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Lds Position On Occult Affiliation - Page 2

'The dark side' is a common theme on movies and stuff and it is something people like because of the mythical spirit that each one of us have about the 'unknown' but I do agree we should avoid any kind of material of this kind, my only point if you think about it what kind of entertainment we will really have as adults? I mean we should not watch violent movies, r-rated movies, no movies about darkness and stuff, then we will end watching Tom Sawyer and Peter Pan for the rest of our lives? It seems that we have no much choice but to end up watching little children's shows since they are the only ones totally 'safe'.

Affiliation Occult Position Lds

I know something about this.

Before I joined the Church (1968), I was involved in some of this stuff. My mother was keen on it. After I joined and learnt what it was really about, I stayed completely away from it. Since then I have participated in quite a few blessings that involved the casting out of evil spirits. There is nothing that shows the power of the Priesthood quite like this.

As far as the watching of shows that glorify or try to trivialize the evil side. I think we, as LDS, should stay completely away from them.

My question is, should we listen to, watch, or participate in anything that does not help us to have more of the Spirit of God?

Remember when the Prophet Joseph visited Brigham Young after Joseph's death?

Brigham was asking what he should tell the people of the Church. Joseph told him to tell them to "get the Spirit of God and keep it."

My advice: Throw out your TV (my family did 4 years ago), do not watch anything
that you youngest child and your sainted grandmother couldn't watch together, keep away from ANYTHING (including Harry Potter, etc) that teaches that the witches can be "good". There is NO GOOD in these things. This is exactly how the antichrist works. Miracles, sensation and "short cuts" are his stock in trade.

Ricky

Lds Position On Occult Affiliation Studies Doctrine Mormon

At rickydyson

I'm Sorry, I'd completely disagree with you. If we're going to throw away our TVs because of things like charmed (which I personally do not watch for various reasons), lets just cut off our internet and telephones for that matter, because those are major outlets for satanic and sinister ideas, never the mind that the church's resources contains countless resources for spiritual growth, and there are many many ways of using these tools in appropriate and prudent manners.

"Let all things be done in wisdom and in order..."

As for the idea of not watching Harry Potter or whatnot, I disagree that they are 'glorifying' the dark arts. It's fantasy. Taking place in the imaginations of those watching. And many of these 'short cut' stories, while they may not be directly in line with what we believe, they are still of value and learning. On top of that, I doubt that J.K Rawlings was thinking of the LDS perspective when writing her novels. In fact, I doubt she knows much about prophets or the restoration for that matter. In that context, she used the best images she could come up with. Had she used the word 'monks' instead of witches, it wouldn't be ruffling so many feathers, now would it?

When observing outside influences, one must understand the source from which they come. Not everything that isn't of an LDS base is inherently evil. And when it's not, we have to analyze the motives and overarching themes of the influence. Do the millions of readers of Harry Potter come out of the books thinking, "boy, witchcraft sounds like fun. It's not that bad at all..." or do they come out of it with something like, "Boy that young man's sacrifice for his friends was astounding..." You get out of it what you put in. And if you're looking for Satan in the menial, you will find him. Without fail. Likewise on the other side. If you look for God in all things, you will find him, and you will focus on him, and you will be able to appreciate the good in all things, not just the LDS environment.

Page 2 Affiliation Occult Position Lds

That actually describes us well. We believe in heavenly beings beyond our comprehension and the temple stuff is kept under wraps.

Affiliation Occult Position Lds

A little more food for thought:

The word "occult" or "magic" both contain inherent issues when working from an understanding viewpoint. Edmund Meltzer argued that because of "the loaded, evaluative connotation of 'magic' [or 'occult'] as false, deceptive, discredited, or morally tainted" in contrast with science and religion, "'magic' is relegated to the 'they' side of a 'we/they' dichotomy. This is simultaneously unfair to the materials and practices studied under the heading of 'magic,' and self-serving for the materials (mainly those we identify as 'our own') that are exempted from that label. It perpetuates a complacent double standard.

And while we may be trying to determine if 'occult' practices are accepted within the church, if they were accepted they would no longer be 'occult'. In a good quote from Lord of the Rings:

Plus, while a practice may be 'occult' to us as LDS members, to others who follow those traditions, it is no more 'occult' than our own temple ceremonies, or the laying on of hands for healing, or the fact that we recieve our Isreali Lineage from a stake patriarch.

But, yes. There are things which are inherently evil, things which bring the spirit of Satan into our lives and the lives of others. But we cannot shun those that do participate, or discredit the values they may have learned by experience.

Joseph Smith once said,

Message Edited...
Persephone: Please use Quote tags for all quotes. Quotes should also have sources for verification.

Lds Position On Occult Affiliation

jJB defines "occult":

Joseph Smith said,

So, Joseph said that we must know the laws governing the spirits, and the way to know them is through the priesthood. (Note, he did NOT say, through listening to General Conference) The main fear in the supernatural, per Joseph's remarks is that some may follow the false spirits, believing they are from God. So, do we avoid any exposure to the supernatural at all and be completely ignorant of the laws governing spirits, or do we rely on the discernment of spirits, and our knowledge of doctrine to guide us?
In a certain holy place, we learn that truth should be brought together into one big whole (paraphrasing here). He also said,

He said this in context of discussing the beliefs of other religions and systems (CHI).

As for Buffy, etc., it is an Ephraimite thing, I believe, to like fantasy, and Buffy, Charmed, etc. Are nothing but fantasy. A study of the tales of King Arthur will reveal that they are allegories hiding the gospel truths in many instances. Fantasy is a tale of right versus wrong. This is the stuff of Buffy.

LDS_forever mentioned being confined to movies like Peter Pan. In my opinion, Peter Pan is very much rooted in the paranormal. (A kid that never ages and flies and consorts with fairies?) Clearly not acceptable according to JB's definition of "occult."

Lds Position Occult Affiliation - Page 2

Not my definition, I think you meant reference.com's defition. There is also more than one meaning. Here is my original Post: