extracted from LeRoi C. Snow, Raised From the Dead, Improvement Era, vol. 32 (1929), no. 12 (SepOct), pp. 882ff.
I was suddenly awakened by Ella calling me to get the comb, brush and scissors. She wanted to brush her hair and trim her finger nails and get all ready, for, she said, they are coming to get me at ten oclock in the morning. I asked who was coming to get her. Uncle Hans Jensen and the messengers she replied. I am going to die and they are coming at ten oclock to get me and take me away. I tried to quiet her, saying that she would feel better in the morning if she would try to sleep. No, she said, I am not going to sleep any more, but I am going to spend all the time getting ready.
She insisted that I get the comb, hairbrush and scissors, which I did, but she was so weak that she could not use them. As I was brushing her hair, she asked me to call her parents. I explained that they were tired and asleep and that it would be better not to disturb them. Yes, insisted Ella, you must call them. I want to tell them now.
The parents were called and as they entered the room the daughter told them that her Uncle Hans, who was dead, had suddenly appeared in the room, while she was awake, with her eyes open, and told her that messengers would be there at ten oclock to conduct her into the spirit world. The father and mother feared that the girl was delirious and tried to get her to be quiet and go to sleep. She knew their thoughts and said, I know what I am talking about. No, I am not going to sleep anymore. I know I am going to die, and that they are coming to get me.
It was more than a mile to town and so by the time Jacob Jensen, Ellas father had hitched up the horse and driven there it was towards noon. He then returned with President [Lorenzo] Snow and Rudger Clawson, who were at a service in the tabernacle. All were greatly surprised when after standing at Ellas bedside for a minute or two, President Snow asked for consecrated oil. He handed the bottle of oil to Brother Clawson who anoint Ella, after which he sealed the anointing. Particularly impressive were the words he used, especially when he said, Dear Ella, I command you, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to come back and live. Your mission is not ended. And then he uttered the command, Come back, Ella, come back! Your work upon the earth is not yet completed. Come back! You shall yet live to perform a great mission.
After this Ella remained in her dead condition for more than an hour, i.e. more than three hours after she had died. Her mother and father were sitting by the bedside, watching, when all at once she opened her eyes and looked about the room. She saw them sitting there but was looking for someone else. The first thing she said was, Where is he? Where is he?
Who, where is who?
Why, Brother [Lorenzo] Snow; she replied, he called me back. They explained to her that Brother Snow and Brother Clawson were very busy and could not remain, and that they had gone. Ella then dropped her head back on her pillow, saying, Why did he call me back? I was so happy and did not want to come back. Then Ella Jensen began to relate her marvelous experiences; marvelous both as to the incidents themselves, and as to the great number of them that occurred in the short space of time between three and four hours.
I entered a large hall. It was so long that I could not see the end of it. It was filled with people. As I was conducted through the throng, the first person I recognized was my grandpa, H. P. Jensen, who was sitting in one end of the room, writing. He looked up, seemed surprised to see me and said: Why! There is my granddaughter, Ella. He was very much pleased, greeted me and, as he continued with his writing, I passed on through the room and met a great many of my relatives and friends. It was like going along the crowded street of a large city where you meet many people, only a very few of whom you recognize.
The next one I knew was Uncle Hans Jensen with his wife, Mary Ellen. They had two small children with them. On inquiring who they were, he told me one was his own and the other was Uncle Wills little girl.
Some seemed to be in family groups. As there were only a few whom I could recognize and who knew me, I kept moving on. Some inquired about their their friends and relatives on the earth. Among the number was my cousin. He asked me how the folks were getting along and said it grieved him to hear that some of the boys were using tobacco, liquor, and many things that were injurious to them. This proved to me that the people in the other world know to a great extent what happens here on the earth.
The people were all dressed in white or cream, excepting Uncle Hans Jensen, who (for this occasion) had on his dark clothes and long rubber boots the things he wore when he was drowned in the Snake River in Idaho.
Returning through the large room, I told the people I was going back to the earth, but they seemed to want me to stay with them. I obeyed the call, although it was very much against my desire, as such perfect peace and happiness prevailed there no suffering and no sorrow. I was so taken up with all I saw and heard that I did hate very much to leave that beautiful place.
[The memory of] this [place] has always been a source of comfort to me. I learned by this experience that we should not grieve too much for our departed loved ones, and especially at the time they leave us. I think we should be just as calm and quiet as possible, because, as I was leaving my mortal life, the only regret I had was that the folks were grieving so much for me. But I soon forgot all about this world in my delight with the other.
Many relatives and others visited Ella, and she told them the same story of how she had met their relatives and friends over there, how happy they were, and that they had asked about their loved ones here.
When Leah Rees came to stay with Ella the night after her return, she told her about having seen her own Grandpa Jensen, Leahs father and several others of her people who had passed away all of whom appeared very happy.
The mother asked: Can you describe her?
The answer was: Yes, she was a tall woman whith black hair and dark eyes and thin features.
Yes, the mother answered, surely you have described your Aunt mary.
I also met another woman there, who said she was my Aunt Sarah and had died just before I was born.
Will you describe her? the mother asked.
Yes, she was rather short and somewhat fleshy, with round features, light hair and blue eyes.
Why, yes, Ella, that is your Aunt Sarah. You have described her perfectly.