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They See Dead People?
Mormonism Research Ministry ^ | Bill McKeever

Posted on 10/14/2010 6:07:34 AM PDT by Colofornian

Human communication with the dead, or necromancy, is never encouraged in the Bible and is always condemned (1 Samuel 15:23, 28:6ff). Such a practice was punishable by death (1 Samuel 28:9) in theocratic Israel. Despite these grave warnings, many temple Mormons look forward with great anticipation to possibly being visited by spirits of the dead. In fact, there are a number of recorded sightings of alleged dead spirits who have visited Mormons in LDS temples.

Prior to the dedication of the San Diego temple in 1993, local Mormon families were given a packet entitled Family Temple Preparation Material. Included in this written material were about seven pages devoted to "true stories" of temple patrons who were visited by the dead.

Fourth Mormon Prophet Wilford Woodruff told followers in 1887, "The dead will be after you, they will seek after you as they have after us in St. George (Journal of Discourses 19:229). Woodruff is referring to the St. George temple in southern Utah. He also stated, “I will here say that two weeks before I left St. George, the spirits of the dead gathered around me, wanting to know why we did not redeem them. Said they, "You have had the use of the Endowment House for a number of years, and yet nothing has ever been done for us. We laid the foundation of the government you now enjoy, and we never apostatized from it, but we remained true to it and were faithful to God. These were the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and they waited on me for two days and two nights” (The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, p.160).

In his book entitled Temple Manifestations, Mormon writer Joseph Heinerman lists several accounts of dead spirits visiting patrons in LDS temples. Such encounters are never condoned by the Bible and as such, should be shunned rather than encouraged.


TOPICS: Moral Issues; Other Christian; Religion & Culture; Theology
KEYWORDS: ghosts; inman; lds; mormon; occult
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From the article: Prior to the dedication of the San Diego temple in 1993, local Mormon families were given a packet entitled Family Temple Preparation Material. Included in this written material were about seven pages devoted to "true stories" of temple patrons who were visited by the dead.

I guess they were expecting a re-haunting from the previous '90s:

1890s(April-->May, 1893): The Haunting of the Salt Lake City Temple opening

Official Mormon church sources claim that when they opened their temple in the Spring of 1893, "Some Latter-day Saints saw...past Presidents of the Church and other ceceased Church leaders." (Our Heritage: A Brief History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1996, p. 102)

1 posted on 10/14/2010 6:07:37 AM PDT by Colofornian
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To: Colofornian

I live in Utah, and have heard about this type of stuff happening quite a bit in the LDS Temple...very creepy.

My thought is, these people are not seeing their dead relatives, but demons or some other such thing. The Bible seems to imply that the dead cannot reach us. Remember the Rich Man and Lazerus (sp)? The Rich Man wanted to go and reach his brothers to warn them about Hell, but was told that a “great casim (sp)” was fixed and he could not cross it to warn his brothers.

What makes the LDS Temple particularly creepy are all of the occultic sysmbols adorning the stone work and other parts of the exterior. They have inverted pentagrams, Saturn Stomes, Moon Stones, an All seeing eye, and on one wall, the Ursus Major “The Big Dipper” constellation. Yet not one symbol that’s associated with The Lord Jesus can be found: Cross, Fish, Lamb etc.


2 posted on 10/14/2010 6:28:18 AM PDT by Artcore
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To: Colofornian
The dead will be after you, they will seek after you as they have after us


Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

3 posted on 10/14/2010 6:29:30 AM PDT by The Comedian (They Live. We Sleep.)
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To: Colofornian

Joseph Smith was brilliant in making it so later “revelations” overruled Scripture, so any contradictions could be waved away. It’s also funny that the current LDS doesn’t even follow Joseph Smith’s words.


4 posted on 10/14/2010 6:32:42 AM PDT by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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To: Colofornian

I only know of one person who has seen a passed relative. I haven’t but I do believe it is possible. You may believe differently. Have a lovely day.


5 posted on 10/14/2010 6:36:17 AM PDT by Paragon Defender
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To: Colofornian
Mormons!!

I also understand that they starve children, rape the rain-forest, build glass ceilings, burn churches in the south, blow holes in the ozone, want sick people to die quickly, and are racists.

Well....that's what I heard.

6 posted on 10/14/2010 6:52:36 AM PDT by laotzu
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To: Colofornian
Prior to the dedication of the San Diego temple in 1993, local Mormon families were given a packet entitled Family Temple Preparation Material. Included in this written material were about seven pages devoted to "true stories" of temple patrons who were visited by the dead.

To my knowledge, no other religion is quite as obsessed with the dead as mormonism. Millions of hours are spent in searching records for names of dead to be submitted to temple workers, who spend millions of hours doing proxy baptism and arcane masonic rituals on "behalf of the dead" with the belief that the dead will "choose" to accept these rites and the firm conviction that the dead are in a position to actually MAKE such choices.

While Catholics are known for "praying" for the souls of the dead, there is no requirement for proxy work by the living in an attempt to convert the souls of the dead.

The Redemption of the Dead

Boyd K. Packer, “The Redemption of the Dead,” Ensign, Nov. 1975, 97

"On October 3, 1918, President Joseph F. Smith was pondering on the scriptures, including this one from Peter: “For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Pet. 4:6.)

There was opened to him a marvelous vision. In it he saw the concourses of the righteous. And he saw Christ ministering among them. Then he saw those who had not had the opportunity, and those who had not been valiant. And he saw the work for their redemption. And I quote his record of this vision:

“I perceived that the Lord went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them; but behold, from among the righteous he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men. And thus was the gospel preached to the dead.” (“Vision of the Redemption of the Dead,” The Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, Jan. 1919, p. 3.) http://books.google.com/books?id=u78UAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA5&ots=3gm4eYOMw4&dq=Vision+of+the+Redemption+of+the+Dead+1919&output=html

We have been authorized to perform baptisms vicariously so that when they hear the gospel preached and desire to accept it, that essential ordinance will have been performed. They need not ask for any exemption from that essential ordinance. Indeed, the Lord Himself was not exempted from it."

FR thread on "The Redemption of the Dead"

I think the entire article is well worth reading for a disturbing description by a mormon leader of the baptism for the dead

7 posted on 10/14/2010 7:08:45 AM PDT by greyfoxx39 (Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8)
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To: Colofornian
Human communication with the dead, or necromancy, is never encouraged in the Bible and is always condemned (1 Samuel 15:23, 28:6ff).

The author misstates the meaning of necromancy. Here is how Merriam-Webster defines the term:

necromancy n 1 : the art or practice of conjuring up the spirits of the dead for purposes of magically revealing the future 2 : MAGIC, SORCERY
Mormons do not practice necromancy. We do not "summon up" the dead for any purpose.

I have read a number of accounts about dead persons (usually relatives) appearing and communicating to living Latter-day Saints. Such appearances are extraordinary; they occur only as God permits them. I know of no case in which the living person conjured up the dead person.

Such encounters are never condoned by the Bible and as such, should be shunned rather than encouraged.

Tell that to Jesus, who spoke with two dead prophets, Moses and Elias, on the Mount of Transfiguration:

28 ¶ And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. (Luke 9:28-33)

Not only did Jesus talk to two dead men, but they spoke of the future!

If the spirits of the dead came to Jesus, and He spoke with them, it cannot be wrong.

8 posted on 10/14/2010 7:15:55 AM PDT by Logophile
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To: Artcore

“The Bible seems to imply that the dead cannot reach us.”

Well, that certainly seems true, except when it isn’t (See Luke 9:28-36).

In Luke 9:32 Peter and other disciples saw two deceased, Moses and Elijah, standing with Jesus: “But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.”

Necromancers actively seek contact with spirits of the deceased, whereas Mormons going to the temple (or anywhere else) are not instructed to ever summon the spirits of the deceased. There’s a difference between actively trying to summon a spirit versus being passively aware of a spirit or angel that is appearing to you in a dream or vision.


9 posted on 10/14/2010 7:18:29 AM PDT by Texan Tory
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To: Colofornian
I do Genealogy and the LDS website has a lot of information on it. I began to notice that a lot of my family tree was listed there. I'm talking even my father who died 8 years ago. All of this information was submitted by a person no one in the family knows. Seriously, someone told me that the Mormons keep excellent genealogy records because they believe we are all LDS and related and that they can “rebaptise” all of us after death, which they have done to those in the genealogy registry. Is this true? The Catholic half of my family and the baptist/congregational/Methodist other side would not be happy if in the after life the found out they were rebaptised as Mormons! Trust me, my father might even get thrown out of heaven by his reaction! I have nothing against Mormons but don't like this practice if true.
10 posted on 10/14/2010 7:20:04 AM PDT by MacMattico
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To: greyfoxx39

It took me so long to reply I didn’t see your reply first! That was exactly what I was talking about!


11 posted on 10/14/2010 7:23:43 AM PDT by MacMattico
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To: Colofornian

How could there possibly be any evidence showing that someone did or did not, communicate with dead people?

Is it the attempt or the looking forward to communicating, that people are really being condemned for?


12 posted on 10/14/2010 7:30:40 AM PDT by stuartcr (When politicians politicize issues, aren't they just doing their job?)
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To: MacMattico

[ I do Genealogy and the LDS website has a lot of information on it. I began to notice that a lot of my family tree was listed there. I’m talking even my father who died 8 years ago. All of this information was submitted by a person no one in the family knows. Seriously, someone told me that the Mormons keep excellent genealogy records because they believe we are all LDS and related and that they can “rebaptise” all of us after death, which they have done to those in the genealogy registry. Is this true? The Catholic half of my family and the baptist/congregational/Methodist other side would not be happy if in the after life the found out they were rebaptised as Mormons! Trust me, my father might even get thrown out of heaven by his reaction! I have nothing against Mormons but don’t like this practice if true. ]

One good thing about this is after civilisation falls they will have records of such things.....


13 posted on 10/14/2010 7:32:26 AM PDT by GraceG
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To: Texan Tory

Understood, but my point was, why are so many “dead people” seen in the LDS Temple?

When one factors in the amount of occultic symbols on the outside of the Temple, and NOT ONE symbol associated with the Lord Jesus, is it surprsing at the number of reported “dead people” who are seen roaming the LDS Temple?

I don’t think so.


14 posted on 10/14/2010 7:33:48 AM PDT by Artcore
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To: MacMattico

“The Catholic half of my family and the baptist/congregational/Methodist other side would not be happy if in the after life the found out they were rebaptised as Mormons!”

The Mormon teaching on this is that Free Will (referred to by Mormons as Agency) overides everything else. Any baptism is without any effect whatsoever unless it is accepted by the one in whose behalf the vicarious baptism is performed. As strange as the practice may seem, it is actually biblical and is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:29: “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” St. Paul was trying to make a point here that the dead shall be raised (resurrection), and he refers to the practice of baptism in behalf of the dead to support his argument that people will be resurrected. Paul, a true scholar in doctrinal issues, is possibly the least likely of all the disciples to ever use a false practice to argue in support of something so dear to him, namely the resurrection of the dead through the power of Christ.


15 posted on 10/14/2010 7:43:08 AM PDT by Texan Tory
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To: Artcore

“is it surprsing at the number of reported “dead people” who are seen roaming the LDS Temple”

Wow, you make it sound like a real frightfest. I haven’t been to the temple in several years, and I do not currently have a temple recommend. But I can tell you that I never saw a spirit when I did go there, and no else that I know ever has either (or at least they didn’t tell me if they did). This leads me to believe that angelic or spiritual appearances, although they have been noted, are quite uncommon.


16 posted on 10/14/2010 7:50:35 AM PDT by Texan Tory
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To: Colofornian
They See Dead People?

Nah...

We get WET for dead people!

--MormonDude(Praise the Restored® Gospel!)

17 posted on 10/14/2010 8:03:13 AM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: laotzu
 
Well....that's what I heard.
 
Here's stuff you can SEE!


 
 
      Anahiem
 
 
      San Deigo

18 posted on 10/14/2010 8:06:37 AM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: greyfoxx39
...the San Diego temple...

I've 'heard' that there are 'ghosts' near that FIRST picture; too!

19 posted on 10/14/2010 8:08:37 AM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: greyfoxx39
To my knowledge, no other religion is quite as obsessed with the dead as mormonism.

Well; other than them Reformed Egyptians...

20 posted on 10/14/2010 8:09:31 AM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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