The discerning of spirits...???...

[Still_Small_Voice]

The discerning of spirits is very real. I have had several personal experiences where I have been able to "see" spirits. Both good and bad. I don't see them with my physical eyes, but with my spiritual ones. Sorta hard to explain. I will try.

Think in you mind what your father looks like. You have that image in your head. His hair color, facial features, and stature. Spirits are around us always. Good and bad. When a spirit presents itself then all the physical/spiritual characteristics are put into your mind so that you know what they look like. I hope I make sense.

I have had an experience similar to what you stated. A woman and I were hanging out one night and we both heard a strange noise. Several minutes later I saw three evil spirits standing outside the house where we were at. I could see in my mind the physical characteristics of them. They were not visible to my natural eyes. It was a strange experience. It was only experience I've ever had like that in my mortal life.

[JohnnyRudick]

I have had an experience similar to what you stated. A woman and I were hanging out one night and we both heard a strange noise. Several minutes later I saw three evil spirits standing outside the house where we were at. I could see in my mind the physical characteristics of them. They were not visible to my natural eyes. It was a strange experience. It was only experience I've ever had like that in my mortal life.

I too have had very similar experiences.

And thank you "tiancum" for bringing up this subject.

Bro. Rudick

[Maya]

I can sence evil in people and places, it also looks dark to me. My son can see the aura of people.

[JohnnyRudick]

. . .My son can see the aura of people.

Cool:eek:

[ozzy]

While all of the gifts of the spirit are wonderful, I think that many of the examples given differ somewhat from what tiancum is talking about. At least, what I understand he is talking about.

It is true that spirits are around us. I believe it was Brigham Young that said the Spirit World is right here with us, though I can't give a specific reference. My understanding is that the instance is rare that such spirits appear to us living souls. In fact, it is my understanding that it is even more rare for these souls who have passed on to appear than it is for those souls which never have had, and never will get a body to appear.

I will not cast down this sisters claim, however it is a very serious subject that would definitely require much prayer. If it is real and of God (and I won't lie, I doubt it is), then it is a truly wonderful thing. I am more inclined to believe that it is probably not right and of God.

However I personally am not in a position to judge in absolutes.

I hope this helps.

[Ammonite]

I have known too many people who are skilled with using spiritual experiences to manipulate others, even in seemingly innocent ways--so I am often the skeptic. Sometimes however, I wish I weren't.

I think it would be nice to live in a time like the early days of the Church when angels ministered to the Saints on a regular basis, when people spoke in tongues and manifested other spiritual gifts, when miracles were more visible and grand, and Church members were less inclined to explain them away.

[orderofxolotl]

Joseph Smith taught that after the city of enoch was translated that the saints sought to join them and most the righteous were continually translated while very few were left on earth to fulfill the Lord's purposes. Joseph also taught that the king of salem sought to build a city just like the one enoch built and to be translated as well.

[Hemidakota]

There is a lady in our ward, who says she has it.(well the missionary said she did)The missionaries were over at her house, they were giving a blessing and she said one of the elder's family (dead grampa) was there, and didn't want him to worry, and to fix things with his family or something. She said to confirm it through prayer...

The missionary hadn't ever seen a gift like that before so he asked me about it.

Does this sound legit? how does this gift manifest itself? Are people allowed to receive things like that about other people not under their stewardship?

How many faithful members can see the dead? Have you been to a funeral and watch those who are departed enter the chapel behind the casket, accompanied by others? Have you been to the temple and walked past those who work is being done? This gift is not only given to the Saints but to those whom FATHER does grant it. If she sees it, the Missionary has the right to know the surety by having the Holy Ghost confirmation. If it doesn't confirm it, then it has no value or worth for the Missionary. In other words, disregard it.

Edited December 28, 2009 by Hemidakota

[Hemidakota]

she was more specific than that.

I still wonder if she has the right to tell others, (not under her direct stewardship) like missionaries that they have angels around them, and what they are saying.

For those of you in leadership, bishops, high council, EQP, how would you feel if you knew someone on your ward was doing this?

If she could described the grandfather then would you call it a gift?

[Hemidakota]

I went back in looking for a quote made by Joseph Smith concerning the Gift of Discernment and this what he had say -

The Gift of Discernment of Spirits

A man must have the discerning of spirits, as we before stated, to understand these things, and how is he to obtain this gift if there are no gifts of the Spirit? And how can these gifts be obtained without revelation? "Christ ascended into heaven, and gave gifts to men; and He gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers." And how were Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers and Evangelists chosen? By prophecy (revelation) and by laying on of hands—by a divine communication, and a divinely appointed ordinance—through the medium of the Priesthood, organized according to the order of God, by divine appointment. The Apostles in ancient times held the keys of this Priesthood—of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, and consequently were enabled to unlock and unravel all things pertaining to the government of the Church, the welfare of society, the future destiny of men, and the agency, power and influence of spirits; for they could control them at pleasure, bid them depart in the name of Jesus, and detect their mischievous and mysterious operations when trying to palm themselves upon the Church in a religious garb, and militate against the interest of the Church and spread of truth. We read that they "cast out devils in the name of Jesus," and when a woman possessing the spirit of divination, cried before Paul and Silas, "these are the servants of the Most High God that show unto us the way of salvation," they detected the spirit. And although she spake favorably of them, Paul commanded the spirit to come out of her, and saved themselves from the opprobrium that might have been heaped upon their heads, through an alliance with her, in the development of her wicked principles, which they certainly would have been charged with, if they had not rebuked the evil spirit. (Page 201, 'Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith' by Joseph Fielding Smith, Joseph Smith)

Discerning of Spirits by Power of Priesthood

Every one of these professes to be competent to try his neighbor's spirit, but no one can try his own, and what is the reason? Because they have not a key to unlock, no rule wherewith to measure, and no criterion whereby they can test it. Could any one tell the length, breadth or height of a building without a rule? Test the quality of metals without a criterion, or point out the movements of the planetary systems, without a knowledge of astronomy? Certainly not; and if such ignorance as this is manifested about a spirit of this kind, who can describe an angel of light? If Satan should appear as one in glory, who can tell his color, his signs, his appearance, his glory, or what is the manner of his manifestation? Who can detect the spirit of the French prophets with their revelations and their visions, and power of manifestations? Or who can point out the spirit of the Irvingites, with their apostles and prophets, and visions and tongues, and interpretations, etc. Or who can drag into daylight and develop the hidden mysteries of the false spirits that so frequently are made manifest among the Latter-day Saints? We answer that no man can do this without the Priesthood, and having a knowledge of the laws by which spirits are governed; for as no man knows the things of God, but by the Spirit of God, so no man knows the spirit of the devil, and his power and influence, but by possessing intelligence which is more than human, and having unfolded through the medium of the Priesthood the mysterious operations of his devices; without knowing the angelic form, the sanctified look and gesture, and the zeal that is frequently manifested by him for the glory of God, together with the prophetic spirit, the gracious influence, the godly appearance, and the holy garb, which are so characteristic of his proceedings and his mysterious windings.

A man must have the discerning of spirits before he can drag into daylight this hellish influence and unfold it unto the world in all its soul-destroying, diabolical, and horrid colors; for nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God. Thousands have felt the influence of its terrible power and baneful effects. Long pilgrimages have been undertaken, penances endured, and pain, misery and ruin have followed in their train; nations have been convulsed, kingdoms overthrown, provinces laid waste, and blood, carnage and desolation are habiliments in which it has been clothed. (Page 204-205, 'Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith' by Joseph Fielding Smith, Joseph Smith)

Hopefully this is more meaningful for those here with the knowledge of not only the gift itself is required to discern, but how to discern between a good spirit and a bad spirit.

[RanMan]

she was more specific than that.

I still wonder if she has the right to tell others, (not under her direct stewardship) like missionaries that they have angels around them, and what they are saying.

For those of you in leadership, bishops, high council, EQP, how would you feel if you knew someone on your ward was doing this?

I suppose it is possible that the veil is thinner for some people than others. I don't know that this would have anything to do with stewardship though. If a spirit asked to have a message passed along, I think that is no different than if a living person were to do the same. And Idon't think you would bring stewardship into it if someone approached you with a message from your Aunt Matilda in Idaho.

Then again, I could be wrong. Maybe it is a matter of stewardship and not individuals on the other side of the veil asking for messages to be passed along.

:)

[bmy-]

I still wonder if she has the right to tell others, (not under her direct stewardship) like missionaries that they have angels around them, and what they are saying.

This is in the scriptures already.

[AnneSheWas]

speaking from personal experience, you KNOW whether you should share information with someone or not, it's very obvious. when it comes to spiritual experiences about them or people connected to them. the spirit tells you if its your place to be a messenger for that specific purpose, if you're unsure you go back to the basics of prayer and fasting. you could be given so much knowledge about something but if it's not your place to tell the person it's directed at you just don't do it. instead you use what you've been given to help the situation or reach beyond yourself to find the empathy needed to deal with it.