Help with feeling evil spirit

[swiraptor]

Hello all and thank you in advance. My oldest daughter, 19 year old, just came down stairs and said she keeps having these horrible dark and scary feelings in her room as if there were very evil spirits in the room.

Now please know that I am not just bragging or being an overly proud Dad, but she is one of those super sweet spirits. She has been going every day with the Sister Missionaries and is always so full of the spirit. She doesn't watch scary movies and only surrounds herself with good people.

So when she said that I took her very seriously. When I went upstairs I was overwhelmed and there was no doubt that something was there. The only way I can explain it is it felt like a blanket of pure fear and dread being draped over you.

I tried bringing my arm to the square and commanding that it depart by the authority of Jesus Christ. I also took a knee, prayed, and blessed the house and that room specifically. It felt like it worked for about five seconds. At that point my dog started barking from downstairs which in itself is extremely rare. My oldest and youngest daughter share that room and the only thing I could think of was to have them sleep downstairs tonight and are sound asleep on the couches right outside my bedroom. Anyway, I went back up and tried again to no avail. Same feeling of presence.

I am a convert of about three years so not very experienced. My wife and kids were all raised in The Church which was my avenue of conversion. They aren't mine biologically but I call them mine and they call me Dad. I mention this because I have been talking with my wife and even with her experience of growing up an active member, she is unsure what to do.

I apologize that this post got so long but I have been taught to give as much info as possible when asking for advice. With that said, I would really appreciate any advice.

Thank you.

[Quin]

This probably won't help you...but...

I grew up outside the church.

Often in pagan circles.

Literally.

One thing that was true in both ancient Japan (I lived in modern Japan, but the old religions still flourish; born Shinto die Buddhist), and the EU Wicca traditions (and some shamanistic traditions arising from the Middle East).... As well as recognized by some branches of JUdaeism/Christianity/Islam (which is my understanding on why the wise men brought them)... Is Frankincense & Myrrh.

As in INDIVIDUALLY, they're used to summon demons &/or evil spirits.

TOGETHER they're protective (one invites demons, and one binds them).

Which means I walk around in a semi-horrified state all Chrismastime as people give/sell one or the other INDIVIDUALLY to people. As they see them as a birth of Jesus token, but nothing more beyond what the catalogue or the Christmas carols say.

Is it true?

Shrug.

I don't know.

I'm just Horatio, here.

But as I prefer NOT to muck about... Whenever anyone well meaningly gives me a pendant, charm, or box with one of the suckers in it, I immediately mix it with the other... Or I throw it away, and pour about a pound of salt on top.

And then smudge everything.

And then get a priest involved.

I've seen too many things anecdotally not to.

Since its her room... And it's Frankincense & Myrrh (And! And! And! Why don't people get that? Frankincense AND Myrrh) season. I'd personally check to see if someone has given her a candle, charm, token, perfume, sachet, etc. that contains one or the other of them. And then drop the sucker in a box of salt.

But that's me.

I'm not a member of the priesthood.

I don't even know if the church has anything canonized on the subject.

Q

[james12]

Brigham Young said:

I know very well that, whether we are active or not, the invisible spirits are active. And every person who desires and strives to be a Saint is closely watched by fallen spirits that came here when Lucifer fell, and by the spirits of wicked persons who have been here in tabernacles and departed them, but who are still under the control of the prince of the power of the air. Those spirits are never idle, they are watching every person who wishes to do right, and are continually prompting them to do wrong. This makes it necessary for us to be continually on our guard - makes this probation a continual warfare. (Journal of Discourses 7:239)

If we are striving to do what is right we may receive a greater portion of the spirit of the Lord. However, we must not suppose this is hidden from the adversary. He knows what your daughter has received and will try to use his influence to hinder her good work. I have felt what you have explained as a "blanket of fear". If we continue to feed this fear the adversary grows stronger.

I have found three main things that have helped me through such moments:

1. Replace fear with love - Our emotions and feelings are more potent then we understand. They can effect the spiritual realm. The Bible says, "perfect love casteth out fear" (1 John 4:18), and so it is. Pray to the Lord and fill your heart with love and use this love as you follow the next steps.

2. Cast the evil spirits from your home

3. Shield your family and home - Pray for a shield of light and love to protect you, your family members and home (Heleman 5:24-24, 3 Ne 17:23-34).

4. Pray for angels to stand guard - Specifically request that angels of light come to guard you, your family, and home (D&C 84:88).

If you do not fear but ask in faith I think you will find almost right away a very noticeable difference. Now, a word of warning. If you do this you may find peace for a night or for a day, but the adversary is persistent. Negative feelings will likely return. Follow the same process again as many times as you need. In fact, I found for a time that each night and sometimes during the day I had to follow this process. Over time the feelings will leave.

[Roseslipper]

I don't know I would of told u to put your right hand to the square and with a loud voice tell satan and his followers to leave your home In Jesus Christ name aman......and keep praying for the Lord to be with you and His Spirit..and maybe u can dedicate your home to the Spirit Of God.....Im sure other's who have the Priesthood of God will give you some advice.....

[Normandy]

One of my gifts is the gift of discernment and so I do have a lot of experience with this from before I converted to the church. I was recently told I have a "very thin veil". Not exactly sure what that means. But I've had to learn to live with certain things that used to be very scary as a child.

I'm not even 100% sure what is taught by the church on this so this is my own opinion that I'll respond.

Speak to your Bishop, please let him know this is happening. It's good for someone outside the home to be aware of the situation so they can encourage and assist you if needed.

Please be cautious first of all. Be ever so cautious. They can attach themselves to us. This is different from possession.

There are so many ways they could have entered your home. You'll probably never know for certain, unless it's an object or person attachment. If your daughter is going with the Sister Missionaries, make sure she is not being followed by evil spirits. They can and do follow us around and we may accidentally bring them home.

You should also ask your daughter to faithfully pray for this evil spirit to be cast away. It doesn't have to be a Priesthood holder to ask for this.

You cannot "ask" for the spirit to leave, you must demand it to leave.I know you said you did this, that's awesome! Sometimes it takes more than once with stronger spirits. It has no authority in your home or over your family. Let it know that. Tell your daughter this. Don't give it any authority, such as allowing it to make you fearful. Let this knowledge strengthen her. And do NOT be afraid of it. They feed off of your fear and sometimes this can allow them to attach themselves. So remind your children that evil spirits have no power over your home or your family. Remember even Jesus had to tell Satan to "go away" from him.

D&C 50:30-33

30 But know this, it shall be given you what you shall ask; and as ye are appointed to the head, the spirits shall be subject unto you.

31 Wherefore, it shall come to pass, that if you behold a spirit manifested that you cannot understand, and you receive not that spirit, ye shall ask of the Father in the name of Jesus; and if he give not unto you that spirit, then you may know that it is not of God.

32 And it shall be given unto you, apower over that spirit; and you shall proclaim against that spirit with a loud voice that it is bnot of God—

33 Not with arailing accusation, that ye be not overcome, neither with boasting nor rejoicing, lest you be seized

Edited December 23, 2013 by Normandy

[Normandy]

Oh, and if you continue to have problems casting it out, you can fast too before you try to cast it out again. Some spirits are really strong.

Try playing music in the room too every day and even maybe at night while the kids sleep, The Mormon Tabernacle choir. They really dislike things like this, even audio readings of the Bible!

ETA: One more thing. I wanted to expand on the "stronger" spirit comment. There are different types of evil spirits. Unclean spirits, demons, devils and imps.

Unclean Spirits are those who've passed away without the light of Christ. You can invite them to unto Jesus Christ or an angel he has waiting for them. Sometimes this works too. I actually very recently had this happen to me and it did work. This won't work with any other type of spirit though.

Edited December 23, 2013 by Normandy

[The Folk Prophet]

Have you considered that by "casting out" the evil spirits, so to speak, that you may be reinforcing some childish silliness that we've all go through rather than responding by something more akin to, "Knock it off. There's nothing in your room." Honestly, this sounds like a grown-up monsters-under-the-bed thing to me (which you may have fallen a bit victim to yourself).

I don't want to be insensitive, so I'm only offing the thought for consideration. But I think there's a correlation between "acceptance" of evil spirits and their actual presence. Evil has no power that we do not give it.

[dahlia]

I don't want to be insensitive, so I'm only offing the thought for consideration. But I think there's a correlation between "acceptance" of evil spirits and their actual presence. Evil has no power that we do not give it.

I was sitting here trying to think of a nice way to say what I was thinking, and you've nailed it.

As a convert, I get concerned when I hear members talking about the powers of evil spirits and Satan. It smacks too much of dualism. I do not give equal rank to good and evil. I knew a sister who always spoke of what the Adversary was up to in our lives. I choose not to have that perspective. I'd rather put my mind on HF and doing good.

Remember the Salem Witch Trials and the mass hysteria of some young people who let their emotions run away with them. They accepted the presence of evil, so they 'saw' the presence of evil. Hysteria is an interesting phenomenon, especially with young girls. It's something to consider.

[james12]

I don't want to be insensitive, so I'm only offing the thought for consideration. But I think there's a correlation between "acceptance" of evil spirits and their actual presence. Evil has no power that we do not give it.

Evil does have power, to say otherwise would be to shut our eyes to truth. However, it has no power to cause us to commit sin. This is because all those who have a body have power over those who do not.

As a convert, I get concerned when I hear members talking about the powers of evil spirits and Satan. It smacks too much of dualism. I do not give equal rank to good and evil. I knew a sister who always spoke of what the Adversary was up to in our lives. I choose not to have that perspective. I'd rather put my mind on HF and doing good.

Remember the Salem Witch Trials and the mass hysteria of some young people who let their emotions run away with them. They accepted the presence of evil, so they 'saw' the presence of evil. Hysteria is an interesting phenomenon, especially with young girls. It's something to consider.

Indeed we shouldn't dwell on the devil or evil and your perspective on thinking of good things is correct. But we cannot deny the fact that there are evil spirits. As in the post to start this thread sometimes we cannot ignore it and instead we must face it.

[The Folk Prophet]

Evil does have power, to say otherwise would be to shut our eyes to truth. However, it has no power to cause us to commit sin. This is because all those who have a body have power over those who do not.

Evil has no power to cause us fear or to creep us out. That is a response to evil that is of our own making. Moreover, to fear evil is to expose a lack of faith. Not that we can be perfect in faith. But with perfect faith, we will fear no evil. Even a devil in the room should cause no concern or fear if we are of perfect faith.

Moreover, I don't believe evil can physically threaten our well being without the use of external sources (a.k.a. sending a bad guy after you) unless we actually allow the evil to do so. Turn your back on it and it has no power over you.

Indeed we shouldn't dwell on the devil or evil and your perspective on thinking of good things is correct. But we cannot deny the fact that there are evil spirits. As in the post to start this thread sometimes we cannot ignore it and instead we must face it.

I wasn't suggesting he ignore the reality of an evil spirit. I was suggesting that it may well be more in their heads, and if so to buck up and get right with reality.

I have a firm belief in the reality of evil spirits. And I do think they have great influence in this life. I think that more of what we see in the madness of the world is in reality a direct result of evil spirits than most people probably think.

But I don't think being creeped out is usually a sign of evil spirits. That is, in my opinion, more often a state of our own minds and perspective than evidence of reality. Learn to not be creeped out and you won't be creeped out. Simple as that. It's not about the evil spirits. As far as true evil spirits are concerned, that's pretty plain. Keep the commandments and they will have no power over you. Can you feel them sometimes. Sure, but I would contend that it is situational and not random. As in, some crazy guy starts preaching whacko bloody murder at you and you sense evil spirits, rather than, "I just sense there's an evil spirit in my bedroom".

I will add again, just to be clear. I'm only giving my thoughts, so if the OP disagrees and feels a legitimate need to continue to seek methods of exorcism, that is certainly his prerogative.