October 20, 2008

Mind-reading and Psychic Things - good or evil?

Q.
WHAT IS THE CHURCH'S STAND ON MIND READING AND PSYCHIC STUFF? I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH THAT TALENT BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THEY ARE DECEIVING YOU. THE REASON I WANTED TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS IS BECAUSE I KNOW FROM READING THE SCRIPTURES THAT IN THE LAST DAYS, IN WHICH WE ARE LIVING RIGHT NOW, THERE WILL BE MANY WHO WILL SHOW WONDERS AND SIGNS AND WHO WILL PERFORM ALL KINDS OF MIRACLES AND MANY PEOPLE WILL BE DECEIVED BY THEIR DOING.

A.
The church's stand is to support that written in Scripture. The Scriptures do record people's thoughts being revealed at times. Yet the Scriptures oppose the idea of constant communication with an unknown dead person or evil spirits (familiar spirits).

But your question relates to those living. This is an interesting subject, of which I could write extensively on, but will try to keep it as brief as possible. Hopefully this will help you.

Most doing such things know very little about what they are actually doing. When we were just an intelligence (ie. before being born to Heavenly Father and our Heavenly Mother as spirit children) we communicated by thought. Upon being born as spirits we continued in this communication style to some extent. In this life, part of our spirit body can come out of our physical body (along with part of our intelligence) and go to other people. Those who can see spirits can see these people where so chosen.

I have some people, who practice this ability (in fact 2 of my children do), come to me for additional communication. I have no problem with it, as I have nothing to hide. However many can become extremely paranoid about this. For this reason those who do it normally like to keep it a secret from those who may be adversely affected.

It is just a natural ability. There is nothing evil about it of itself. It is like our ability to speak and hear. The only problem exists in what people may do.

As my wife died young and I am now single, I have had females try to persuade me that I am romantically interested in them, for example. Some have tried to test my spiritual integrity by drawing my attention to parts that females are showing, such as cleavage, and throwing in a lustful feeling. I know these things don't come from me and so I just ignore them. But it demonstrates that people can use it in incorrect ways.

Furthermore people can carry on directed communications with you (which they produce the attitude and direction of and it becomes a subconscious conversation) and come away thinking that the responses you gave during this biased view point (in your mind) are actually what you believe. These people really need an instruction manual.

People practicing this sometimes come to see themselves as some superior class. This isn't always the case, of course. But it does happen. So it is like anything else. It can be good or can be evil, depending on what you do with it.

As to other psychic (spirit) abilities, the same applies. Wise use of abilities is no problem. Whatever a person does they must always remember to practice no evil of any sort with them. Also not to infringe upon anyone's personal life nor their right to their own decisions etc.

I enjoy feeling the purity in others with my spirit (I only focus on the good bits I feel in them). I can go in as far as I wish - a useful tool when looking for a marriage partner. This doesn't affect them negatively in the slightest. These are also abilities we used as an intelligence. I don't do things to demonstrate tricks to others or to deceive in any way. The only people who know I do them are those people who read my mind.

The most wonderful person I know, who is by far the most Christ like, sends her spirit to me on a regular basis (ie. reads my mind). She has been invaluable to me through several difficult times I have been through. She is spiritually encouraging and a strong member. She has her own family, so comes purely out of love and friendship for me as a person. I'm the only person she comes to.

So while I can see that wrong can be done with it, much good can also come from it. Therefore I don't see this as fulfilling the prophecy you refer to, of itself. Also this isn't new, as such things are recorded as having happened throughout history. I don't think you need to worry there. That prophecy, along with the one about signs in the heavens, are considered by some to be fulfilled by our latest technology (airplanes etc) and the deceptions of theory science (evolution, ice age, millions of years old earth, etc). I reserve judgement on it just yet.

Magic Tricks and Sorcery

Q.
What should we feel about magic tricks? I know that there have been strict warnings against sorcery and witch craft. Are magic tricks to be considered as sorcery?

A.
In the vast majority of cases magicians use simple devices for doing their tricks. This is just pure entertainment; and there is nothing wrong in that.

It is true, however, that some few incorporate mind-matter abilities in tricks. This can only be wrong where the person seeks some help from a dark (ie. evil) source, where they are using it for an evil purpose or where they are putting their lives in jeopardy.

If they are seeking a dark source for more power (which the dark side [Satan] can't give them) then that becomes sorcery or witch craft.

I would strongly advise any person using mind abilities to resist any desire to use them in any way that does damage to others for the purpose of revenge or any other evil reason. It takes a wise person, realising we all have such abilities, to not abuse them.