Author Nearly Squeezed Out of Auditorium

'Embraced' Author Nearly Squeezed out of Auditorium
By Janis Stuart
The Clipper

They abandoned their cars on the grass and on the sidewalks. They crashed through the back doors. And the police had to be called to control the crowds. Was it Michael Jackson? Michael Jordan? No. The crowds that brought traffic to a halt in Davis County Monday wanted to hear the message of Betty Eadie.

And who is this person that manages to draw such enormous crowds where ever she goes? She doesn't have a doctorate, she doesn't have a formal title, and she has no professional knowledge of theology. Betty Eadie is an "experiencer."

At the age of 31, Betty Eadie was recovering in the hospital after surgery. She was expected to recover fully. What wasn't expected was what happened next. Eadie died from complications . . . and then, she lived again. Her near death experience is considered one of the most amazing on record. Only after accepting the urgings of her did Eadie put her experience in book form. The book's incredible success influenced Eadie's choice to join the speaking circuit to share her experience with others.

Eadie's book, Embraced by the Light is now the Mountain West's number one best selling book. In her efforts to shave her new knowledge with others. Eadie agreed to a speaking engagement at Woods Cross High School on Feb. 8.

The response was phenomenal. Prior to the engagement, vehicles were lined up blocking three freeway exits and entrances as they attempted to reach the school.

Eadie was caught in the traffic jam. Finding herself stuck in the gridlock, Eadie rolled down her car window and asked someone what all the excitement was about and why there were so many cars. "Everyone is going to see Betty Eadie," she was told. Eadie herself was a half hour late for her own presentation.

The parking lot was overflowing with vehicles and when all of the legal spaces were full, people parked illegally. Prior to the beginning of the performance, an announcement was made stating that all illegally parked vehicles would be towed away. Very few drivers left to move their cars. They chose instead to risk loosing their cars rather than loosing their seats in the audience.

The presentation was not scheduled to begin until 7, but with so many people waiting, the decision was made to let the crowd enter at around 5 p.m. Almost instantly the auditorium was full, then the gym was full, and then the Little Theatre was full.

To say that the response to Eadie's appearance at Woods Cross was incredible would be an "understatement, "according" to LaDean Tingey of Carr Stationary in Bountiful, who was able to obtain seating inside the school.

"People on the inside were opening secured doors to let others in," explained Elaine Durham. "The music teacher had to organize his students to man the doors until the police arrived."

Durham explained that Eadie's popularity draws from the fact that she reaches people on a grass roots level. Embraced By The Light is not about ego. It is a very honest book," state Durham. "Through it, people find hope."

Durham tells of one woman who had lost her brother a year ago, her father six months ago and three months ago her mother committed suicide because "she couldn't stand it." The woman found peace after listening to Eadie. "I just needed to know that Mom was not in some hellish place," the woman explained.

Embraced By The Light is unique among near death experience books due to its detail. "Eadie remembers most of what she saw and learned on "the other side." She has an almost photographic view of the world beyond," said Marc Garrison of Aspen Books, distributor of Embraced By The Light.

"You would be amazed at the questions people ask Betty," said Durham. "One person asked about her weight during the experience. 'Did it increase, and by how many onces." "How would she know? She isn't a physics major." However, most people are moved by the peace they find through Eadie's words.

"The presentation was very impressive. You could believe that she was telling the truth, that it really happened," said Tingey of Eadie's speech at Woods Cross.

Dr. Raymond Moody first documented near death experiences approximately ten years ago. His book "Life after Life" has sold more than three million copies. He interviewed thousands of people who had once been declared clinically dead. Moody said that Eadie's experience was "the most profound and complete near death experience ever."

Embraced By The Light is the first book describing the complete experience by a woman, and the message is simple: "Love is supreme . . . Love must govern."