Possession / exorcism

twort · #1 (**permalink**) 02-07-2011, 07:40 PM

I've heard a number of Mormon myths about exorcism and possession, but does anyone know what either the official word from the top is on possession is, or at least what the general concensus is? How do church leaders deal with percieved possession? What is a Mormon exorcism like? Just curious - I know this isn't necessary for my salvation everyone... that's not what I'm asking.

slamjet · #2 (**permalink**) 02-07-2011, 08:37 PM

Mormonism does not have an "exorcism" per-se. I've not heard about any outside of anecdotal stories concerning the driving out of evil spirits. We believe in the healing by the laying on of hands after anointing a person with oil and pronouncing a blessing, as guided by the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus Christ by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, which the person giving the blessing will be ordained to. If the Holy Spirit so dictates to drive out evil, then so be it. But it's not a formal and distinct act (for lack of a better word).

So the short answer would be: there is no dictated or formal exorcism in the church. It is handled by the healing power of the Priesthood Blessing, if the person giving the blessing is so prompted by the Holy Ghost to do so.

prophetofdoom · #3 (**permalink**) 02-07-2011, 08:38 PM

I don't know the current statements of the church with regard to possession or exorcism. I think it rarely occurs, but, a companionship within my district (on my mission of course) witnessed someone they perceived to be possessed by an evil entity. I have heard many other rumors and stories of missionaries casting out devils too.

Backroads · #4 (**permalink**) 02-07-2011, 09:34 PM

Fiance and went and saw The Rite the other weekend (good movie, I recommend it if you like stuff like that). The movie is based on true events, and at the end it mentioned that one of the main characters is one of only 14 practicing Catholic exorcists in the United States. I jokingly said that didn't make me feel very comfortable, and my fiance rolled his eyes and said he would be happy to use the priesthood in the case of a possession rather than trying to find one of 14 US exorcists.

Personally, I do believe possession and exorcism happen in the LDS church. If anyone finds official LDS statements on it, great, but it may be one of those things that simply falls under priesthood duty.

I remember being 13 and going to girls' camp and people (including adults) saying one of the girls in another ward was possessed (I did know my priesthood leaders did have to go to that campsite). But I was 13 and girls' camp is a rumor mill so...

Loudmouth_Mormon · #5 (**permalink**) 02-07-2011, 10:17 PM

Here is an Ensign article talking about why angelic visitations occur more often at certain times than others. Seems like the reasons given would also speak to demonic visitations.

mordorbund · #6 (**permalink**) 02-08-2011, 02:33 AM

Probably not as dramatic as what you're looking for, but Joseph Smith said he was physically bound by the devil - to a point where he couldn't even speak.

A few years later Newell Knight had a possession. Joseph expelled the demon as follows (H of C v1 p82-3):

After he had thus suffered for a time, I succeeded in getting hold of him by the hand, when almost immediately he spoke to me, and with great earnestness requested me to cast the devil out of him, saying that he knew he was in him, and that he also knew that I could cast him out.

I replied, "If you know that I can, it shall be done," and then almost unconsciously I rebuked the devil, and commanded him in the name of Jesus Christ to depart from him; when immediately Newel spoke out and said that he saw the devil leave him and vanish from his sight. This was the first miracle which was done in the Church.

Blackmarch · #7 (**permalink**) 02-08-2011, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twort

I've heard a number of Mormon myths about exorcism and possession, but does anyone know what either the official word from the top is on possession is, or at least what the general concensus is? How do church leaders deal with percieved possession? What is a Mormon exorcism like? Just curious - I know this isn't necessary for my salvation everyone... that's not what I'm asking.

posessions happen. scariest experiences i've ever heard...
the way that priesthood bearers exorcise is that they just command the devil to leave the body by the name of christ and by the priest hood they hold. They tend to be fairly simple.

rameumptom · #8 (**permalink**) 02-08-2011, 08:17 AM

I've been involved in a couple exorcisms - once on my mission. In that instance, we got the mission president's counsel on what to do. 1. Fast and pray 2. Fast and pray 3. Fast and pray 4. See 1-3

Even Jesus noted that possessions can be tricky things, and that sometimes a spirit that has been cast out will return with others to an empty vessel. Not a fun experience, and one I'd prefer not having again.

anatess · #9 (**permalink**) 02-08-2011, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backroads

Fiance and went and saw The Rite the other weekend (good movie, I recommend it if you like stuff like that). The movie is based on true events, and at the end it mentioned that one of the main characters is one of only 14 practicing Catholic exorcists in the United States. I jokingly said that didn't make me feel very comfortable, and my fiance rolled his eyes and said he would be happy to use the priesthood in the case of a possession rather than trying to find one of 14 US exorcists.

Personally, I do believe possession and exorcism happen in the LDS church. If anyone finds official LDS statements on it, great, but it may be one of those things that simply falls under priesthood duty.

I remember being 13 and going to girls' camp and people (including adults) saying one of the girls in another ward was possessed (I did know my priesthood leaders did have to go to that campsite). But I was 13 and girls' camp is a rumor mill so...

Uhm... the movie is as true as the DaVinci Code. It's a masterful intertwining of fact and fiction so that you don't see where one ends and the other begins. For example - there is no Michael Kovak, the mortician turned exorcist who now exorcises in Chicago. And there's no Father Lucas either.

Yes, there's a 2-month exorcism course in Rome, but that's about the only factual thing in that movie.

Backroads · #10 (**permalink**) 02-08-2011, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anatess

Uhm... the movie is as true as the DaVinci Code. It's a masterful intertwining of fact and fiction so that you don't see where one ends and the other begins. For example - there is no Michael Kovak, the mortician turned exorcist who now exorcises in Chicago. And there's no Father Lucas either.

Yes, there's a 2-month exorcism course in Rome, but that's about the only factual thing in that movie.

Hence, based on true events. My brother works in film, I know history, I can tell the difference... we researched it, it is linked to real people and real events. It was more factual than the events The Exorcist were based upon--perhaps the most boring series of events ever turned horror movie.