Here's the deal. A number of Mormon published books have emphasized manifestations of the supposed dead, without having any qualifications as to whether that spirit was actually the one belonging to thad dead person, or was a demonic spirit masquerading as a deceased relative.
I mean, come on Logo. Who has special "training" in this kind of discernment? And the New Testament says to "test the spirits." In the many Mormon accounts I've seen, did anybody "test these spirits" to rule out demonic activity. I haven't seen those precautions taken.
I'm speaking of:
* Mormon John Heinerman's book, Temple Manifestations.
* Mormon author Duane Crowther's book, Life Everlasting. (Bookcraft) Both have a lot of these manifestations all presented in a "positive" way.
I'm also speaking of the dozens of accounts re: Wilford Woodruff and the St. George temple. This account makes it into the Lds curricula wholly unqualified. Same with D&C 138 where dead relatives appear to Joseph F. Smith. This has even become Mormon "scripture" 50 years after it happened.
These accounts even make it into the syllabus of BYU courses...like Religious Education C261, Introduction to LDS Family History (Genealogy), where they speak of manifestations of supposed dead spirits.
While indeed most of these accounts don't initially involve Mormons initiating contact with these "spirits..." The reality seems to be that...
(1) By Mormon leaders sanctioning the dead appearing to their members as something "spiritual," they encourage such contact even if the examples they use are ones where the Mormons are on the receiving side.
(2) It's possible that Mormons, although not initiating contact the first time, perhaps have done so on ensuing occasions.
In Crowther's book, Life Everlasting (see footnote 41 of that book), he quotes Mitt Romney ancestor Parley P. Pratt as saying: "...we frequently hold communication with our departed father, mother, brother, sister, son or daughter; or with the former husband or wife of our bosom..."
When you look at Crowther's book, Life Everlasting, Crowther says on pp. 249-250 that these are "good spirits" who "return to earth and converse with Mormons." How does Crowther know that's the case across the board?
Crowther goes on to claim "seven reasons" for why these "spirits" communicate with Mormons:
1. give counsel
2. give comfort
3. obtain or give information
4. serve as guardian angels
5. prepare others for death
6. summon mortals into the spirit world
7. escort the dying through the veil of death
Source: Crowther, Life Everlasting, Bookcraft, 1988, pp. 249-250
According to John Ankerberg and John Weldon, "Such teaching is in complete harmony with the teachings of mediums and spiritists everywhere. Indeed, on these points it is impossible to distinguish Mormon practice from general spiritism." (The Facts on the Mormon Church by John Ankerberg, John Weldon,& Dillon Burroughs 1991/2009 Harvest House, p. 73)
I do!!
< Shake their hand and feel for BONES!!!
http://nowscape.com/mormon/handshake.htm