Temples, Trees and Facsimiles
The Latter-day Stirring from Below
by Joy Castleberry Bischoff1
As we listen to reports of current events and observe what is going on around us, it is obvious that the world has gone crazy. Now, more than ever before, it seems imperative that those who love the Lord need to unite with others who anticipate the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Those who eagerly await that glorious event also want to help prepare for His millennial reign. A word of caution first. Many prophecies lie unfulfilled regarding the coming of our Savior. His time is not yet upon us.
Why am I writing this now?
A dear friend recently shared with me that, at the end of his life, Dr. Hugh Nibley (1910-2005) endured four difficult months expecting to die any time. His niece who helped care for him shared that every night for those four months, he thought that maybe, he would pass that night. Instead, each morning he would awake and say, “Darn!”
My friend told me this because I have spent four months in a similar situation. I’ve only allowed a mild swear word out a few mornings, but basically that has been my feeling.
Shortly after Thanksgiving, I had an impression one night during prayer. The message I received was, “Trials will continue and won’t end until you come home.”
If I remember correctly, I believe I squeaked out, “Really?” in shock and disbelief.
From Thanksgiving until my 40th wedding anniversary on December 14th, things were touch and go. My husband hoped we would have one last Christmas together and intended to spoil me. He and my gifted daughter Jenny worked hours every day on me to improve my health. Other loved ones also came to help. Friends and family sent expensive health products and supplements to help extend my life.
I improved so much that it appeared they did help! I was surprised because I had been close to death many times during that period. Additionally, 3 years ago, on the 5th of November 2021, I was prompted to go to the temple. While there, Heavenly Father let me know that I had about three or four years left, and then I had a mission on the other side of the veil.
After a series of mini-strokes this past January, I felt a little stronger, but not well enough to care for myself. I felt my time on earth was drawing to a close, so I began eating unhealthy food, which is rare for me.
Things became quite challenging, but I will skip the details. A strange thing happened the first of February. I could not feel my prayers getting past the ceiling. It seemed Heaven had turned to brass. Even though I knew very well Father was there, I felt alone and unheard. Since I was a young child I had had true dreams and many impressions that were touchstones for my future. This was the first time I felt as though I was blindly wandering in darkness.
For weeks I pleaded for direction and understanding. Why was I still in mortality? Occasionally, a slight prompting may have slipped through the darkness indicating that I had one last assignment here.
One last assignment? But I could hardly stay alert. Not to mention my mind was not exactly at its best anymore… at all. In fact, it was so fuzzy that I literally couldn’t organize my thoughts. During January and the first half of February, I had lost interest in world events which was shocking to me.
In the middle of February, dramatic changes in world events grabbed my attention. My alarm grew as well as my frustrations because I couldn’t get through to the heavens.
Then on Friday evening, March 7, Heavenly Father tried one more time with a stronger message. And this one had a sense of urgency about it. I sincerely believed I didn’t have the strength or mental capacity to do anything more. Then I remembered Nephi’s words:
I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. (1 Nephi 3:7)
And still, I hesitated.
Then on Sunday night, March 9, I understood. As I explained to the Lord, I was retired. I may have sensed a small, long-suffering smile, and the message came. Endure to the end. You are my disciple. I smiled and knew that He had me. My rebellion ended. As I surrendered and laid back, I was at peace. Then suddenly, I knew exactly what he wanted me to do!
Glimpses and Visions
The glimpses and visions I had in January of the spiritual and mortal armies of the Lord of Sabaoth became more meaningful. We read of that army in ancient scripture and rabbinical writings.
The Bible Dictionary says that army consists of a mortal army (which I believe is symbolized by the City on the Hill) and also a spiritual army on the other side of the veil. When the stirring from the prayer circle on the temple hill puts in motion a stirring from above by righteous spirits, a vortex is created. This process is often called opening the windows of heaven, or the joining of heaven and earth.
The glimpses I had been shown were of the members thinking Celestial sending prayers of hope above, creating and increasing that stirring so the windows can open wide to let through the armies.
Now is the time when the righteous armies of Heaven and Earth need to become one. The armies of the enemy have engaged the righteous in a massive battle. The promptings were that ground work needs to be laid for events on earth that are already in motion.
We have all seen the chaos. Those thoughts flashed by in a few seconds and then He showed me what I was to do.
In the prayer circle, there is a strong clockwise stirring from the city on the hill (anyone in prayer circles all over the world who are keeping their commandments). This energy goes upwards through the veil above. The window that opens at that veil allows us to then be clothed upon with charity and we are endowed with that light lost in the Garden.
There is also a counterclockwise spin from that altar that spirals down. This spiral has become very weak so that the light above and darkness below are out of balance.
Father asked me to see if a few people could help us mentally initiate the downward-spiraling energy until it opens the dimension doors down to the underworld, the symbolic but also very real spirit prison.
The purpose of this action would be to bring more light from above down onto the battleground in mortality and to the underworld. Light brings order.
Besides bringing light, there is another more important reason for the counterclockwise spinning below. It opens a portal into the underworld.
In Doctrine and Covenant 112: 15-17. In verse 15, we read that Joseph has keys. We knew that, but this scripture block seems to refer to specific keys for the time period when the Church was going to be cleansed because of iniquity. These keys would be Joseph’s until the Lord came again. This is part of his role as head of the 7th Dispensation.
Verse 16, discusses the keys held by the president of the Twelve, and indeed all the Twelve jointly.
Then, in verse 17 we read that the president of the Twelve has keys to unlock the door of the kingdom where the First Presidency cannot come.
It is my personal opinion that the First Presidency represents the role of kingship as a proxy for the King of Kings through priesthood authority. Additionally, I believe the Twelve can represent the Bride—meaning the Bride of Christ or Zion.
My theory, based on research and what I was shown on March 9th, indicates that the Bride/Zion opens the veil/dimension down into the underworld. Ancient cultures called this fallen Earth the dark womb.
The Saints who make up a prayer circle, represent righteous men and women who are that city on the hill. This is how Zion battles the adversary. When ancient Israel was attacked by enemy tribes, they surrounded the tabernacle. The windows of heaven were opened and they had the clouds by day and pillar of fire by night.
We, latter-day Israel, must ascend that hill and join the city of Zion in order to open those windows wide. Think Celestial. But also, please, through focused intent, help strengthen the counterclockwise spin down into the underworld to open a path down through the underworld. This is seen as being done by the Bride/Zion.
Then, Joseph with his keys, can go down and unlock the gates to free the captive spirits. This is what Christ did when He died, although we learn in D&C 138 that He actually sent proxies because the King, Christ cannot go into the underworld. Verse 17 in section 112 suggests this is a similar situation. There are places the King cannot go. That is when a proxy is sent with the keys. The head of the 7th Dispensation who will go to wield those keys once the path is fully opened.
It is the plan of the Adversary to destroy the church and retain dominion over it. Wickedness has been growing in the Church. D&C 112:25 shows that there must be a cleansing or all would be destroyed. At this time, we can all see a shaking up. More righteous warriors are needed. What is happening now will bring many more armies to aid us. In scenes that are unfolding as we watch, we will stir as one with our fire of faith. Sending up our hopes with one voice we will receive the light from above and increase the powers of good in this battle.
The trials described in the first half of D&C 112 are brought about by unfaithfulness. Now is the time to repent because events are pointing to a gradual roll-out of ideological and physical war.
How much the Church will suffer depends on how well we do our job now. The next verse may indicate that we will end the worst of our chastisement in time to enlarge and strengthen that spiritual Zion so we can then save the day. Verse 25 states, And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord.
The vortex created by the stirring prayers of the faithful opens the way for many to emerge from the underworld so that they can join with the Lord’s armies. These individuals could include the righteous souls who are ready to be resurrected, those who have heard and accepted the gospel in the spirit world, and even some who had to suffer to pay the penalty for sins committed in mortality but who have repented. Having been cleansed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, they now desire to battle on the side of truth and right. These are prepared to battle with the righteous on the Lord’s side.
The Heavens open
As I begin writing this on Monday, March 10, 2025, finally the brass ceiling is gone. I am finally listening to Him. So He is letting me know He is listening to me. The heavens are once again open, and I feel as though I’m basking in sunshine. The peace is thick and sweet like honeysuckle. I’m keeping my eye single to His glory.
I send up my praises, He sends it back as overflowing waters of joy. We can find that Heavenly substance of joy like a bright fire even though storms are raging outside.
My Message
The war that took place in the preexistence continues and is intensifying. Satan wants to maintain control over his dominion. He wants to thwart the designs and purposes of God and will battle us both individually and collectively. He wants to prevent the fulfillment of prophecies that lead up to the Second Coming of the Savior. Not only is the gathering of Israel taking place on both sides of the veil, but opposing forces are also working to undermine God’s purposes on both sides. The battle is real. And it is underway and in array NOW. This is a spiritual conflict between the righteous forces of light and the forces of evil and darkness.
I have come to understand through my research that April 2025, is a critical time. Darkness and light are getting out of balance and extra effort is needed to increase righteousness and light.
Satan is trying desperately to hold onto his underworld dominion, but the time has come to begin the long process of cleansing the earth so that the Lord can lay claim to it.
This cleansing begins an accelerated period of resurrection. This will fulfill numerous ancient prophecies, including many from the Old Testament, about this moment in time.
The best religion teacher I ever had taught us that there will be many resurrected beings upon the earth in the last days to help defeat the enemy and to bring to pass the Second Coming of Jesus Christ in power and glory.
Spring 2025 – A Critical Time
I was constantly scraping my jaw off the floor the day Father in Heaven laid out the story of why this increase in the vortex to the underworld had to happen now. The story begins on Ash Wednesday (March 5 in 2025). As observed by the Catholics, this day begins as a 40 day period of repentance, which ends with Easter week. We know that the number 40 is the number associated with birth.
Interestingly, on March 13 there was a rare kind of blood moon eclipse. The Incas and other early cultures believed that with eclipses a door opens above to allow a spiritual birthing to a higher place. Another door also opens downward making this a time of judgment for the wicked who step down into greater darkness.
In a rare coupling of signs, the evening of the blood moon was also the beginning of Purim, the feast celebrating Queen Esther who saved her people from the plot to destroy Israel/Bride. At that time Israel was ready to be released from captivity and Esther was able to convince the king to let them return. Once again, there are many in the underworld who have faithfully completed their repentance on the covenant path and are worthy to be released from captivity at this time.
When we reenact key events in history, like the creation, the Fall or the Atonement of Jesus Christ we are able, through covenant, to symbolically and quickly do things that took eons of time on Earth. Adam enacted the Fall, Jesus enacted the Atonement. We reenact these sacred covenants and events in the temple. This spring we reenact the steps of planting and growing the great Tree of Life—originally planted in the Garden of Eden.
As mentioned, there is a small counterclockwise spinning that symbolically drills a small hole into the underworld so that the seed can be planted. We are reenacting the planting of the seed of the Tree of Life in the garden of Eden at the beginning of time.
The Celtics were among those who faithfully taught principles of the Tree of Life, the Great World Tree whose branches reach into the heavens and whose roots grow down into the underworld. The trunk represents the middle world. The Celtics taught that this seed of the Tree of Life was planted each year on the spring equinox. This year, the seed was planted on the morning of March 20th—the first day of spring to represent the seed for the Tree of Life that was planted in the Garden of Eden.
According to Celtic tradition, the symbolic seed is planted by Bridget whose name means Bride. This shows that it is the Bride who prepares the soil and plants the seed and opens the path. We pray that a counter-clockwise spin will help unfurl the roots so they can drill down deep into the soil of the underworld to open the path below.
The Tree of Life demonstrates that the world tree unites the heavens above, the middle world, and the underworld. Facsimile 2 in the Book of Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price depicts the underworld as the bottom third of the facsimile. Just as the Celtic tree above can be flipped upside down, the underworld is a reflection of the Heavens above but corrupted by the Adversary.
Much truth is found in the writings of the ancient Egyptians. They taught that those who are in the underworld are being helped and assisted by the Egyptian Goddess Isis who represents the bride and who is also administrator of that realm. She helps make ready those in the underworld who need to be cleansed, endowed, and birthed through the veil into a higher state.
April 6th is the anniversary of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. On April 6th, Conference Sunday 2025, the seed will have been nurtured until the bud springs forth from the earth representing the resurrection. The Prophet will be speaking on April 6th and I have felt an impression that he will insert a subtle message that will help us further understand this process if we have ears to hear2.
The seed continues to grow until its roots have reached the bottom of the underworld by May 1st. The Celtic tradition is that young girls with crowns of boughs and flowers upon their heads dance around the May pole which represents the Tree of Life. The Celtic priests understood that this dance symbolized the unifying of the Bride. This renewal of the Tree of Life in the last days sets the stage for modern Israel to be grafted, as branches, back into the Tree of Life like in Jacob 5. This represents the unity of the Bride in the Latter-days.
The maidens join together in the Bride dance, twirling the rainbow colors of the seven ribbons round and round. They weave the ribbons together, creating the Norse mythological Rainbow Bridge that opens the way for the repentant to be birthed from the underworld back to the presence of the Lord. This May Day tradition represents the Bride completing a part of her role to open the path into the underworld so the womb can release those who are ready for rebirth. Dr. Hugh Nibley taught that the true door to the temple was from the underworld up through the baptismal font (a place of rebirth) into a terrestrial condition.
May 1st would be the moment when the head of the 7th dispensation would descend with his keys to open the gates of the underworld, releasing those who are qualified and prepared to assist the Lord in his work. Their assistance is especially needed at this time.
So the battle that is going on now, in April 2025, is one to plant a seed and establish the Tree of Life and we can each assist with that. The symbolic planting of the seed began with the spring equinox on March 20 but is an ongoing process for a few subsequent weeks. Once planted, that seed will sprout and grow. With roots deep in the earth, it will emerge becoming a tree of life with a strong trunk of protection, and branches that spread outward to bless the earth.
Understanding the concept of a “stirring from below” can make a difference in our efforts to help plant and nourish the seed. The message can be simplified down to very basic principles–a stirring above and below. Imagine that you are cupping your hands while spinning to the left faster and faster. That spinning can be something like a whirlwind .
How Can We Help - A Stirring Below
Anciently it was commonly taught that there must be a stirring from below before there is a stirring from above. Think of all the things we can do that bring God’s power into our lives. We keep the commandments, engage anxiously/earnestly in doing good and serving others, pay our tithes, attend the temple, etc.
Imagine this: Our obedience and sacrifice can help put things in motion. To exponentially increase this motion takes the most crucial key of all: unity. Together we, as in a prayer circle, create this motion. This is a stirring below, which in turn causes a similar stirring above in the spirit world. As we petition the Heavens, exercise faith, fast and pray and more, with focused intent, our efforts become more efficacious. In a way, the two actions can create a vortex and open the heavens so that blessings can flow down.
The drawing down of the powers of heaven may be likened to a whirlwind. In the scriptures we learn that the spirit can be manifest as a mighty rushing wind. Think of the dedication of the Kirtland Temple. While whirlwinds can bring judgment, they can also protect the righteous and accomplish good things. It was a whirlwind that took Elijah up to heaven.
Counterclockwise
With whirlwinds in mind, think of a tornado coming down to touch the earth. The more people who engage, the broader and more powerful the tornado becomes and the faster it spins. When this happens a tail is formed which reaches down, spiraling symbolically through the underworld to open a pathway for escape. This pathway is a reversal of the fall, the covenant path. (There are many more layers of this covenant path which we don’t have time to go into.)
Imagine that this tail continues downward and digs a deep hole in the underworld to plant the seed of the Tree of Life i.e. Christ.
I have found that it helps me focus if I picture in my mind’s eye a stirring motion spinning in a counterclockwise direction. I imagine cupping my hands while spinning to the left faster and faster, going deeper and deeper into the underworld to plant the seed of the Tree of Life.
So where do the stirring below and the stirring above meet and what happens when they do?
The altar in the temple, the Tree of Life, and the center of Facsimile 2 all represent the place where earth and heaven connect. At that place, a prayer circle of fiery faith prepares a sacred space so nothing corrupt can be introduced as unified prayers of faith and hope ascend from the altar to the heavens. We bring an acceptable sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit to the altar and offer all we have to our Father.
What happens after May 1st?
While the conflict between good and evil continues, those standing for truth and righteousness will receive reinforcements as they will be joined by others who desire to come forward to further the cause of Zion. Still, we must follow Captain Moroni and stand in places of protection and place upon ourselves the Whole Armor of God.
The faithful will follow the path that leads up the temple hill, where we unite in the court on the hill spoken of by Jesus. Repentant and cleansed through His blood, we are ready for the sacred binding that joins the Bridegroom with the Bride at the veil. The windows opened by the stirrings below and above part the veil that unites heaven and earth. Because like attracts like, thinking celestial, helps that happen.
As the Lord’s purposes move forward, we can each help tremendously. Individually, we can press forward on the covenant path remembering the admonition, Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. As we ascend the temple hill of the Lord with greater understanding and focused intent, we can be touched by the finger of God and become the candles on the hill. Our personal faith, obedience and consecration can contribute to the collective stirring below.
When we, as the Bride, gather together in unity around our Savior, the Bridegroom, we become of one heart and mind, Zion. Our oneness draws down more light and, blessed with the Spirit of the Lord, we become the shining lamp. As conduits of the light, we can pour out the light of Christ and go forth to bless the world. Thus the power of darkness is vanquished and the earth is prepared to receive the Lord.
Special thanks to Sharon Price Anderson, Terrie Soberg, and Robert Bischoff for their assistance.
Footnotes
I do not speak for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This article is a surprising twist that is founded on my 55 years of research.↩︎
I am updating this after April General Conference. The Prophet spoke on the power of charity. As Nikola Tesla taught, everything is frequency. My research has convinced me that charity, light, and knowledge are the same frequency. So charity/light/knowledge is our best weapon to push back darkness. The vortex opens a pathway down to the bottom of the underworld, and that pathway must be filled with charity to push back darkness and stabilize the pathway.↩︎