Doug Tales 110: Evil Entities, Part Ten

This is the last of the ten characteristics of evil entities described by Doug Mendenhall in Conquering Spiritual Evil, Volume One (2012), with this one on page 72. Later, in Conquering Spiritual Evil, Volume Two (2020) on pp. 400-402, Doug quotes Denver Snuffer (and then Paul in Ephesians) to emphasize the importance of our truly knowing how to “tell the difference between someone that is in the employ of the adversary and someone that is not.”

Characteristic #10: Devils, demons, and earthbound spirits can inhabit a host anytime during a person’s life, from the womb until late in life. They can even be attached to you as a spirit in the spirit world after your body is laid in the grave.

The scriptures show us that Christ cast entities out of children. (Mark 9:17-29) Just because a person can’t “sin” doesn’t mean they can’t be taken over by an entity. This can be from actions of their parents, generational issues or curses, or even environment.

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May all of us have many encounters with Light. Don’t worry, it probably will be messy at the start trying to figure out who you are encountering, light or dark. That is just the way it is and it isn’t wrong to make mistakes. When He asked if I’d do His work, I told Him that I had heard He didn’t pay very well. I think about that comment now and want to hide. He forgave me. He always will forgive. All of us.

Snuffer talked about encounters and evil at a conference in Hurricane, Utah during the question and answer section with his wife Stephanie on March 22, 2020:

“But then, very often, if you’re gonna have to deal with the adversary on any substantial matters, you’re usually going to be exposed in a way—

“Joseph was exposed in a way that gave him the capacity to detect the adversary in a dramatic way, that cued him in and put him on guard, because that would have prevented a whole lot of mischief from later ensuing [see Joseph Smith History 1:15–17]. Moses on the mount had an encounter with the adversary that, again, gave him a capacity that helped him to detect the adversary thereafter and prevent a lot of mischief [see Moses 1:12–23]. And Christ, after His baptism, in the wilderness was confronted by the adversary in a way that equipped Him on an ongoing basis to deal with that [see Matthew 4:1–11].

“The Lord’s educational process sometimes requires that you get exposed to the enemy of your soul in order to know how to avoid falling prey to the enemy of your soul. And I know there are people out there that are so befuddled and so concerned about this very issue (about the devil misleading) that they cannot tell the difference between someone that is in the employ of the adversary (and deceived and preaching a false message) and someone that is not (and has not been deceived and knows how to detect and rebuke and has not fallen prey to him).” (emphasis in original)

That is the reason these books were written, all four of them. The two Conquering books along with the two I See… books. They are an effort to help others “tell the difference between someone that is in the employ of the adversary and someone that is not.” But just not that, it will hopefully give the person some tools to use in defense against the adversary in the war that is being waged here in mortality. From protections to healing, it is all helpful in the fight.

It is our hope that you will become engaged in the fight, learn much to be able to help your family and yourself. Yes, it does take work, effort, and time. We call that spiritual currency. This war is spiritual. As it states in Ephesians, the war is not against flesh and blood, it is spiritual.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” (Ephesians 6:10–18)