Who can communicate with spirits?

Question

Dear Gramps,

I am curious to know your thoughts on those who can communicate with spirits (or spirits who communicate with those of us still on earth in human form).

Kathleen

Answer

Dear Kathleen,

When anyone dies, their spirit leaves their body (which, by the way, is the ultimate definition of death) and goes into the spirit world. Where is the spirit world? It is right here on this earth. Do the righteous and wicked spirits mingle together? No, they do not–any more than righteous and wicked people mingle together during mortality.

The prophet Joseph, preaching at the funeral of James Adams, said—

“The spirits of the just are exalted to a greater and more glorious work; hence they are blessed in their departure to the world of spirits. Enveloped in flaming fire, they are not far from us, and know and understand our thoughts, feelings, and motions, and are often pained therewith” (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected and arranged by Joseph Fielding Smith, p.325).

And the prophet Brigham Young, successor to Joseph Smith, said—

“When you lay down this tabernacle, where are you going? Into the spiritual world. Are you going into Abraham’s bosom? No, not anywhere nigh there but into the spirit world. Where is the spirit world? It is right here. Do the good and evil spirits go together? Yes, they do. Do they both inhabit one kingdom? Yes, they do. Do they go to the sun? No. Do they go beyond the boundaries of the organized earth? No, they do not. They are brought forth upon this earth, for the express purpose of inhabiting it to all eternity. Where else are you going? Nowhere else, only as you may be permitted”. (Discourses of Brigham Young, 3:369).

Bible accounts are replete with stories of evil spirits inhabiting the bodies of the living, and of being cast out by the power of the holy priesthood. There is even one account of evil spirits possessing a person, so anxious to inhabit mortal bodies that they were allowed by the Savior to possess the bodies of swine. The possessed swine ran immediately into the water and drowned themselves (Matt. 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39).

Did possession by evil spirits occur only in biblical times, and then cease when modern psychiatry developed their rational explanations for such abhorrent behavior? Of course not! Psychiatry and all other scientific disciples are not equipped to detect or measure spiritual phenomena, and thus must discount the existence of possession by spirits. However, the British, perhaps partly because of their long history before the advent of modern science and technology, take their ghosts quite seriously. Such accounts as this one abound—

“The ghost of Lady Margaret, known as the White Lady because she is dressed all in white, has been seen to leave the tower (of London) and walk along the Rampart Walk. Among the many reports of her appearance is one of a terrifying experience which a man had one night in 1987. For months he had spent nights visiting the castle in the hope of seeing something then one night he entered the castle, walked along the Rampart to Margaret’s Tower where he descended the spiral staircase to the dungeon. It was completely dark then a brilliant light appeared, illuminating the chamber and the White Lady appeared in front of him. He was so frightened that he ran up the stairs and out of the castle as fast as he could, and nothing will make him visit the castle again.” (Enigma Issue 3: Weird Happenings at Berry Pomeroy, Devon by Mavis Vigay,s Summer 1994)

New England also abounds in stories of encounters with departed spirits. As far as I know we do not have scientific proof of ghosts (or spirits) appearing to anyone, but that proves nothing either way, since science has no instrumentation that can detect spiritual phenomena. However, we do know of possessed persons in our own day, as well as in biblical times, being relieved and set free from possession by evil spirits.

Now, how about mediums communicating with the spirit world? This is a subject that attracted the attention of the famous magician, Harry Houdini (March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926). Houdini attended many seances, and was able to debunk each one he attended as fraudulent. He even promised to appear after his death to a number of his colleagues on a certain date and place each year. His colleagues kept vigil for several years, but Houdini never appeared.

If any spirits do appear to any mediums, believe me, they are spirits who follow Satan rather than the Lord. Thus, it would be well to leave such things entirely alone. Never fall into the trap of letting your curiosity lead you into the domain of the adversary.

Gramps