Gift of Tongues Miracle, Swedish Translation of General Conference with Prophet Harold B. Lee

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Miracles from our loving Heavenly Father, are not given to convert the unbeliever. On the contrary, miracles are given to believers to reiterate what is already known. Many, mistakenly believe they would have faith in God, if they were only shown miraculous miracles of God first. God has systems and patterns to his work, and one of those patterns is that our Father in Heaven rewards his faithful children, and sometimes those rewards are miracles from Heaven. In the book "Harold B. Lee, Remembering the Miracles," President Lee recorded the miracles that he witnessed or miracles that were shared with him. President Lee often would teach from these miracles, reminding these Saints that they experienced that miracle because their loving Father in Heaven needed them to experience it. As miracles are experienced throughout the world, and in your life, ponder why our Father in Heaven wanted you to have this experience, what did it teach you, and what changes do you need to make in your life to be worthy of more miracles from God.

This miracle was recorded by a man named Ernest N. Eklof. Ernest Eklof was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Sweden and worked in the Churches translation department. While translating for President Harold B. Lee Ernest has a miraculous experience, this is what he recorded:

"While I was serving as a interpreter at the October 1973 general conference of the Church, I was made aware that some Swedish brethren were attending the conference who had never attended before and perhaps would never come again. I therefore had a great desire that they receive everything the prophet had to deliver. As the general priesthood meeting began, I had an experience which I have had before.

Not having a script I commended myself completely into the hands of the Lord. As President Harold B. Lee began to speak, I was startled by the fact that I knew before hand what he was going to say. The words came in groups before he spoke them. Nevertheless, I dared not translate them and deliver the translations, fearing that some might be my own thoughts. In the past I have usually closed my eyes to better listen, then translate the words in my mind and deliver the interpretation. This time, however, the Spirit told me to not close my eyes, but to keep them on the speaker. Then something almost unbelievable happened.

At President Lee's left temple appeared his thoughts-which were the exact words that had only a moment earlier entered my mind-written in golden letters in an absolutely perfect handwriting. The letters were about two inches in height and the thickness of the writing was about 1/16 of an inch. The words came towards me and passed before my eyes at a distance of somewhat more than twelve inches. They did not appear to be written on anything, but hung as if written in the air. Both the words entering my mind and the writing were in English, exactly as he spoke them moments later. This gave me time to translate his message into Swedish and deliver the interpretation thereof at the very same moment he spoke the words in English from the pulpit.

Not only did I receive the words of his thoughts in my mind and not only did I see the writing but at the same time was given the complete understanding of the meaning in English. Never have I gelt the inspiration of the Lord more pronounced than I did during this experience. The same experience happened during his closing remarks on Sunday afternoon, expect that words remained near his temple rather than coming towards me.

After the session ended, I spoke with the Swedish members in attendance. They expressed amazement at what they experienced, telling me that they heard the interpretation and understood enough to realize that the interpreted message was delivered at the same moment Elder Lee spoke the very words in English. They would never forget this "fantastic" experience, they said.

President Harold B. Lee wrote to Brother Eklof saying:

"As I read your spiritual experience in making a direct translation, I had a feeling that your experience must have been similar to that which the Prophet Joseph Smith experienced when he translated the gold plates into English. He must have had about the same kind of thing that was given to you by the Spirit, as words came to him as he concentrated spiritually and saw the meaining and dictated them to the scripbe on the other side of the screen.

Thank you for sharing this most sacred experience from you, one of the most dramatic experiences of the gift of tongues that may be enjoyed by the translators, that I have ever experienced. I do so much appreciated you and thank you for all you have done and for this confidence that you have entrusted to me."

Only days after replying to Brother Eklof, President Lee was asked to speak at the homecoming of Ricks College, now known as BYU Idaho. There were over 5,000 people in the audience to listen to this powerful talk. President Lee read the letter from Brother Eklof. It was given only two months before the death of the Prophet Harold B. Lee on October 26, 1973.

President Lee said:

"Latter-day Saints, don't you think for a moment that the Lord does not have the means of communicating with us, sending us messages that ware beyond our understanding, even to the translating an unknown language into our understandable language. He did it with the Prophet Joseph. He did it with King Mosiah. He has done it with others. He will do it today, as we have need. I have no doubt.

My whole soul pleads that I may so live that if the Lord has any communication that He would wish me to receive for my beloved people that I could be a pure vessel through which that message could come. I do not ask for anything. I do not want for anything more than the Lord is willing to send, but I trust that I may live worthy so that I won't be a lame vessel or a broken reed that the Lord cannot use in times when He was to communicate with His people."

Reference:

"Harold B. Lee, Remembering the Miracle" p.19