Posted on 10/31/2011 4:27:06 PM PDT by Colofornian
Halloween, 1918. The then “prophet” of the Mormon church, Joseph F. Smith, submits a “vision” of the dead he has “to the counselors in the First Presidency, the Council of the Twelve, and the Patriarch, and by them unanimously accepted…”(Gospel Doctrine, 2:277, published by The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1971)
Joseph F. Smith, the nephew of Mormon founder Joseph Smith, had claimed that he saw “the hosts of the dead, both small and great...an innumerable company of the spirits of the just” (Lds Doctrine & Covenants, 138:11-12) -- and these spirits were just waiting for Mormon missionaries to come their way to be redeemed.
Joseph F. Smith claimed that the Mormon “Jesus” had prepared "the faithful spirits of the prophets who had testified of him in the flesh; That they might carry the message of redemption unto all the dead, unto whom he could not go personally, because of their rebellion and transgression, that they through the ministration of his servants might also hear his words.” (D&C 138:37-38)
Joseph F. Smith was almost 80 and had recently gone through a few deaths in his family. He himself was on the last legs of his life as he wouldn’t see December of that year.
“Six weeks before President Smith died, he received an important revelation about the redemption of the dead. He…learned that faithful Saints have the opportunity to continue teaching the gospel in the world of spirits. This revelation was added to the Pearl of Great Price in 1976 and in 1979 it was transferred to the Doctrine and Covenants as section 138.” (Mormon publication: Our Heritage: A Brief History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, p. 107)
“The dead are not perfect without us, neither are we without them [see D&C 128:18],” claimed Joseph F. Smith, a quote published in a church-published book in 1998 (Teachings of Presidents: Joseph Smith, p. 410)
Visions of the dead popping up to this Mormon “prophet” in 1918 was nothing new.
The Mormon church officially reiterated in 2007 the Mormon claim that the ghost of Joseph Smith appeared to Brigham Young three years after his death. Whether it was Smith’s ghost, or a demon masquerading as such, wasn’t debated in the official Mormon church publication:
“In February 1847, nearly three years after the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred, he appeared to President Brigham Young…” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, p. 98, 2007)
One of the highest-ranking Mormon leaders in the 19th century, Lds First President/“apostle” Heber C. Kimball claimed that "Joseph Smith continued visiting myself and others up to a certain time, and then it stopped." (Deseret Weekly News, 53:112, Temples of the Most High, 1896, p. 345)
Young and Kimball apparently weren’t alone. The ‘demon/ghost’ Smith apparition appeared to the same Lds “prophet” who began to halt polygamy, Wilford Woodruff. Woodruff claimed one October day that…
”After the death of Joseph Smith I saw and conversed with him many times in my dreams in the night season…when I awoke many of the things he had told me were taken from me, I could not comprehend them. I have had many interviews with Brother Joseph until the last 15 or 20 years of my life; I have not seen him for that length of time. But during my travels in the southern country last winter I had many interviews with President Young, and with Heber C. Kimball, and Geo. A. Smith, and Jedediah M. Grant, and many others who are dead. They attended our conference, they attended our meetings. And on one occasion, I saw Brother Brigham and Brother Heber ride in carriage ahead of the carriage in which I rode when I was on my way to attend conference; and they were dressed in the most priestly robes. When we arrived at our destination I asked Prest. Young if he would preach to us. He said, "No, I have finished my testimony in the flesh I shall not talk to this people any more. But (said he) I have come to see you; I have come to watch over you, and to see what the people are doing. (Journal of Discourses, pp. 317-318 by Wilford Woodruff, Oct 10, 1880)
These occultic visitations stopped -- only to reoccur in the 1890s: Mormons claim that when they opened their temple in the Spring of 1893, "Some Latter-day Saints saw...past Presidents of the Church and other deceased Church leaders." (Our Heritage: A Brief History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1996, p. 102)
At times, Lds leaders recognized these spirit-entities for who they are...other times, no. For example, Heber C. Kimball described the spirits who descended upon him while serving as a missionary in Preston, England:
“We gazed upon them about an hour and a half (by Willard’s watch). We were not looking towards the window, but towards the wall. Space appeared before us, and we saw the devils coming in legions, with their leaders, who came within a few feet of us. They came towards us like armies rushing to battle They appeared to be men of full stature, possessing every form and feature of men in the flesh, who were angry and desperate; and I (Kimball) shall never forget the vindictive malignity depicted on their countenances as they looked me in the eye; and any attempt to paint the scene which then presented itself, or portray their malice and enmity, would be vain. I perspired exceedingly, my clothes becoming as wet as if I had been taken out of the river. I felt excessive pain, and was in the greatest distress for sometime. (Orson F. Whitney, The Life of Heber C. Kimball, Bookcraft, Utah. 1945, pp. 130-131).
Spirit-entity manifestations to Mormons continue into the current era, as one reference to “evil spirits” haunting the Lds Brazilian Mission confirms:
"A few years ago while touring the missions of South America, I heard President William Grant Gangerter of the Brazilian Mission make some interesting comments. He reported that there had been a wave of incidents in which evil spirits were afflicting the missionaries and the Saints. At every conference the missionaries were relating experiences they were having with evil spirits. The intensity of their influence was frightening." (Come Unto Christ, Melchizedek Priesthood Personal Study Guide, for 1984, 1988 published 1983, 1986 p. 109)
bttt
yes we get it just because the LDS get their toes step on by spike shoes everydsy there is no need to make it personals
As *Bob Grant would say the world is sick and getting sicker!
NYC talk show host in the 1990’s
Well some Occupy Wall Street and some Occupy threads that bash LDS there really is no difference!
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