May 29 — Recently, I had a conversation with someone who told me about a time they asked a spirit to leave their home. This made me think of a time when I was sitting in Young Women’s and heard a leader tell the girls that, if they ever encountered an evil spirit, they were to “raise their right arm to the square” and command the evil spirit to leave in the name of Jesus Christ.
If you aren’t aware, Mormons raise their right arms to the square when they sustain a new leader. This is also done in the temple endowment ceremony when making oaths and covenants, when someone is baptized into the Church, and during priesthood ordinances.
Raising your right arm to the square to rebuke evil spirits seems to be more folklore than actual teaching in the Mormon Church. I haven’t found an “official” teaching or quote from a leader, but there are plenty of stories of church members having experiences with spirits. Some welcome them through Ouija boards, while others speak of spiritual encounters in temples or of seeking their ancestors’ help as they do family history work. (more…)
