LDS and Weird Spiritual Experiences: The Tale of Sister Cleo

[_KimberlyAnn]

With all the talk of weird spiritual visitations and experiences on the board of late, I thought I'd offer the following story about my favorite visionary Mormon, Sister Cleo:

Sister Cleo (name changed ;)) was the strangest lady in Relief Society. A tall, lanky lady in her sixties, she had long hair that was dyed pitch black and was worn in a severe bun or pony tail that pulled the skin back on her forehead, arching up her drawn-on eyebrows and forcing her face into an expression of constant surprise.

There was an aura surrounding her of mysterious spirituality, intrigue, and instability, like she was teetering on the edge of sanity and we were all a little afraid to cross her. She commanded respect mingled with fear. Some of the sisters thought she was a prophetess. I thought she was crazy. And a heretic.

Sister Cleo loudly expressed her opinion that various leaders had been led astray from the true will of God, which she would insinuate that she knew, of course, by revelation or dreams. It was rumored that she was a Sunstoner, whatever that was. I certainly didn't know at the time.

There were a lucky few who were privy to the inner thoughts and revelations of Sister Cleo. The rest of us tried to glean what we could about the mysterious woman through rumor and speculation. Every so often, she had a dream that she was commanded to share with the ward in Fast and Testimony meeting. One such revelation occurred after the excommunication of Avraham Gileadi. She informed the ward that she had received revelation that his status in the church had been fixed since the pre-existence and no church court or council could change that. We were all speechless. But no one said anything to Sister Cleo. Perhaps, down deep inside, we were afraid she'd put a curse on us...

I was one of the lucky ones about whom Sister Cleo had occasional dreams. She would tell me what they were and what they meant. Whispering in the most reverent of tones, the kind usually reserved for the temple, she would relate the dreams to me and command that they be kept sacred and not shared with anyone. They were often predictions of my children's future roles in the church or how I was going to be called by the Lord into a special service, which she could not divulge. None of her predictions ever came true, of course, but I nevertheless held a certain amount of awe for Sister Cleo because of the certainty she had in her own ability.

No one saw as many spirits in the temple as Sister Cleo. She confidently announced that the dead for whom she completed the endowment had accepted the work and were immediately released from spirit prison and were receiving a warm reception from long lost relatives in Paradise. She would declare that all the baptisms the youth performed for the dead were accepted. No one could touch Sister Cleo when it came to experiencing moving revelations and visions that were too sacred to be shared.

After I left the church, Sister Cleo paid me a visit. She told me she had many reservations concerning the Joseph Smith story, polygamy, the Book of Mormon and other vital doctrines necessary for maintaining a belief that Mormonism is the world's one true religion. I was shocked, to say the least. She also told me that she had an undeniable testimony that the church was, in spite of all it's problems, true. Sister Cleo predicted my eventual return to the fold. I haven't heard from her since.

Did anyone else have a Sister Cleo in their ward? I can't imagine a church as bizarre as Mormonism didn't produce thousands of people like her.

I know we're all familiar with at least a few of them...

Kimberly Ann

[_quaker]

Unfortunately most of the weirdos get away, even after we put so much effort into producing them.

[_KimberlyAnn]

'Tis true, Quaker. I certainly escaped!

Not once did I ever believe God spoke audibly to me, nor did I ever have visions or revelations, but I did errantly believe God guided me by feelings. Bosom burnings. I believed the Holy Ghost inspired me to take care of my children in a certain way, or check up on them because they might be in danger, but really, that wasn't the case at all. I was attributing things, feelings, and thoughts wrongly to God or other spiritual phenomena. So, I'm poking fun at my former self when I write posts about what I consider to be goofy Mormon beliefs or oddities of Mormon culture. I was once a part of that culture, and I held similarly odd beliefs.

But I am very glad I got away. :)

KA

[_LifeOnaPlate]

'fraid I don't.

[_The Nehor]

I've met a few though while she was confident I didn't think she knew what she was talking about....particularly when she told me I was going to marry her daughter....who is 10 years older and 150 pounds heavier than me. She is also an apostate and an alcoholic. i was told I would lead her back. 5 years later...........uhhhh, nothing.

[_Dr. Shades]

That's pretty wild. Was she married? If so, what was her husband like?

I just wonder what sort of people these "Sister Cleo" types end up hooking up with.

[_The Nehor]

That's pretty wild. Was she married? If so, what was her husband like?

I just wonder what sort of people these "Sister Cleo" types end up hooking up with.

Stop looking at me. ;)

[_KimberlyAnn]

That's pretty wild. Was she married? If so, what was her husband like?

I just wonder what sort of people these "Sister Cleo" types end up hooking up with.

Yeah, she was married to an older man. Fifteen or so years her senior. I don't know much about him, because I don't think his health was good, so he wasn't as active as his odd wife, Sister Cleo.

KA

[_Dr. Shades]

Huh. She was married after all.

If she was in her sixties, then you probably wouldn't've known her children even if she had any.

But if she did have children, I wonder what they're like?

[_moksha]

Huh. She was married after all.

If she was in her sixties, then you probably wouldn't've known her children even if she had any.

But if she did have children, I wonder what they're like?

Are you still thinking about a hook-up for Nehor?