was a huge white tent again. The best way I can describe it was that it was a huge rectangle with a vaulted roof—like a very large wall tent. This one had a rock wall surrounding it, about three feet high. There were guards dressed in regular street clothes standing outside of the fenced area. This time I did not see anyone in the doorway of the temple, nor did I see anyone going inside. There was a pillar of smoke hovering in the air above the tent. It looked like a small gray cloud.
I later saw that winter had come. It was very cold and snowy. It was extremely difficult, especially for those who had not brought warm clothing with them. There were fires to help keep them warm, but it was very cold and windy. Supplies were limited and had to be carefully managed.
Some of the people were gathering at one of the campfires and singing hymns. Children were busy playing. I saw mothers caring for young children. I saw a garden area and someone was working in the garden, but I could not tell what they were doing. The feeling was peaceful and I sensed that the people gathered in this place were saints. This was a very difficult experience for everyone, but there seemed to be a great deal of organization and order involved.
Assigned Roles
Camp members had been assigned roles and responsibilities, and everyone contributed and was expected to do their part. This was more than mere survival—this was spiritual preparedness for the return of the Savior.
I saw that the camps were organized into groups of families, with priesthood leadership and “captains” in charge of groups of 10, 50 and 100. Families camped together in their own campsite, but the camps were organized into groups so that several families were within one area.
Everyone had assignments and jobs in the camps, and each person played an important role, including children. I was shown that at least one of my jobs was to help with cooking and childcare. I saw myself tending a fire pit and checking food in a Dutch oven. There were children laughing and playing nearby.
The camps were orderly and clean. People had brought their own survival gear, but white tents were also distributed for some by the LDS Church. I saw many people reading scriptures, singing hymns and Primary songs, and praying. There were campfire discussions and group gatherings.
I saw some livestock, but not much. I mainly saw just horses and cows in most camps, but in a few I saw other livestock, as well as bee hives.
I saw four or five men on horseback and they were switching “shifts” with other priesthood men who were armed and guarding the surrounding mountain areas. Some men were keeping watch several miles away, and others were stationed around the perimeter of the camp, out of the sight of the children, but close enough that they could warn and protect the area.
I saw that my husband Jeff was one who was called upon to keep watch. I saw him sitting high up in a tree, overlooking the area, not far from camp. Later, I also saw him mounting a horse, with a rifle in his hand, leaving with two other men, to travel a greater distance from the camp and keep guard.
After being shown these people and some of their trials and tribulations, I quickly came to a much greater appreciation for them, and for my own life. It was made known to me that those who lived up to their foreordained missions in life, and particularly those who suffer and are martyred for Christ’s sake, will receive eternal glory we cannot now perceive. All will be made right with the Lord. __________________
Earthly Cities of Light
Click here to buy.
As I continued to look into “The Window of Heaven,” I witnessed many national events that have since taken place, as well as several that will still happen in the near future.
The nation was still experiencing economic trouble and there were small-scale natural disasters, but for the most part there wasn’t anything to signal major problems ahead.
During this time, the leaders of the LDS Church scheduled a special meeting concerning preparedness that was broadcast. They also sent letters to stake presidents asking them to determine what supplies the Saints had and how much food storage they had. So meetings were held where local leaders passed out a list asking Church members to indicate the supplies they had available if needed. The list included axes, hammers, food storage, blankets, sanitary supplies, fabric, clothing, hoes, rakes, nails, horses, cows, and more.
These meetings enabled Church leaders to determine which families in their wards and stakes were temporally prepared, as well as determining those who were spiritually willing to share their possessions with others.
Then the invitation came from the prophet for Church members to gather at camps that had been prepared as places of refuge. Some of these were the previously established Girls Camps, while other locations were Church-owned properties that hadn’t been fully developed yet.
This invitation wasn’t a surprise at all to the Saints who had already been involved in the previous meetings on preparedness, but it came as a shock to the majority of the Church members. Most refused to even consider the idea of leaving their homes. Only a small percentage of the members went to the camps, either because they did not have the faith, or they were not prepared.
Within hours of the prophet’s invitation, everything was put into motion. White semi-trucks came, and they were loaded with supplies and food storage before traveling to the camps.
I noticed that the circumstances in the United States were not that bad. People were still working, going to school, and performing their normal daily activities. There was still power and electricity, and cars were still on the road.
The Gathering Begins
Despite these seemingly peaceful circumstances, the faithful Saints across the country heeded the prophet’s invitation. The Saints throughout the Western states began gathering as they had been instructed, and I also saw hundreds of people driving from the Eastern states to the Kansas City area. They usually traveled in caravans, and some had two-way radios to communicate with other vehicles. There were some who came in campers and RVs, but I saw many vans and SUVs, along with several smaller cars.
These people had been organized very well, and they had been given strict counsel and guidelines for their trips. They had maps and directions, and I could see they were following specific, similar routes to get to their destinations.
They had been instructed to avoid certain cities and towns on their way. They could stop for gas, but nothing else. They seemed to be able to gas up at certain stops, and at other places they just went right on by, even though gasoline was needed for their vehicles. In a miraculous way, the gas in their tanks took them further than it normally would have.
There were some roads and highways that were very dangerous. These people did their best to avoid these areas, but on occasion, they were harassed and stopped by individuals and groups of marauders who had ill intent. There was a real sense of urgency that they arrive to their destinations in a timely manner.
Many of these people had left their homes without much prior notice. I saw them packing their vehicles quietly but quickly. The turnaround time for the initial group was only about twenty four to forty-eight hours. There was a second group that left shortly after that, and then a third group that left later.
I am not sure how much time elapsed between when the first group left and the last group left, but it was only a few weeks at most. Some who were delayed—either by choice or other circumstances—still made it to the camps safely, but under much more dangerous and urgent circumstances. Many left too late and did not make it to their destination.
Just in Time
The last of these groups of people just barely made it to the designated camps as foreign troops hit the West Coast and were coming into California, which I will discuss later. It was as if these people were in a race for their lives. By this time, there were military helicopters, jets and airplanes flying over much of the United States, especially in the West. Police officers and military personnel began patrolling the streets and setting up checkpoints that limited travel throughout the country.
In response, I saw families hiking with packs into the mountains. Many of them hiked for great distances. Others did not have as far to go. Once they reached the camps, they immediately began to set up their tents in campsites that had been assigned to them. I saw people taking care of their children, making campfires, cooking meals, singing and dancing around the campfires, and talking one with another.
There was water nearby, but in most camps it did not go through the camp or alongside it. The campers had to fetch the water on a very regular basis. Most of the water had to be treated because it was not fit for drinking.
My Family Departs for the Camps
I then was shown my own family’s journey from our homes to the places of refuge. We were assigned a particular camp in the Rocky Mountains. We traveled from the Kansas City area, in a southern direction, to avoid Denver, which had become too dangerous for travelers. Then I saw us drive an alternate route through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and then into Utah. I saw us pass through the Moab area, then proceed north through Price Canyon in central Utah. When we entered Price Canyon, there were men there to help us through safely. We soon reached our place of refuge in the safety of the Rocky Mountains.
There was a strong feeling of urgency that accompanied these scenes. Thousands of others were doing the same thing. The majority of the Saints were attempting to reach campgrounds in Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, and Washington, but I also saw camps in Florida, the Northeast, and other places. Some families temporarily camped in the Midwest on their way to more established camps.
I was shown scenes like this many times. One scene started out with an aerial view of the United States where I could see the various camps. There were other camps throughout the world, but most of what I was shown pertained to the United States. I was shown that the Lord will gather the righteous Saints to protect and spare them prior to the worst of the devastation and destruction. Then the cleansing will begin.
I also saw tent cities all over the country that were not organized by the LDS Church. These served as gathering places of safety for good people who were seeking refuge for various reasons.
Three Types of Camps
I was shown that there were distinct differences between tent cities, Places of Refuge, and Cities of Light. All three camps involved people living in tents, but “tent cities” was the general term for groups of people who gathered together when things got rough—due to famine, pestilence, martial law, economic hardship drought, sickness, war, and so on.
These camps consisted of groups of non-LDS people, although there were be some members of the Church there who did not heed the prophet’s call to go to Places of Refuge prepared for and organized by the Church.
The camps known as Places of Refuge were a step above the tent cities. They were organized by Church leadership, and for the most part the Saints were assigned to specific locations. These were mainly made up of active members of the LDS church, but in some cases there were non-members who were allowed to join the communities.
Cities of Light represented a whole different level. These were also organized by the Church and were places where the saints were gathered with the intention to eventually live the Law of Consecration. In these Cities of Light, tent tabernacles and small courtyards were built for temple worship in the wilderness. As in the days of Moses, pillars of smoke were over the tabernacles by day, and pillars of fire hovered above them at night.
There were few Cities of Light compared to the total number of tent cities. Some of the camps that started off as Places of Refuge eventually developed into Cities of Light.
I saw that many of those who endured these camps that were established by the Lord were then called back to establish New Jerusalem in Jackson County, Missouri. Not everyone, however, was called back to Jackson County. The Lord has an individual plan for each of His children, and Saints were serving in various places as they helped to usher in the Millennium.
Discord in the Camps
Some people who originally came to the Places of Refuge ended up leaving of their own accord. On occasion, there were some who were “escorted out” and forced to leave the camps because of disobedience. There were many reasons people left—not following the rules of the camp, stirring up trouble, false teachings, and unwillingness to live the higher law, and so on.
Some just lost faith and gave up. Many decided it was not worth it and they would rather go back to Babylon, not realizing the great turmoil that was soon coming to the nation.
Children were born, people were healed from terrible sicknesses and disease, and in some cases people were raised from the dead. It was a true test of faith for all involved. There were some people who died in the camps, when others did not.
There were some who were asked to defend the faith, protect the camps, and in many cases to fight for freedom.
The first season of camping seemed to last a year or two. Then there was some type of reorganization where camps were moved or were combined into larger groups. This season lasted much longer—perhaps three years or more. It was during these experiences that the Saints learned to become a Zion people and they witnessed many miracles.
They also experienced tremendous trials and tribulations, but although life in the camps was very difficult, those gathered at these sites were far better off than those who had not. Many Saints who had passed to the other side were working as ministering angels. They played a key role in protecting the Saints, not only from real threat and danger from wicked men and women living on the earth, but also from demonic forces who were raging.
There were protective shields, if you will, placed around the camps, with varying levels or degrees of protection both from living priesthood holders who kept watch and guard, as well as from angels whose purpose it was to protect their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, parents, etc., from these evil forces. The Saints who had been gathered were protected physically and spiritually from the adversary as they worked together and obeyed the Lord’s commandments.
Close-up View of a Tabernacle
As I looked down upon the United States, I saw the land become dark, except for spots of light in different parts of the country. This was both literally and figuratively.
I could see a few Places of Refuge in Colorado, and at least one in the state of Washington. I saw several camps in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. Most of the tent cities in Utah were in the northern part of the state, but there were a few near Moab and St. George. Some areas just had a mellow light surrounding them, while other areas were glowing with what looked like a small fire, which I felt were Cities of Light.
I then began to move toward the earth. The view narrowed in on one of the camps. As the scenery grew closer, I saw white tents, and several other tents of varying colors. Off to the side of the camp there was a huge white tent.
It looked similar to the pictures of the tabernacle the Jews had while wandering in the wilderness with Moses, although there was no altar in the courtyard area.
I could see a very bright light above it and it looked as though fire was coming out of the top of the tent — but it was hovering in place. The thought came to me that this was indeed a temporary temple. I saw people dressed in white clothing standing near the entrance of the tent, as if they were guarding it. There was a fence surrounding the perimeter, and two armed men were outside of the fence, guarding the area. I saw a man and a woman enter the tent after talking to a man dressed in white who was standing near the entrance. I heard the words “temple work” and the scene ended.
The view panned out again and I was looking at the United States from the sky again. I knew that the fire represented the presence of the Spirit of the Lord at these places. I am not sure how many there were, because the scene did not last long, and by the time I realized what I was looking at, I did not count them. It seemed like there were several, but there were more areas without fire than those with fire.
Another View of a Camp
Then I zoomed in on a different camp filled with dozens of tents. It seemed later in the year. I saw people dressed in warm fall clothing, preparing camp fires, fixing food, and cleaning around their campsites. Some were not adequately dressed for the chilly weather. They were wearing lighter clothing more fit for summer weather.
Off to the side of the camp there was a huge white tent again. The best way I can describe it was that it was a huge rectangle with a vaulted roof—like a very large wall tent. This one had a rock wall surrounding it, about three feet high. There were guards dressed in regular street clothes standing outside of the fenced area. This time I did not see anyone in the doorway of the temple, nor did I see anyone going inside. There was a pillar of smoke hovering in the air above the tent. It looked like a small gray cloud.
I later saw that winter had come. It was very cold and snowy. It was extremely difficult, especially for those who had not brought warm clothing with them. There were fires to help keep them warm, but it was very cold and windy. Supplies were limited and had to be carefully managed.
Some of the people were gathering at one of the campfires and singing hymns. Children were busy playing. I saw mothers caring for young children. I saw a garden area and someone was working in the garden, but I could not tell what they were doing. The feeling was peaceful and I sensed that the people gathered in this place were saints. This was a very difficult experience for everyone, but there seemed to be a great deal of organization and order involved.
Assigned Roles
Camp members had been assigned roles and responsibilities, and everyone contributed and was expected to do their part. This was more than mere survival—this was spiritual preparedness for the return of the Savior.
I saw that the camps were organized into groups of families, with priesthood leadership and “captains” in charge of groups of 10, 50 and 100. Families camped together in their own campsite, but the camps were organized into groups so that several families were within one area.
Everyone had assignments and jobs in the camps, and each person played an important role, including children. I was shown that at least one of my jobs was to help with cooking and childcare. I saw myself tending a fire pit and checking food in a Dutch oven. There were children laughing and playing nearby.
The camps were orderly and clean. People had brought their own survival gear, but white tents were also distributed for some by the LDS Church. I saw many people reading scriptures, singing hymns and Primary songs, and praying. There were campfire discussions and group gatherings.
I saw some livestock, but not much. I mainly saw just horses and cows in most camps, but in a few I saw other livestock, as well as bee hives.
I saw four or five men on horseback and they were switching “shifts” with other priesthood men who were armed and guarding the surrounding mountain areas. Some men were keeping watch several miles away, and others were stationed around the perimeter of the camp, out of the sight of the children, but close enough that they could warn and protect the area.
I saw that my husband Jeff was one who was called upon to keep watch. I saw him sitting high up in a tree, overlooking the area, not far from camp. Later, I also saw him mounting a horse, with a rifle in his hand, leaving with two other men, to travel a greater distance from the camp and keep guard.
After being shown these people and some of their trials and tribulations, I quickly came to a much greater appreciation for them, and for my own life. It was made known to me that those who lived up to their foreordained missions in life, and particularly those who suffer and are martyred for Christ’s sake, will receive eternal glory we cannot now perceive. All will be made right with the Lord. __________________