Do they believe demons can make them do things they otherwise would not do? Do they use demon possession as an excuse to hurt people and maintain their social status/self-esteem?

The lady we all know Wrote:
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> Do they believe demons can make them do things
> they otherwise would not do? Do they use demon
> possession as an excuse to hurt people and
> maintain their social status/self-esteem?


No, that is not in the belief system of LDS theology. They believe demons and such can "tempt", but never cross the boundary of free agency.

I have never heard what you are describing coming from Mormon communities.

And what you have previously posted, is more about the break-off factions of fundamentals who still actively practice polygamy.

That is NOT mainstream mormonism.

Many mormons probably do believe in demon possess, but many do not.

Cheryl Wrote:
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> Many mormons probably do believe in demon possess,
> but many do not.


Cheryl are you talking mainstream TBMs, or fundamental polygamous Mormons??

When I lived in UT County, I didn't sense that belief in demon possession amongst everyday Mormons was common?

Mormon's generally don't think much about it. I've heard it expressed that possessions went dramatically down after Christianity swept Europe. Before Constantine the Romans were doing magic sacrifices to strange Gods in temples, and conjuring up weird stuff. And hence it was more common. But as soon as the cross went up everywhere, these things diminished.

But I had friends from Vietnam who said it was very common in South East Asia and Vietnam. They would get into a trance in the morning hours and would have slurred speech. Quite often they resorted to visiting a witch doctor to get rid of it (He later he immigrated to America).

Some do, some don't. I didn't.

I had this in the 70s.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/HZ0AAOSwp~9be2A8/s-l1600.jpg

The TBMs in my family pretty firmly believe in demons, that they can influence and, as Angela said, tempt, people, and some of my relatives are quite superstitious about this, but they do not, as far as I know, believe in actual "posession." Just that unseen evi;l influences try to lure people into "un-godly" behaivior.

My mother once told be the reason she didn't finish at BYU was that "Satan didn't want me to love myself."

Only those outside tscc; inside, it's 'leaders', and tscc as a whole, DEMONstrate they aren't sure who they are.

M@t

Joseph Smith (allegedly) cast out a demon:
https://www.lds.org/new-era/1986/07/the-knights-and-the-trial-of-joseph-smith?lang=eng
"One day after a gospel discussion in Colesville with Joseph Smith, Newel Knight retired to the woods to pray. Newel found himself overtaken by an evil spirit that seemed to almost take control of his body. Distorted and distraught, Newel returned to his home and sent for Joseph. The Prophet came immediately and cast out the evil spirit, using the power of the priesthood."

Early missionaries claimed to have done the same:
https://ldsmag.com/a-satanic-attack-on-the-first-missionaries-in-preston-england/

Finally, it is scriptural:
D&C 35:9 "And whoso shall ask it in my name in faith, they shall cast out devils; they shall heal the sick..."
D&C 24:13 "Require not miracles, except I shall command you,except casting out devils, healing the sick, and against poisonous serpents, and against deadly poisons"
D&C 84:67 "In my name they shall cast out devils"

My family did growing up. But, my mother said you could only be possessed if you had allowed the demon to enter by sinning.

I think it is some do, and some don't. My family was definitely on the do side.

I think most believe in the "potential" of demonic possession, but haven't seen it so they don't think about it. And then you have those that say they've seen it for sure.

I've known both types.