Are ghosts among us? Many believe in spirits, but churches offer stern warnings

Deseret News ^ | Sept. 3, 2010 | Lynn Arave

[Colofornian]

Ghosts — They are highly popular entertainment fare in the world these days, given shows like "Ghost Hunters," "Ghost Whisperer," "Ghost Story," "Celebrity Ghost Story" and "Paranormal State..." as well as various movies over the years.

Trying to find or contact "ghosts" is the core of all these programs.

Forget Halloween season. This flurry of new ghost programming is popular year-round and seems to be at an all-time high.

SNIP

Lutherans

"...the Scriptures...mean...realms in which spiritual powers and beings exist (e.g., Eph. 6:12; Col. 1:16). However, our church...has not speculated on such questions...in what form "spirits" or "ghosts" may manifest themselves...biblical warnings concerning occultic activities (e.g., Deut. 18:9-14)..."

SNIP

Mormons

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has no firm doctrine on ghosts.

However Elder Bruce R. McConkie in "Mormon Doctrine" speculated:

"It is true that some mediums do make contact with spirits during séances. In most instances, however, such spirits as manifest themselves are probably the demons or devils who were cast out of heaven for rebellion. … Righteous spirits have nothing but contempt and pity for the attempts of mediums to make contact with them" (Page 759).

According to lds.org: "In a funeral sermon, the Prophet Joseph Smith declared that the spirits of righteous people who have died 'are not far from us...' (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 326).

"Other latter-day prophets have made similar statements. President Ezra Taft Benson said: 'Sometimes the veil between this life and the life beyond becomes very thin. Our loved ones who have passed on are not far from us' (in Conference Report, Apr. 1971, p. 18; or Ensign, June 1971, p. 33). President Brigham Young said: 'Where is the spirit world? It is right here' (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 376)," the LDS Church's official Web site states.

[Elsie]

CC I asked you to share it was a question!

 

You know VERY well that...

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Professor Robert Millet        teaching at the Mission Prep Club in 2004  http://newsnet.byu.edu/video/18773/  <-- Complete and uneditted

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Timeline...    Subject...

 

0:59            "Anti-Mormons..."

1:16            "ATTACK the faith you have..."

2:02           "We really aren't obligated to answer everyone's questions..."

3:57           "You already know MORE about God and Christ and the plan of salvation than any who would ATTACK you."

[Elsie]

Joseph Smith said that the brightness and glory of God "defy all description."

Nope; he said PERSONAGES.

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http://scriptures.lds.org/en/js_h/1/17#17
When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air.