Question
Hi Gramps,
I had a question as to the possibility of bad spirits in the temple. I have now had conversations with 2 different ladies who have had paralyzing dark experiences while attending a temple session. Both of these ladies still love the temple and go frequently. But can dark spirits exist inside the House of the Lord?
Ben
Answer
Ben,
According to the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the answer is reassuring. The temple is the Lord’s house. It is dedicated to Him, protected by His power, and intended to be a place where His Spirit dwells. At the same time, we know from scripture that Satan opposes the work of God and seeks to discourage those who are striving to come unto Christ. Understanding that distinction helps us approach experiences like these with both faith and compassion.
The scriptures leave no doubt that Satan is real. The Apostle Peter warned:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
His purpose is to deceive, discourage, and distract us from following Jesus Christ. That opposition continues throughout our lives. However, the existence of an adversary does not diminish the holiness of the Lord’s house.
Before a temple is opened for sacred ordinances, it is dedicated by priesthood authority as the House of the Lord. In the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple, the Prophet Joseph Smith prayed that the Lord’s glory would rest upon the temple and that it would remain holy.
One verse in that prayer is especially meaningful:
“That no unclean thing shall be permitted to come into thy house to pollute it.” (Doctrine and Covenants 109:20)
The Lord also declared concerning His holy house:
“Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it.” (Doctrine and Covenants 97:16)
These scriptures teach that the temple belongs to the Lord. His presence sanctifies it. LDS doctrine does not teach that evil spirits dwell in or possess dedicated temples. Rather, the temple is repeatedly described as a place where the Lord’s presence rests, where His angels watch over His covenant people, and where His power is manifest.
President Russell M. Nelson emphasized the central purpose of the temple when he taught:
“The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ.” (The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation)
If the temple is centered on Jesus Christ, then its atmosphere is one of light, truth, and holiness—not darkness.
So how do we explain reports of frightening experiences?
The first thing to remember is that not every frightening experience has the same cause. Faithful people can experience anxiety, panic attacks, medical conditions, emotional distress, or even sleep paralysis that feels intensely real. Sleep paralysis, for example, often involves a temporary inability to move accompanied by a frightening sensation that someone or something is present. While such experiences are very real to the individual, they do not automatically indicate the presence of evil spirits.
The restored gospel encourages us to seek both spiritual and medical understanding. The Lord has blessed us with priesthood blessings, prayer, and revelation, but He has also blessed us with knowledge through medicine and science. There is no conflict in seeking help from both.
At the same time, we should not ignore the reality of spiritual opposition. Satan does not want people drawing closer to Jesus Christ, and few places bring us closer to the Savior than the temple. It should not surprise us that the adversary may intensify his efforts to discourage someone before, during, or after temple worship.
That, however, is very different from saying that evil spirits inhabit the temple itself.
President Russell M. Nelson offered this comforting promise:
“Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the temple. You will feel His mercy. You will find answers to your most vexing questions.”
That promise reflects what countless faithful members have experienced. The temple is a place of peace, revelation, and spiritual strength.
President Ezra Taft Benson also testified of the blessings found there:
“Temples are places of personal revelation. When I have been weighed down by a problem or a difficulty, I have gone to the House of the Lord with a prayer in my heart for answers. The answers have come in clear and unmistakable ways.”
That is exactly what we would expect from the Lord’s house—a place where answers come, not where evil reigns.
Elder David B. Haight likewise taught:
“A temple is a place in which those whom He has chosen are endowed with power from on high—a power which enables us to use our gifts and capabilities—to bring to pass our Heavenly Father’s purposes in our own lives and the lives of those we love.”
Notice the emphasis on power. Temple worship brings divine power into our lives through Jesus Christ. That power is greater than any influence Satan can exert.
When someone shares a frightening experience in the temple, our first response should be kindness rather than skepticism. We don’t need to dismiss what they felt, nor should we immediately conclude that evil spirits were freely roaming the temple. Often, we simply do not know everything that contributed to the experience.
Instead, we can lovingly affirm two truths. First, the person’s experience was real to them and deserves compassion. Second, the revealed doctrine about the temple remains unchanged. The temple is holy because it belongs to the Lord.
If someone continues to experience frightening episodes, it may be wise to seek priesthood blessings, continue praying, speak with trusted Church leaders if needed, and consult qualified medical professionals to rule out physical or emotional causes. Seeking medical care is not a lack of faith; it is often one of the ways the Lord blesses His children.
Ultimately, the restored gospel gives us every reason to approach the temple with confidence rather than fear. The Lord’s house is a refuge from the world. It is a place where sacred covenants are made, where families are sealed for eternity, and where the Savior’s power is felt in remarkable ways.
While Satan continues to oppose God’s work, he does not overcome it. The light of Jesus Christ is greater than the powers of darkness. The scriptures and the words of modern prophets consistently teach that the temple is a place of holiness, protection, revelation, and peace.
So, can dark spirits exist in the House of the Lord? LDS doctrine gives us every reason to trust that dedicated temples remain holy sanctuaries under the Lord’s care. Individuals may experience fear, opposition, or circumstances we do not fully understand, but those experiences should never cause us to doubt the sanctity of the Lord’s house. Instead, they remind us to place our trust in Jesus Christ, whose power is always greater than the adversary’s.
Gramps
