Whenever the scriptures describe this transitional state, which is almost an "out of body experience," they are describing what it is like to be transfigured. Transfiguration is a change wrought upon a mortal to enable him to temporarily withstand the presence of God and to behold the glory of heaven. Without a temporary change, no human can withstand the presence of the Almighty. As Moses said, my natural eyes could not have beheld; for I should have withered and died in his presence (Moses 1:11). This is what happened to Moses, to Paul (2 Cor 12:2-4), to Jesus, Peter, James, and John (Matt 17:31-9), to Joseph Smith (JS-Hist 1:17, DC 137:1), to the three Nephites and others.