Evil Spirits
There may be a perceptible distinction between evil spirits and false spirits. Even though false spirits have an evil intent to deceive, the intent of evil spirits seems to be more deleterious and destructive. There are many spirits which are false spirits, which have gone forth in the earth (T&C 36:1), and evil spirits are included among these false spirits. “On evil spirits: I’ve never felt it important to discuss the topic. They exist. One of the side-effects of an inordinate preoccupation with the topic is the misunderstanding that you can relate to them. You can’t. They are your enemy. Their tool in trade is deception and lying. ‘Summary dismissal’ is what is taught in the scriptures and in the temple and should be the approach when dealing with them.”1
Christ has the power over all spirits and is able to give that power to others. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease (Matthew 4:15). And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject to us through your name. And he said unto them, As lightning falls from heaven, I beheld Satan also falling. Behold, I will give unto you power over serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding, in this, rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in Heaven (Luke 8:5).
Christ’s power includes and has always included the commanding of devils and casting out evil spirits which men allow to dwell in their hearts; He subdued them before, and they are required to obey Him in this world. Although He allowed Michael to physically cast them from Heaven, it was Christ who accomplished the victory there and limited Lucifer’s power on Earth. Notice the location of the evil spirits that Christ will cast out. Covenant of Christ tells us the evil spirits … influence the hearts of the people (Mosiah 1:14 CE) It is in men’s hearts that they dwell on lusts, ambition, unholy desires, anger, jealousy, and resentments. It is in the center of their feelings that they permit evil to dwell. Christ’s victory goes directly to men’s hearts.2 “Over whom does [the priesthood] exercise power? Over the spirits and over the elements — never over one’s fellow men….Christ commanded the spirits, and they obeyed him; he commanded the elements, and they obeyed him, but men he would not command.”3
But the Lord admonishes those who attempt to use the power given them: When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, I charge you to come out of him and enter no more into him. Now the dumb and deaf spirit cried and convulsed him severely, and came out of him. And he was as one dead, insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. When Jesus had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could we not cast him out? And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing but by prayer and fasting (Mark 5:10–11).
Modern instruction about dealing with various spirits was given by the Lord in 1831 (see T&C 32:3 and 36:6). “You will encounter false spirits, as well as true ones if you will persist. You need to be familiar with both in order to choose. These opposing forces are part of the process of becoming competent and adept. No one lacking knowledge of these things can be saved. ‘A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world, as evil spirits will have more knowledge, and consequently more power’ (TPJS, 217).”4See also FALSE SPIRITS; TESTING THE SPIRITS.
1 “Last Week’s Comments,” May 19, 2012, blog post.
2 “Mosiah 3:5–6,” May 25, 2012, blog post.
3 Hugh Nibley, Eloquent Witness, 257.
4 “Standing Aside,” September 30, 2014, blog post.