Let me state at the outset that The Message appeared dangerously close to being a clone of an earlier book, I Saw Heaven, reviewed by me a few years ago. Given the story -- a man has an accident, he visits the Spirit World, learns lessons, comes back, etc., etc. -- The Message sounded just like the earlier book. Would new ground be broken? Would Richardson have something original to say?

The book opens with Richardson explaining how he got himself into his predicament -- an unfortunate motorcycle accident puts him into the hospital. Already suffering from poor health, this event pushes him over the edge, and he goes into a deep coma. During this time, he visits Paradise where he is greeted by loved ones. While there, he is taught important spiritual lessons.

(Those familiar with the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg will recognize his theology here. LDS authors Brent and Wendy Top, among others, have acknowledged Swedenborg's contribution to the world's understanding of death and after-life. Mormonism, coming nearly half a century after Swedenborg's death, echoes many of his thoughts.)

I Saw Heaven was just bloated with theological teachings, some of them sound and some of them not. You may recall that the publisher was able to list the teachings of the book, one to a line, across several pages. I didn't like I Saw Heaven -- it simply wasn't believable.

But The Message is a better book. The focus of Richardson's Message is not so much doctrinal, but practical. What most deeply impressed Richardson was the idea of Service (he uses the capital letter). Building a Zion society is accomplished by living a life of service (also a solid Swedenborgian idea, by the way.)

Subsequent to his recovery, he and his family, along with some friends, set out on a two-week journey through several states, searching for opportunities for service. The nicest part of the book, I thought, was where this trip, and their wonderful experiences along the way, are described.

Some attention should be paid to the insights Richardson received concerning our nation. On pages 116-117, he lists five concerns expressed to him by those in the Spirit World with regards to America's slipping moral standards and the dissolution of the family. As the family is the central unit of Paradise, it ought to be of paramount importance to us in this lifetime. Some of the rhetoric in this section might be of less interest to those of a less-conservative bent.

A few critical comments:

I know I must sound like a broken record, but I really wish an editor were available during the publishing process. Subject/verb disagreement, irrational use of punctuation (in particular commas and semicolons) detract from the message of "The Message." This is not a major work. How much time would it have taken to have an editor read the manuscript?

The book cover is a little confusing. On the upper left corner we read:

If a man were to die, and then return, what message might those from the world beyond send back to us?

Technically, Richardson was never dead. A coma is not death. I'm not clear what he meant by this.

And finally, the opening chapters, describing his family and their reaction to his accident, are just a bit too teary for me. The first 50 pages are devoted to pre-Spirit World-visit events. A little too much, in my opinion.

Richardson nowhere mentions his Mormon connection. The Message is clearly meant for a wider audience. He is described as a "strong Christian," but that's about all that's said about his religious affiliation.

Remarkably, this book is currently a Deseret Book bestseller! Why is The Message selling so well while I Saw Heaven fizzled into obscurity? Perhaps because Richardson had the wisdom to bring out a practical application for his experience, and then acted upon it. It puts flesh onto the event.

I should say in closing that, during his visit to Paradise, Richardson was allowed to return to earth to invisibly visit his family. He was able to observe his wife driving her car, his children in school, etc. Much later, he would report this to his family. Understandably skeptical, Richardson then identifies the very song playing on the radio at the time he visited, and the fact that she was singing along with it. He mentions specific observances of his children. Are all confirmed by his family. If these reports are true, then Richardson may very well have experienced what he reports.

If, indeed, Richardson is right in his understanding of the life to come and its relevance to this life, then The Message merits a wide audience.

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Jeff Needle
jeff.needle@general.com