Memorial Day - an interview with an American Hero on the Flipside - Major Brent Taylor

Major Brent Taylor Brent Russell Taylor (July 6, 1979 – November 3, 2018) was an American politician and Army National Guard officer. He served as mayor of North Ogden, Utah from January 2013 until November 2018, when he was killed while serving in Afghanistan.

The following is a transcript of an interview Jennifer Shaffer and I did with Major Brent Taylor.  It was just after he passed, and he didn't think it was the right time for us to inform his family that he was okay, that he had not died - he was just in "another place."

But he was hero to his family, to his town, to his country.  When he passed, my wife Sherry mentioned that she had seen a photograph of his wife, and something told her that we should reach out to him in our weekly interviews. We did last November.

This morning (May 2nd) she reminded me that "it's time" that I post what was learned from him on the flipside.

And as an early Memorial Day post, I am putting this post up for his family and friends to see. (It bears repeating; our loved ones don't die. They move on - but they are not gone. They're just not here.)

The transcript of our conversation with #BrentTaylor is as follows:

Note: Jennifer Shaffer is a medium who works with law enforcement nationwide on missing person cases. I’ve been filming our interviews for the past three years. We began by speaking to people that I knew who had crossed over, details that I could verify, and that expanded into people on the flipside who knew people that I knew, or whom share a “frequency” (musicians, actors, etc). 

Ms. Shaffer

As time progressed, we realized we could talk to anyone who wanted to or agreed to speak with us (not everyone does). I ask fairly non-denominational questions about the path and journey. (For more context, please check out the film or book “Flipside” or “It’s a Wonderful Afterlife,” “Hacking theAfterlife,” and the two books that have come out of our interviews; “BackstagePass to the Flipside: Talking to the Afterlife with Jennifer Shaffer.”)

Our weekly meetings.

The following interview does not fit into a category of people we knew, or could know – but as you’ll see from the interview, we reached out to someone who crossed over and was in the news. In this case it is Major Brent Taylor.  For those of you who don’t know of Major Taylor, Brent was the Mayor of his town North Ogden Utah, was on patrol in Afghanistan, and was killed.  He left behind a family of 7.  

The following is a transcript of what was filmed on November 18^th, 2018. My comments are in italics, and Jennifer’s replies are in bold. (I sometimes "ask" for people to come forward and Jennifer tells me who they are based on some reference, but in this case, I thought he might be too difficult to recognize.)

I have someone I want to bring forward - just because we can – Sherry asked about him. I’m just going to tell you who it is... your dad will know him on the flipside. (Brent was Mormon and Jennifer’s father Jim was a Mormon bishop). This man died last week serving in Afghanistan... His last name is Taylor, his first name is Brent. This was Sherry’s idea, she said to me “You need to reach out to his wife...”

My dad says “They’re on it.” (Meaning: “Asking him to step forward to speak.”)

Can we talk to this guy?

“Yes.”

Very good.

Jennifer smiles.

So Brent tell us about your journey. Officer Taylor from Ogden Utah.

He is very handsome. He has blue eyes.

(Note: He does. I just now checked while posting this pic)

Couple of questions for you. Can I call you Brent?

“Sure.”

So Brent; What the hell were you doing? You were on your fourth tour of duty, what were you thinking? (said in a lighthearted fashion, as I’ve found being lighthearted can yield different kinds of information.)

He says “It was silly... it was...”  I don’t mean silly, he’s joking around. He says "He died, but it was something..." He says “It’s like you come back from skiing and (do something stupid like) hit your head ... something very routine," it felt like.  It happened outside... it was an outside event. It was routine (the mission) – nothing had ever happened before (during a mission), it was like a lone star dad did it.

With a friend who was killed just
after this photo was taken.

(Note: I don’t know what this means; “A lone star dad.”  I think he means someone who lost a family member in battle.  The lone star flag is traditionally the symbol of a family who lost a son or daughter to war (His reference). “The flag is white with a red border and one or more blue stars in the center: one star for each family member serving in the military during times of war or hostility. If a service member dies, the blue star is covered by a gold star.” Wiki)

Was this your 4^th tour?

“Fourth and a half tour.”

(Note: He’s correcting me, and us.  Not a detail Jennifer knew about or knows about nor I. Again, I have not told Jennifer we would speak with this fellow, she’s reporting what she hears or sees verbatim.)

Who was there to greet you?

“God.”

Good, we’ll get back to that.

(Note: For purposes of brevity, I set the "God" comment aside to ask other questions.)

Just a partial family pic.

What do you miss about being here?

“His kids.”

What would you like to tell your kids?

“That I love them and they’ll see me again.”

Anything you want to tell your wife?

“That I’m sorry for leaving.”

Well you’re not gone, really, are you?

“No.”

(Note: It's what people often say. "I know I still exist, but my loved ones don't believe I do.")

Tell us how she can talk and connect to you.

It feels like "After her grief, it’s going to take a long time. It feels like three years; they met when they were young, it felt like they knew instantly... felt like..."

(Note: The best advice we've heard about grief came from Jennifer's dad Jim. He said "turn grief to nostalgia." We asked what he meant; he said "grief only contains sad memories. Nostalgia contains both sad and happy memories. When you can turn grief to nostalgia you can begin to heal.")

Have you had other lifetimes with your wife?

(Jennifer to me:) Give me a second. Give me his name again?

Brent Taylor.

I felt yeah, they knew each other before. But they met each other in school could have been in college.

Not gone. Just not here.

Where or how did you first meet in school?

“Through a friend.”

Show it to Jennifer. Were you inside or outside? Was it at a party?

He showed me online almost...

So you saw a picture of her before you met her?

No, hold on – they knew about each other but they hadn’t met.

So that first time....

I keep getting BYU.

Jennie Taylor

Don’t judge it. Brigham Young University in Ogden; is that you where you met?

(Note: I have no idea where or how he met his wife. Again, we’re meeting him for the first time. When Jennifer gets a detail wrong, it’s because she’s misinterpreting what she’s seeing or hearing. The only way to know how accurate this is to interview his family. Today, while writing this post, I looked up his facebook page, and saw that indeed, he taught at BYU.)

Yes. Outside of BYU – but almost there.

Jim, you can help us with this...

(Note: Jim is Jennifer’s father who is on the flipside.)

Jim says “I’ll try.”

Brent this is Jim, he’s a former Mormon bishop.

He said “he helped him before he came in” (to our discussion today.)

Jim what would you like to tell Brent?

“Don’t judge it.” He showed my head... (Jennifer's head) He said "To not judge the idea that we can talk" (to each other in this fashion.)

Is that for Brent?

Yeah, he’s showing him so he can learn how to do this (communicate) on his own.  (Aside, to me:) We’re the number one class to learn how to talk to their loved ones.

(Note: As mentioned in “Backstage Pass” the format of our discussion with the flipside takes the form of a class – and Luana Anders (my friend on the flipside) moderates the class and offers “backstage passes” to those who want to come and speak with us. In the following exchange, we’ve found in our research that folks on the flipside point out that “all religions” are about selfless, unconditional, familial love.)

I want to be clear that Jennifer’s father Jim can help you Brent, to be aware of the nature of...

“He is.” (Helping him.)

Okay. I’m suggesting this, because you’re going to learn things that may be contrary to what you were taught in church.

That’s what my dad is saying to him; “Don’t judge it.”

Brent is that stressful or weird to have to address it? (This new reality).

“Yes. Everything is weird over here.” It’s like he can’t help (thinking) ..  he’s thinking about his wife and kids who are crying... and showing me that the church is helping them because they’re saying (to them) “they’re going to see each other again.”  But there’s like a big wall, and they can’t hear it. (Or hear Brent).

Brent, we may be able to help them talk to you. Would you like us to help with that?

“Yes, but after the New Year. It’s too soon.”

(Note: In one session, we asked what the "simplest method" of communication was. We were told 1. say the loved one's name. 2. Ask your questions. When I asked "How can people tell the difference between imagination and their loved one?" We were told "When you hear a response before you can actually form the question you'll know you have a connection.")

My wife looked at a picture of your wife and heard the message that she needs help. Who sent my wife that message?

“It came from all of us.”

Perhaps helping your loved ones to understand you still exist and can communicate with them will help other people – I’m not going to take on the dogma of the afterlife from the church; I’ll let Jim do that.

He (Jim) says “He’s doing that over there but says he’s “one of a kind.”

If we can get them to address or accept that people in the Celestial Kingdom are accessible and you can still talk to them; that would that be a thing of value, wouldn’t it?

(Note: My in-laws that are from Utah. My wife's family dates back to Joseph Smith's doctor; they also date back to the American Revolution and the Mayflower. (Resolved White).  By raising the topic of religion is not to disparage it in any way. The point I'm raising isn't to argue about what separates us - but to examine how we are all connected, all part of the same source; spiritually and physically.)

(Jennifer laughs.) My dad said “It’s funny, if I was in the Celestial Kingdom you wouldn’t be able to talk to me.” Hold on. (Jennifer aside to me) It’s like my higher self can talk to my dad, but he’s a fraction of what he is there (energy or soul wise), just like we’re a fraction of what we are here. So my self is talking to him the best way I can.

What I’m asking is, that when I address this with religious folks, for example, when we discuss the idea "in marriage you were sealed...”

“For all time.”

Okay. My point is not religious one, but to point out we are all connected, because it’s the nature of our journey – we are always “sealed” or tethered to each other, to our loved ones. Is that correct?

“The Soul is.”

Okay, thanks for putting up with my side bar.  Let me ask, I read that after your death, a fellow soldier wrote a letter to your wife.

"A close friend," it feels like.

Yes, he was from Afghanistan – Brent trained him... His initials are A. R. – He wrote a beautiful letter to your wife Jennie, reporting that Brent taught him so much about...

“Family.” That’s what Brent said. And “How it inspired him to be better, what it did for his whole family..." He’s talking about it and it’s like people converted too because of him.

Okay. In the letter, he said family isn’t important...

“That it is everything.”

Yes, that is exactly what he wrote.  But tell me Brent, you said that “God was there to greet you...” What was that like? Was god a male, female or an object, a thing? How did you perceive God?

He says “God was energy, like a big enormous amount of energy of love.”  He said he felt like he... “he knew when he experienced that love, he knew he had served well.”

Served... what?

The country, his family...

Okay, but I mean when you’re meeting God and you’re getting that feeling of unconditional love...

“That’s it.” He said it was “Unconditional love.”  I know your question is "What was that?" He says “I felt it more than I saw it. It’s like I felt it and I experienced it.”

So it was a feeling of God, more than seeing God?

He saw God too.

Okay, and this is what I'd like to examine.

(Jennifer pauses) Give me a second. I asked Brent "Was it energy or a person?" He said “It was neither. He said he saw an indescribable light.”

What's I'm examining is, knowing that you’re meeting me and Jennifer and Luana for the first time – there are many around you, here in this classroom, who know about this journey...

He says “I’m very miniscule.”

You’re someone who has had a profound affect on many people.

He’s speaking about his family. He says “His child is having a birthday that is coming up.” (This was November of 2018).

Luana Anders is our guide on the Flipside.

I just want you to know that I ask everyone these questions, and am trying to explore. When you say "It was a bright light..." was it more of a light? A person? Was it more of an experience?

“Yes. It was an experience.”

We’ve heard before... "That God is beyond..."

“Right; it comes all at once.”

(Note: In my book "It's a Wonderful Afterlife" a skeptic asked "Who or what is God?" Her guide told her "God is beyond the capacity of the human brain to comprehend. It's not physically possible. However you can experience God - by opening your heart to everyone and to all things." I was about to ask that question but Brent answered my question before I could form it.) 

What if anything can we learn about that particular radiation of energy?

"Yes, you can learn it - from everybody else that you come in contact with."

(Note: Another way of saying that we’re “all connected” or that we can "open your heart to everyone and all things.")

Everyone has it, (that source energy), is that correct?

“Yes, humans and animals.”

If you don’t mind me asking this question; have you been greeted by anyone whose life was ended by you as a soldier?

“Yes.”

What was that like?

He said “He felt love coming from them. The same God Cure... – it’s like a cure.”

Was that surprising for you?

“Yes. Not surprising, but yes, he knew (with regard to) the way he lived his life...”  

But are you aware now of what people say; that you’ve had many lifetimes?

“Right.”

From what we’ve learned, is it possible to see that these people who died in battle were part of your journey and they signed up for that life experience?

“Correct.”

Any regrets about this journey you’ve taken?

He says “He has no regrets.”

(Note: People under deep hypnosis often claim that everything that occurs during a lifetime was "planned in advance" or "agreed to."  Not that it was "set in stone" because we all have "free will" but I've filmed cases where people recall a previous lifetime (as seen in the film "Flipside") where they had "agreed to participate." This is not theory, opinion or belief - I've been filming them saying these same relative things for over a decade. They often say they have "no regrets" other than leaving too soon - they lived as fully as they could in the time allotted.)

So Brent, anything you miss about being on the planet?

“Everything. -- The air. The trees, the crisp... the crackling of walking on dried leaves and sand between your toes and the salt air of the Salt Lake  and the sunset with his wife his kids... and their toothpaste... (Jennifer puts one hand over the other) The hands that go over... the kid’s hand that goes over his... seeing his son play baseball... seeing his daughter figure skate and his youngest child singing, one of them is singing crazily.  Missing my wife. (After a pause) But not missing her cooking.” (Jennifer laughs.)

(Note: This poured out of Jennifer, this exchange brought tears to my eyes; it’s the first we’ve had someone speak so eloquently, passionately about what they miss about being on the planet. (And the punchline is about as funny as I’ve heard from someone on the flipside.) I have no way of knowing if this is accurate – only his family will.  If it’s not accurate, or misinterpreted, then it was said so that his family (and others) could dismiss this account entirely. If it is accurate, then it was a revelation for them only. Nothing in his comments would prove or disprove what people already believe.)

What was the one dish you didn’t like?

He’s saying “Casserole. Stroganoff.”

Well, what about the Marshmallows-in-Jello dish I see whenever I’m in the All-You-Can-Eat buffet in Utah?

“Yes. That too.”

In terms of Afghanistan; you were there quite a bit. What if anything do you miss about it?

“The people. -- The people trying to work things out, trying to give them responsibility...  um. Seeing people come together and not be torn apart.”

Anything you want to tell Abdul Rahman?

(Note: He’s the fellow who wrote the letter to Jennie Taylor telling her how much her husband taught him in life and wanted to share that with her. I didn’t say his name but Jennifer/Brent knew who I was referring to.)

He’s grateful. He’s grateful. He didn’t know that he would say all those things, but I feel like he helped him. (To write it.)

Are you grateful for writing the letter or for the friendship?

“All of it.”

That’s very profound Brent. Thank you for coming to talk to us, we want you to be aware that Jennifer’s dad can help you at any time.

“He is.”

Thanks Major Brent Taylor.

“Call me Brother Brent.”

Very funny. I promise to reach out to your wife after the New Year.

(Note: Today, my wife mentioned this interview, asked if I had gotten around to reaching out to his wife. This post is my way of reaching out. If you knew Major Taylor or members of his family - please forward. I don't want to intrude - but if you feel moved to, please do.

For those curious about me or my background, “Flipside” “It’s a Wonderful Afterlife” or “Hacking the Afterlife” are the contextual background to this research.  

Jennifer Shaffer works with law enforcement nationwide to help with missing person cases. The two books that came out of our interviews are in “Backstage Pass to the Flipside: Talking to Jennifer Shaffer Book One and Two.”  Jennifer is available to speak to people who want or need to connect to their loved ones, they can find her online at JenniferShaffer.com.

My two cents.