Encircled About by Angels of the Devil

K. Douglas Bassett

Mosiah 2:32-33, 37; 3 Ne. 7:22; D&C 35:9; 50:32-33; refer in this text to Alma 3:26- 27

“Any person that he can find that will yield to him, he will bind him, and take possession of the body and reign there, glorying in it mightily, not caring that he had got merely a stolen body; and by and by some one having authority will come along and cast him out and restore the tabernacle to its rightful owner. The devil steals a tabernacle because he has not one of his own: but if he steals one, he is always liable to be turned out of doors.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 298)
“When those have come into this world and received tabernacles, then died and again have risen and received glorified bodies, they will have an ascendency over the spirits who have received no bodies, or kept not their first estate, like the devil. The punishment of the devil was that he should not have a habitation like men. The devil’s retaliation is, he comes into this world, binds up men’s bodies, and occupies them himself.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 305-306)
“When I saw devils possessing the bodies of the children of men I knew that God … permitted them to be on the earth, and wherein would this be a state of probation, without those devils?” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 3:321)
“Brother Joseph Smith gave an explanation of [evil influences]. There are places in the Mississippi Valley where the influence or the presence of invisible spirits are very perceptibly felt. He said that numbers had been slain there in war and that there were evil influences or spirits which affect the spirits of those who have tabernacles on the earth. I myself have felt those influences in other places besides the continent of America; I have felt them on the old battle grounds on the Sandwich Islands. I have come to the conclusion that if our eyes were open to see the spirit world around us, we should feel differently on this subject than we do; we would not be so unguarded and careless and so indifferent whether we had the spirit and power of God with us or not; but we would be continually watchful and prayerful to our Heavenly Father for His Holy Spirit and His holy angels to be around about us to strengthen us to overcome every evil influence.” (George Q. Cannon, Gospel Truths, 1:82)

Latter-Day Commentary on the Book of Mormon

References