Demonic Possession, The Taboo Topic
by Robert Rosskopf
Demonic possession is a topic rarely discussed in the LDS church or its literature. The fear of attracting unwelcome attention from demonic forces serves to make this a taboo topic. I have some personal experience with this topic and hope to provide some insight. I highly recommend that readers use caution. It is best to prepare oneself spiritually, before studying this topic. I am deeply conflicted over whether I should even provide this article. I have no doubt that many will scoff, and some will be frightened, but perhaps some few may find healing.
Central to the doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is the belief in God, and evil spirits that oppose God. This idea is embodied in a play that is enacted in LDS Temples. This play is called The Endowment. It symbolizes the war between Satan and God over the soul of man, and man's redemption from the fall. Both Satan and God have organizations that compete for political power. Each organization has very different ideas about the ideal society, which they promote. There are two kingdoms, the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of Satan, and every man must choose between them.
The kingdom of God is often referred to as the kingdom of heaven although sometimes it is shortened to just "heaven". Jesus preached that he came down from "heaven", meaning that he left the Kingdom of God to come to the earth, and be born as a baby.
"For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will." - John 6:38
This idea is reinforced in Nephi's vision. An angel stands before Nephi and asks him "Do you understand the condescension of God?" (1 Nephi 11:16) The angel is using the lessor of the two meanings for this word; "2: voluntary descent from one's rank" (Merriam-Webster). Nephi doesn't understand the condescension of God, so the angel elaborates: "And he said unto me: “Behold, the virgin which thou seest is the mother of God, after the manner of the flesh.”(v. 17- Printers Manuscript, Book of Mormon, 1830) This was changed to "mother of the Son of God" in later editions, which obscures the original meaning. It was Jehovah, Nephi's God, and God of the Israelites, that is to be born of a virgin, and thus condescend.
Whereas God willingly gives up his rank as God, to be born as a helpless baby, Satan was forced out of heaven, or the kingdom of heaven, and cast out to the earth. The implication is that the kingdom of Satan is terrestrial, rooted only to the earth and its environs. Satan is described as the "God" of this world. (2nd Corinthians 4:4)
Jesus is Jehovah
Almost no one in the Christian worldview, associates Jesus with the premortal Jehovah. So Joseph Smith added the words "son of" to 1 Nephi 11:17, to distinguish Jesus from God the Father. "God the Father" is primarily a Christian concept. Before the birth of Jesus, there is little to no mention of Jehovah having a father. Yet Peter proclaims that Jesus is the messiah, the Son of God(Matthew 16:16). So there must have been traditions about a son of God. There is one unambiguous reference to a son of God in the Old Testament.
"Who has ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped the waters in His garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know!" (Proverbs 30:4)
Among the Dead Sea Scrolls, was a version of Deuteronomy that is slightly different than the later versions:
"When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.
But the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage." (Deuteronomy 32:8)
The later versions have "angels of God" instead of "sons of God". It is almost as if the idea of a son of God was systematically removed from the Old Testament during the Christian era. The son of God in charge of Jacob (Israel) is Jehovah, aka the Lord. When the gospel writers tell us that Jesus is the Lord (Kurios), they are saying that Jesus is Jehovah, Son of the Most High and God of Israel. This makes the Book of Mormon somewhat of an aberration. Unlike the Old Testament of the Bible, there are many pre-christian era references to a Son of God in the Book of Mormon, always referring to a messiah that would be born in Israel, and even giving us his future name.
Nephi appears to relish the words of Isaiah, precisely because of their messianic content, and includes many of them in his record. But the words of Isaiah are not unambiguous. In fact, they seem purposefully ambiguous, as if Isaiah is shrouding one conversation inside another. It should also be noted that although Nephi lived in Jerusalem, he wasn't Jewish. He was of the tribe of Joseph. The idea of a Son of God may have been a predominantly Israelite belief, and as such shunned by the Jews, in their movement towards monotheism. Part of Hezekiah's reform was to remove the brass serpent from the Temple and destroy it. (2 Kings 18:4) We are only told that the children of Israel were burning incense to it. But there is a strong implication that the brass serpent represented Jehovah, their redeemer. It is Jehovah that is the redeemer of Israel. In John 3:14, we are told "And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up..." John is associating Jesus with the brass or bronze serpent. "The Son of Man" is a curious title found no where else in antiquity, outside of the gospels. The phrase "son of man", without the "the", is used in the Old Testament to represent the children of Adam, but it seems to bear no relationship to this title applied only to Jesus.
Jesus encounters devils
Jesus encountered the Devil himself during his 40 day fast in the wilderness, and spoke with him. But he also encountered many people who were possessed by demons. One day when he was in the synagogue, such a man spoke to him.
"And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God." (Luke 4:33,34)
"And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him." (Luke 4:35)
This proved to be the first of many that day.
"Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ." (Luke 4:40,41)
"So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons." (Mark 1:39)
This was before Jesus had called any of the apostles.
"Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him. He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons." (Mark 3:13-15)
Three of these women, who were once possessed by evil spirits, followed Jesus from town to town.
"As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, He was met by a man with an unclean spirit, who was coming from the tombs. This man had been living in the tombs and could no longer be restrained, even with chains. Though he was often bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and shattered the shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him. Night and day in the tombs and in the mountains he kept crying out and cutting himself with stones. When the man saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees before Him. And he shouted in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You before God not to torture me!” For Jesus had already declared, “Come out of this man, you unclean spirit!”
“What is your name?” Jesus asked. “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of that region. There on the nearby hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.” He gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the water. Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it described what had happened to the demon-possessed man and also to the pigs. And the people began to beg Jesus to leave their region. As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by the demons begged to go with Him. But Jesus would not allow him. “Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.” (Mark 5:2-19)
"Then Jesus called the Twelve to Him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—and to wear sandals, but not a second tunic. And He told them, “When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that place, as a testimony against them.” So they set out and preached that the people should repent. They also drove out many demons and healed many of the sick, anointing them with oil." (Mark 6:7-13)
"Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated. He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him. For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness.” (Mark 7:18-22)
"Not wanting anyone to know He was there, He entered a house, but was unable to escape their notice. Instead, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit soon heard about Jesus, and she came and fell at His feet. Now she was a Greek woman of Syrophoenician origin, and she kept asking Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.“First let the children have their fill,” He said. “For it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then Jesus told her, “Because of this answer, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.” (Mark 7:24-29)
"Someone in the crowd replied, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a spirit that makes him mute. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable.”“O unbelieving generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.” So they brought him, and seeing Jesus, the spirit immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been with him?” “From childhood,” he said. "It often throws him into the fire or into the water, trying to kill him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” “If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!” Immediately the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you to come out and never enter him again.” After shrieking and convulsing him violently, the spirit came out. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. After Jesus had gone into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” Jesus answered, “This kind cannot come out, except by prayer.” (Mark 9:17-29)
The Gospel of Phillip, part of a group of Gnostic Christian books discovered in Nag Hammadi Egypt, also talks about demonic possession, and suggests that female spirits prefer male bodies, and male spirits prefer female bodies.
April 1830 - Newel Knight is possessed
Joseph Smith's first vision was preceded by a demonic attack. Joseph Smith wrote that his tongue seemed to be swollen in his mouth, so that he could not speak. Then he heard what sounded like footsteps coming towards him. He sprang to his feet and looked around, but could see no one. He continued to pray, but thick darkness gathered around him and it seemed as if he were doomed to sudden destruction. It was at the moment of his greatest alarm, that a pillar of light appeared over his head and released him from the unseen enemy.
In April 1830, Newel Knight was contemplating joining the LDS church, and prayed to see if he could receive a manifestation like Joseph's. He started behaving oddly, and his wife sent for Joseph Smith. By the time Joseph arrived, Newel's body was both levitating and contorting. Joseph later said Newel’s “visage and limbs distorted and twisted in every shape and appearance possible to imagine.” A newspaper story in the Palmyra Reflector quoted Newel as saying his “flesh was ‘about to cleave from my bones’—the muscles, tendons &c. could no longer perform their different functions—the habitation of Satan, was about to be laid open to the light of day, when the prophet interfered.” When Joseph grabbed hold of his hand, he commanded the spirit to leave in the name of Jesus Christ. Newel said he saw the spirit leave him and vanish.
Heber C. Kimball related an account that took place in Far West. "I will relate one circumstance that took place at Far West, in a house that Joseph had purchased, which had been formerly occupied as a public house by some wicked people. A short time after he [Joseph] got into it, one of his children was taken very sick; he laid his hands upon the child, when it got better; as soon as he went out of doors, the children was taken sick again; he again laid his hands upon it, so that it again recovered. This occurred several times, when Joseph inquired of the Lord what it all meant; then he had an open vision, and saw the devil in person, who contended with Joseph face to face, for some time. He said it was his house, it belonged to him, and Joseph had no right there. Then Joseph rebuked Satan in the name of the Lord, and he departed and touched the child no more."
June 4, 1831 Ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood
"...we all met . . . near Isaac Morleys in Kirtland, [Geauga] County, Ohio. . . . Joseph put his hands on Harvey Whitlock and ordained him to the high priesthood. He turned as black as Lyman was white. His fingers were set like claws. He went around the room and showed his hands and tried to speak, his eyes were in the shape of oval O’s. Hyrum Smith said, “Joseph, that is not of God.” . . . Joseph bowed his head, and in a short time got up and commanded Satan to leave Harvey, laying his hands upon his head at the same time. At that very instant an old man said to weigh two hundred and fourteen pounds sitting in the window turned a complete summersault in the house and [landed on] his back across a bench and lay helpless. Joseph told Lyman to cast Satan out. He did. The man’s name was Leamon Coply [Leman Copley], formally a Quaker [Shaker]. The evil spirit left him and as quick as lightening Harvey Green fell bound and screamed like a panther. Satan was cast out of him. But immediately entered someone else. This continued all day and the greater part of the night. . . . After this we . . . heard Harvey Whitlock say when Hyrum Smith said it was not [of] God, he disdained him in his heart and when the Devil was cast out he was convinced it was Satan that was in him and he knew . . . it. I also heard Harvey Green say that he could not describe the awful feeling he experienced while in the hands of Satan." (2)
July 30, 1837 Vision of the Apostles in England
In 1837, Elders Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Orson Hyde, and Isaac Russell were laboring as missionaries in Preston, England. They were sharing a three-story flat on Wilford Street when the unthinkable happened. On Sunday, July 30, sometime around daybreak, Elder Russell rushed into the room of Elders Kimball and Hyde, waking them, and claiming that he was so afflicted with evil spirits that he would not live long if someone did not cast them out. The two brethren administered to him, rebuking the devil and petitioning the Lord for relief from the enemy that held Isaac bound. Elder Kimball was voice during the blessing. Near the end of the administration, his voice began to falter, and then his tongue was bound so that he could no longer speak. Suddenly he began to tremble and reel back and forth. At that moment, some invisible force threw him forward onto the floor. As he hit the floor, he let out a deep groan and then lay prostrate as though he were a dead man. Elder Hyde, with the assistance of Elder Russell, immediately laid hands on Elder Kimball, blessing him and rebuking Satan—at which point Heber regained consciousness but had only partial strength. He noted that as he regained his senses, sweat began to roll from him so profusely that it was as though he had just stepped out of a river. Elders Hyde and Russell lifted Elder Kimball and placed him on his bed. However, his physical agony was so intense that he pulled himself back onto the floor. Reaching his knees, he began to plead with the Lord for intervention.
At some point during these bizarre happenings, Elder Willard Richards awoke and made his way up to the third floor where the events were unfolding. Elder Kimball noted that, having finished his prayer, he sat on his bed, and, to the surprise of all present, they were wrapped in a vision of the “infernal world.” The four brethren said that they saw “legions” of evil spirits, company after company of them. According to Heber, these demonic hosts “struggled” to attack the elders and “exerted all their power and influence” to destroy them. These spirits were in the shape of men, with fully formed bodies, hands, eyes, hair, ears, and every other human feature—though some had hideous distortions in their face and body. With knives, they “rushed” upon the brethren “as an army going to battle.” Elders Kimball and Hyde testified that they saw them as plainly as one would see a person standing in front of them. These demonic assailants came toward them, foaming at the mouth and “gnashing their teeth upon” the elders. Orson Hyde noted that there were also numerous snakes accompanying the satanic hosts, hissing, writhing, and crawling over each other. Willard Richards, who had his watch on his person, noted that these “foul spirits” remained in the room threatening the brethren for an hour and a half. Elder Kimball indicated that the following day he was so weak from the physical attack that he could scarcely stand.
Years later he spoke in detail of the encounter and then added, “I cannot even now look back on the scene without feelings of horror; yet, by it I learned the power of the adversary, his enmity against the servants of God, and got some understanding of the invisible world.” Similarly, nearly two decades after the experience, Elder Hyde wrote: “Every circumstance that occurred at that scene of devils is just as fresh in my recollection at this moment as it was at the moment of its occurrence, and will ever remain so.” Although much of the foregoing account was visionary, rather than tangible, Heber was quite clear that he was physically assaulted with a force that felt like being punched in the face by the fist of a strong man—to say nothing of the faltering voice, bound tongue, and physical weakness he encountered. (1)
1839 Pomfret Branch
"On this day passed a marvelous scene before the Elders of Israel viz., Benjamin Brown, Henry More and Melvin Brown who was called to cast out Devils which had entered Sister Crosby after praying and fasting 17 hours by the power of the Holy Ghost one was cast out which was seen and felt for he attacked all of us shook Br. Brown on the side and in the face seized Br. More on the arms which made them sore for some time also Brother Melvin on the shoulders and arms so that he could but just stand his arms was sore for some time the Devil was seen in the room for some time at length entered into Brother Melvin while [illegible] with such power that it seemed as he would be pressed to death. He could not speak but made signs when we [?] and laid hands on him and cast him out in the name of Jesus Christ when he came out he came snarling like a dog. On the 18th we cast out 37 [demons] in a variety of forms and noises some like dogs cats hogs pigs and snakes. These was seen by many of the saints and heard and the room became darkened like a mist and the smell was like brimstone and more filthy it affected our eyes so that we had to wash them also our mouths much affected some heard noise like thunder and saw it lightening some were punched in the face others in the arms others heard him gnash with his teeth, so this was many witnesses both men and women in the Lord Jesus Christ." (3)
April, 1970 Scott J. Gillespie
Scott was addicted to pornography, and struggled to overcome it, but it would always return. He blames this addiction for destroying two marriages. His third wife noticed that something was wrong within weeks of being married, told him that she had the gift of discernment and told him that he was possessed. He didn't believe it, because he didn't have any of the symptoms that he had come to associate with possession. He didn't have superhuman strength, and he didn't levitate from some unseen force and there was no projectile vomiting. But eventually he went to the bishop, and told him about his wife's theory, and asked for a priesthood blessing.
"The bishop was a bit skeptical at first, but he anointed me and gave me a blessing. He rebuked any unclean spirits and commanded them to depart. When my bishop said, “In the name of Jesus Christ,” I felt what I can only describe as an angry beehive inside me. It boiled up inside me for a moment then felt like it reluctantly stepped from my body. When he closed the blessing, I jumped up and told my bishop that I felt them leave me. He told me he heard them leave me. He heard a “whooshing sound” as they left. From that point forward, I was a different person."
His compulsions disappeared. Also gone was a strong homosexual interest. The habits remained, but without the evil spirits, he could work on the habits.
"It felt like the Holy Spirit took me by the hand, guiding me and teaching me how to change my life." (4)
Aprox. 1975 M. Russell Ballard
Serving as the Mission President in Toronto, Canada, President Ballard was called upon to cast an evil spirit out of a member. The missionaries had been unsuccessful in their attempt to cast the spirit out, and President Ballard was asked for his help. Together with the Stake President, he went to her house. Upon arriving at the house, the sister who was possessed shouted "Don’t let that man in, don’t let that man in!". President Ballard entered the house and saw that the women's face was contorted, and that she spoke in a different voice, a much deeper voice. He instructed the Stake President to cast the spirit out of her, which he did, but it wasn't long before the spirit returned. President Ballard then placed his hands on her head, and talked with the Devil for 20 to 30 minutes, before casting it out of the women and out of the house. This time, it didn't return.
He thought that perhaps his authority as Mission President played a part in his success, but I am somewhat skeptical that this was the case. In my understanding, the Stake President has more authority over members in a area than a Mission President. Each report to the Quorum of the Twelve apostles. But it brings up the question of why an evil spirit would obey any servant of God. Two ideas come to mind. The first idea is that evil spirits experience a feeling akin to torture when they are in the company of men who possess great spiritual light. The second idea is that evil spirits are able to think more clearly, and become less defiant when in the presence of someone of great spiritual light. Whatever the reason, there appears to be a cost involved with fighting a servant of God.
A very early vision was recorded by the prophet Elisha.
"When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early in the morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?" "Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (5) Elisha resolves the issue in a unique fashion. He prays that the men be blinded, after which they follow him to Samaria, apparently without them catching on that they were going to Samaria. There, they come face to face with the King of Israel, and rather than fight them, at Elisha's request, he feeds them and sends them home. There are some parallels between this and the Utah War, where the US army was fed by the Mormons, and allowed to return home without bloodshed.
Exorcism in Catholic and Protestant Denominations
"As the Catholic church teaches (along with similar beliefs in other denominations and many religions), the Rite of Major Exorcism is not a magic formula that will cast out demons automatically and completely liberate suffering victims without effort from the afflicted individuals themselves. Exorcists are not wizards, and often a long, grueling, and terrible struggle ensues for victims to be free of what ails them..." (6)
Fortunately, this does not really characterize exorcism as practiced in the LDS church. In most cases, relief has been both immediate and permanent, a valid analog to exorcism as performed by Jesus and his apostles.
(1) https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-8-no-1-2007/doctrine-coven...
(2) Levi Hancock, Autobiography, 33–34, L. Tom Perry Special Collections Library, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
(3) Benjamin Brown, “Account of the Healing of Sister Crosby,” MS 5645, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah.
(5) 2 Kings 6:15-17
(6) Demonic Foes, by Richard Gallagher, MD, pg. 11