MORMONISM LIVE !: 010: Demonic Possession, Exorcism, and Mormonism

February 11, 20211h 46m

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Show Notes

In todays Episode Jonathan Streeter fills in for Bill Reel and takes RFM on a journey discussing the first miracle in Mormonism. They discuss the role that Demonic possessions and exorcisms play in religion generally and how such things have influenced Mormonism specifically

Episode outline

Cold Open – Anatomy of a Performance Exorcism
- Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnkLBZZuNmI
- Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RuCLB6vM3M
Exorcism discussion
- Why exorcism?
  - Scriptural precedent
  - Christ Example
- How can exorcism be explained?
  - Psychology of belief and the reverse exorcism
    - Source: https://youtu.be/BR-eMMCp7tg?t=834

Sociology of Possession: https://archive.org/details/policing-the-devil-and-possession
The usefulness of Exorcism
- Demonize ideas dangerous to belief
  - Example: Demonization of Doubt – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWsqNZgwIYE&t=10s
- Consolidate power
  - Example: Demon attacks prophet and fails: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVv90VfY9t8
  - Mystical Manipulation and spiritual supremacy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He9H500yGZA
- Psychological utility
- Spiritual bypassing
  - Facebook Adultery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTM3M-51rZo&t=4s
- Demonize taboo behavior
  - Demons enter through video games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BXrk-B4u7A
  - Demons enter through masturbation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXAqGYfFBxc
American roots of possession in Africa
- Pastor AA Allen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k6iOtFegq8
- AA Allen Acolyte endorses TB Joshua: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp7CUc88azA
Examples of fraudulent exorcism
- Man answers cell phone in middle of possession: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6iJ_SZPjto
The First Miracle of the Restoration
- Ensign Article: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1989/01/the-knight-family-ever-faithful-to-the-prophet?lang=eng
- History of the Church, 1:82–83: https://byustudies.byu.edu/further-study-lesson/volume-1-chapter-9/

Resources for background:

Possession in Mormonism Podcast: https://mi.byu.edu/mip-71-taysom/
Paper about possession and Exorcism in Mormonism: https://archive.org/details/satan-mourns-naked-upon-the-earth-locat

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