COMMAND THE SPIRITS TO MANIFEST THEMSELVES?

 Interesting:

Stories of Casting Out Ev¡l Spirits

“The police had in their custody a man p0ssessed of ev¡l spirits. He was a raving maniac. Elder Woodruff called to see him, and being alone with him, he laid his hands upon the man's head and commanded the dev¡ls to leave him. They obeyed; and the man became instantly sane and begged Elder Woodruff to take him to his home. The latter complied, and the man remained in a sane condition of mind until about one o'clock the following morning, when he again became p0ssessed. Again Elder Woodruff rebuked the ev¡l spirit. The man was relieved and remained quiet until morning. There were some subsequent attacks upon this unfortunate, but through the power of faith, he was healed.”

Wilford Woodruff: History of His Life and Labors , p 445

“We addressed the people several times during this conference, and at its close were called to administer to a woman who was p0ssessed of a dev¡l. At times she was dumb and greatly afflicted with the ev¡l spirits that dwelt in her. She believed in Jesus, and in us as His servants, and wished us to administer to her. Four of us laid our hands upon her head, and in the name of Jesus Christ commanded the dev¡l to depart from her. The ev¡l spirits left immediately, and the woman arose with great joy and gave thanks and praise unto God; for, according to her faith, she was made whole from that hour. A child that was sick was also healed by the laying on of hands, according to the word of God.”

Wilford Woodruff: History of His Life and Labors, p 71

“A conference of the Church was held at Kirtland June 6, 1831, and-all the Elders and Saints that could be gathered together were present. The Holy Ghost was made manifest in its workings upon the Prophet and many of the Elders. The spirit of ev¡l was also shown to be present, but as soon as discerned it was rebuked in the name of the Lord Jesus, and vanished. The High Priesthood, a degree of the Melchizedek higher than the Elder, was conferred for the first time on a number of faithful men.”

The Latter Day Prophet: Young People’s History of Joseph Smith, p 55

Joseph F. Smith said, “‘Of the many gifts of the Spirit which were manifest through my administration, next to my acquirement of the language, the most prominent was perhaps the gift of healing, and by the power of God the casting out of ev¡l spirits which frequently occurred.’ One incident shows how the Lord is with his servants: Joseph was studying the language, being alone with a native family in Wailuku. One night while he sat by a dismal light poring over his books in one corner of the room where dwelt a native and his wife, the woman was suddenly p0ssessed; she arose and looking toward Joseph made the most fearful noises and gestures, accompanied by terrible physical contortions. Her husband came on his bended knees and crouched beside him, frightened to trembling. The fear that our young missionary felt under those circumstances was something indescribable, but presently it all left him, and he stood up facing the maniac woman, exclaiming: ‘In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I rebuke you.’ Like a flash, the woman fell to the floor like one dead. The husband went to ascertain if she were alive, and pronounced her dead. Then he returned, and set up a perfect howl, which Joseph likewise rebuked. What should Joseph do? His first impression was to get away from the horrid surroundings, but upon reflection he decided that such action would not be wise. His feelings were indescribable, but having rebuked the ev¡l, it was subdued and peace was restored, and he proceeded again with his studies. These are the class of experiences that bring a lone missionary, young as he was, close to the Lord.”

Gospel Doctrine, pp 671-672

“Later Joseph went to Hiram, about thirty miles distant, to organize a branch of the Church there. While he was absent from Kirtland ev¡l spirits molested the inexperienced Saints, and Bishop Partridge could not manage the people. When the Prophet returned and learned the condition he called a meeting in a little school house on Isaac Morley's farm, and those who desired attended. When a crowd was gathered, Joseph arose and said in a powerful voice:

‘Let the spirits be made manifest.’ Immediately, some began to sing, some to shout, some to cry, etc. When Joseph rebuked them, all became quiet except two, whom he rebuked separately.”

The Young Woman’s Journal, Dec 1906, p 538

‘These ev¡l ‘angels’ use deception as their main tool of destruction. They simulate all that is good. They urge the satisfaction of sensual appetites. In the words of Brigham Young, they tell a hundred truths so that the one lie may be accepted. Sometimes they may come as angels of light, in borrowed or stolen raiment. Always they fail to reveal themselves as they are.

Satan and his ev¡l angels are bodiless. That is their heavy punishment. Their power, now and hereafter, is greatly limited by this lack. Therefore, they often seek entrance into human bodies, even bodies of lower animals. Whenever this occurs, the individual thus made to share his body is caused much agonized suffering.

However, one does not really need to fear the angels of ev¡l. They are essentially cowardly. They fear light and truth. Darkness and untruth are their native habitat. Their successes always come when the mind of man is darkened by unbelief or unholy practices. A resolute determination to have nothing to do with them drains their strength. They are mortally afraid of the power of the Priesthood. The command, ‘Get thou behind me,’ coupled with righteous living, is sufficient to drive them away. Yet, one must always be on guard against new forms of temptation in which these messengers from ev¡l and with ev¡l may appear to offer transient satisfactions.”

Elder John A. Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, p 109