Dad's Experience as a Transmitter

The Veil is Thin

This is my recollection of an experience my father had which was a blessing to our neighbors at the time, the Maestas family.  I will begin with a little background.

The local scout troop had planned a campout in the mountains.  My youngest brother Jeff and his friend, Johnny Maestas, were buddies with many of the troop, so even though they were too young by a year, they were invited to tag along.  My mother had promptings of foreboding, and did not allow Jeff to go.  Johnny was permitted and happily went along.

Sometime during the trip, on a troop hike, some members of the troop were a little ahead of the rest, and thus higher on the side of a steep hill on one of the switchbacks above the lower group.  One of the hikers in the lead group accidentally dislodged a large stone, which then rolled down the hill with gathering speed.  It ended up hitting Johnny in the head, producing a mortal wound.

When news got back to our Ward, the neighborhood was in shock.  John Maestas Sr. was our Bishop, and everyone knew the family, and especially Johnny, who was the oldest child.  The grief experienced by the family was shared by many, and our family was deeply affected.

During the time between Johnny’s death and funeral, my father, whom Bishop Maestas had gone out of his way to befriend, sought some peace fishing in Provo Canyon on the Provo River.  He had settled into one of his familiar spots when he heard a voice, “Brother Lambson”.  The voice sounded just like Johnny.  Dad looked around, startled, but saw nothing.  He heard the voice again, “Brother Lambson”.  Not knowing how to respond, and a little frightened, he got out of the river, and moved to a new spot.  He was there for several minutes, and then heard the voice again:  “Brother Lambson, its Johnny.  I need you to tell my family that I am alright”.

Dad was almost undone.  He was not active at this time, but he loved the Bishop and his family and he knew what he had to do.  He got out of the river, put away his equipment, and made his way quickly down the canyon.  He went to the Maestas home and shared with them all he had experienced.  They wept again, together, but grief mingled with gratitude at this tender mercy from beyond the veil.

No one knows why Dad was the instrument of this message.  Some speculated that perhaps the family was so overcome with grief that Johnny could not get through to them.  Whatever the case, the experience has blessed two families for over four decades.