From Chapter Two, My Celestial Home [upon visiting her own celestial home with her brother-in-law, already deceased in the natural]..
"..My first sensation upon entering the room was genuine surprise at the sight of books.
"'Why do we have books in heaven?' I asked.
"'Why not?' asked my brother-in-law. 'What strange ideas we mortals have of the pleasures and duties of this blessed life! We seem to think that death of the body means an entire change to the soul. But that is not the case, by any means. We bring to this life the same tastes, the same desires, and the same knowledge we had before death...
"'If only we all could understand, as I said before, that we are building for eternity during our earthly life! The purer the thoughts, the nobler the ambitions, the loftier the aspirations, the higher the rank we take among the hosts of heaven. The more earnestly we follow the studies and duties in our life of probation, the better prepared we will be to carry them forward, on and on to completion and perfection here.
From Chapter 15, The Celestial Sea [with her vision projecting into the natural's future when her own husband has joined her in heaven].
"..Once I said to Frank [the brother-in-law], 'I have a strange desire to go to the sea, if you think it wise for us to do so.'
"'I am glad that it is your desire to go, as it is mine to have you. I was about to propose that you and my brother take this blessed journey'...
"So we started. We were filled with a holy joy that we could take this special journey together...Eventually we stood mute and motionless before the overwhelming glory of the scene before us.
"From our very feet a golden beach sloped downward toward the shore...This beach caught and radiated the light until it glittered and glimmered like the dust of diamonds and other precious stones.
The wave, as they came and went in ceaseless motion, caught up this sparkling sand and carried it on their crests. And the sea! It spread out before us in a radiance that exceeds description in any language I have ever known.
"Upon its shining bosom we saw, in every direction, boats representing all nations. But their beauty far surpassed anything earth has ever known. They were like great, open pleasure-barges, and they were filled with people looking eagerly toward the shore. Many, in their eagerness, were standing erect and gazing with wistful, expectant eyes into the faces of those on the shore.
"Ah, the people upon the shore! 'Numberless as the sands of the sea,' they stood, far as the eyes could reach, far as stretched the shore of that limitless sea, a great mass of beautiful souls clad in the spotless garments of the redeemed. Many of them had golden harps and various instruments of music. When a boat touched the shore, its passengers were welcomed by the glad voices and tender embraces of their loved ones. Then the harps would be held aloft, all of the golden instruments would sound, and the vast multitude would break forth into the triumphant song of victory over death and the grave.
"'Do these people always stand here, I wonder?' I said softly.
"'Not the same people,' said a radiant being near us who had heard my question. 'But there is always a crowd of people here--those who are expecting friends from the other life, and those who assemble to share in their joy. Some of the heavenly choristers are always here, but not always the same ones...
"He passed onward toward the shore and left us enveloped in awe and wonder...We soon became deeply interested in watching the reunions and found ourselves joining with rapture in the glad songs of rejoicing...
"As one boat of extraordinary strength and beauty came riding gracefully over the waves, we observed the tall figure of a man standing near the front with his arms around a graceful woman who stood by his side. Each shaded their dazzled eyes from the rare splendor and scanned, wistful and searchingly, the faces of the crowd as the boat neared the shore. Suddenly, with a great thrill of joy surging through my being, I cried out, 'It is our precious son and his dear wife! They have come together!'
"In an instant we were swiftly moving through the crowd which parted in ready sympathy to let us pass. And, as the boat touched the shore, they were both beside us--the dear daughter already embracing her happy parents, who were waiting near the water's edge, and our beloved son enfolding us. Soon we were all in each other's embrace. Oh, what a rapturous moment that was! Our life in heaven was complete--no partings forever! As we stood with encircling arms, scarcely realizing the unexpected bliss, the heavenly choir broke into song. With uplifted faces radiant with joy, eyes filled with happy tears, and voices trembling with emotion, we all joined in a glad anthem of praise."
