[Spirits]
Yesterday, I was at my apartment, having picked up my car from The mechanic. Relaxing, hanging out on my bed during lunch. I heard someone walking in the kitchen. Now. My house is old. There are creaks, groans, moans, and all manner of noises. But there's always the distinct noise of someone moving through the kitchen. I've always been able to tell when someone was in the house, cause of the noise of someone who walks through the kitchen, and as I bring this up with my neighbors, they agree, (they have the same model house.) I distinctly heard someone walking upstairs. I ignored it. I thought I was nuts, I was all alone here. Then I heard it again.
Thinking it was Natasha, who may possibly still have a key, I walked upstairs to say hello, and no one was there. I double checked the locks, and everything was locked. You can't lock the back door from the outside, so she didn't go out that way, and she didn't go down the stairs cause I would have heard it. I walked upstairs to verify that no one was upstairs.
I'm going to use this picture to help explain what happened next.
This is Danny and Chris's house. But their apartment is an exact duplicate of mine. Danny's feet are standing in the kitchen, and my room would be that which is right under his feet. I walked upstairs and walked behind that wall behind danny's head, and heard it again. Someone walking on the kitchen floor. And instantly, my head was back around the wall, no more than 2 seconds after the noise. THERE.WAS.NO.ONE.THERE. I freaked a little. 3 thoughts were happening.
1. I'm crazy. I've already been defined as that. I was skeptical of this thought. But, does a crazy person know they are crazy?
2. Maybe it was the house making noises... but I discounted that immediately.
3. There was a ghost/spirit/poltergeist in my house.
For the record, I believe in Ghosts. I believe in spirits, and evil forces in the world. I believe that Ouija boards have a weird spelling for their name, and that they invite forces that you don't want. I believe that the power of the Devil is real. I believe that 1/3 of the hosts of heaven were cast out and are on the earth tempting us.
“…a vision was opened to our minds, and we could distinctly see the evil spirits, who foamed and gnashed their teeth at us. We gazed upon them about an hour and a half. . . . We were not looking towards the window, but towards the wall. Space appeared before us, and we saw the devils coming in legions, with their leaders, who came within a few feet of us.
“They came towards us like armies rushing to battle. They appeared to be men of full stature, possessing every form of feature of men in the flesh, who were angry and desperate; and I shall never forget the vindictive malignity depicted on their countenances as they looked me in the eye; and any attempt to paint the scene which then presented itself, or portray their malice and enmity, would be vain.
“I perspired exceedingly, my clothes becoming as wet as if I had been taken out of the river. I felt excessive pain, and was in the greatest distress for some time. I cannot even look back on the scene without feelings of horror; yet by it I learned the power of the adversary, his enmity against the servants of God, and got some understanding of the invisible world.
“We distinctly heard those spirits talk and express their wrath and hellish designs against us. However, the Lord delivered us from them and blessed us exceedingly that day.” [Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball (Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor Office, 1888), p. 143–145]"
I remember the stories that said people were always surrounded by evil spirits, and that they were being tempted. I believe its a real thing. However, I believe you have to literally invite evil for it to start wrecking havoc. However, that being said, Cory, while in Japan on his mission, did an exorcism on a member's house.
I texted Socorro, Chris and Danny, and Kristen. Here's the text conversation:
@Chris: I keep hearing someone in my apartment.
@Chris: I'm going crazy. The doors are all locked. (I know I'm not crazy)
@Chris: There's definitely someone in the apartment. (Please believe me?)
@Chris: A spirit maybe? (Oh cow, now I really am crazy)
Chris: Maybe you just need to get out and do something. (He doesn't believe me....)
@Kristen, Danny, Socorro: I think there's a spirit in my apartment (Well, maybe they'll believe me)
@Chris: I just got back with the new brakes. I've been out all day.
@Chris: I'm frightened.
Danny: Yeah? What kind? (You don't believe me either..... )
Socorro: ? What makes you think that? (Maybe?)
@Danny: A noisy one.
@Socorro: Someone keeps walking in the kitchen. All doors are locked.
Danny: Really....? there are a lot of noises in those apartments.
Socorro: And there is no one there? (Sigh, she believes me)
@Socorro: Nope.
@Danny: Someone keeps walking across the floor.
Socorro: We should do some evps..... or have a priesthood holder help you out.
@Socorro: Yeah. :S
Chris: Don't be, there's nothing there. Maybe put on some loud music. (*Glares at Christopher*)
Chris: Or a movie.
Chris: Pray
Chris: Read Scriptures.
Chris: Go for a run.
Socorro: Are you ok there by yourself?
@Chris: I left the house.
@Socorro: I went back to work.
Kristen: A spirit? Why do you think that?
@Kristen: Someone kept walking in the kitchen.
Kristen: Huh. Maybe that's why the ghostbuster car sticks around.
For those that don't know, this is the car regularly seen behind my house.
Well, it gets worse. I went to get socorro after work so we can build the bookcases I bought 2 days earlier. after that was done, I mentioned that I had to use the restroom. The toilet paper was still upstairs cause I haven't completely moved downstairs yet, so I wander up there and do my business. I came back downstairs to find all the lights on, and Socorro completely spooked.
Socorro: You were in the bathroom the entire time, right?
Laura: ..... yes?
Socorro: Something moved across the kitchen. I saw something. I don't know what it was though.
Suffice it to say, we left the lights on. Finished my room and I took her home. I came home, gave the ferrets food and water, and locked all doors and turned off all the lights. All of them.
Saying my prayers last night, I asked to be protected, and remembered that evil spirits (if it was an evil spirit) can't do anything to you if you don't invite them, I went to sleep.
I woke up this morning to find the kitchen light on, my upstairs bedroom light on, and the hallway light on. I got out of the house.
I called Danny. Again, he asked, "Are you sure you don't sleepwalk?" And I was like. "I have sleepwalked in the past, and would be willing to attribute the lights on to something like that." The light in the kitchen was over the sink, way out of the way of the pathway up to my room. I may have sleepwalked, and I may be nuts. However, something freaked Socorro out last night, and I'm not dismissing this very lightly.
Today, I've been doing research on LDS doctrine on Ghosts/Spirits/Evil Spirits. There's not alot out there. If anyone has suggestions, I'd be welcome to them.... short of going to the bishop, or home teachers, or even Danny and saying: "Can you perform a prayer that no one has experience doing to get rid of a spirit that we think is in my house, and you think I'm crazy for telling you this?" I mean, yes, I will go to my bishop about this, but I want thoughts and opinions......
I get to go home tonight to a ghost.... lovely.
P.S. Check out my 101 in 1001 and see how I'm doing!
This is Danny and Chris's house. But their apartment is an exact duplicate of mine. Danny's feet are standing in the kitchen, and my room would be that which is right under his feet. I walked upstairs and walked behind that wall behind danny's head, and heard it again. Someone walking on the kitchen floor. And instantly, my head was back around the wall, no more than 2 seconds after the noise. THERE.WAS.NO.ONE.THERE. I freaked a little. 3 thoughts were happening.
1. I'm crazy. I've already been defined as that. I was skeptical of this thought. But, does a crazy person know they are crazy?
2. Maybe it was the house making noises... but I discounted that immediately.
3. There was a ghost/spirit/poltergeist in my house.
For the record, I believe in Ghosts. I believe in spirits, and evil forces in the world. I believe that Ouija boards have a weird spelling for their name, and that they invite forces that you don't want. I believe that the power of the Devil is real. I believe that 1/3 of the hosts of heaven were cast out and are on the earth tempting us.
“…a vision was opened to our minds, and we could distinctly see the evil spirits, who foamed and gnashed their teeth at us. We gazed upon them about an hour and a half. . . . We were not looking towards the window, but towards the wall. Space appeared before us, and we saw the devils coming in legions, with their leaders, who came within a few feet of us.
“They came towards us like armies rushing to battle. They appeared to be men of full stature, possessing every form of feature of men in the flesh, who were angry and desperate; and I shall never forget the vindictive malignity depicted on their countenances as they looked me in the eye; and any attempt to paint the scene which then presented itself, or portray their malice and enmity, would be vain.
“I perspired exceedingly, my clothes becoming as wet as if I had been taken out of the river. I felt excessive pain, and was in the greatest distress for some time. I cannot even look back on the scene without feelings of horror; yet by it I learned the power of the adversary, his enmity against the servants of God, and got some understanding of the invisible world.
“We distinctly heard those spirits talk and express their wrath and hellish designs against us. However, the Lord delivered us from them and blessed us exceedingly that day.” [Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball (Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor Office, 1888), p. 143–145]"
I remember the stories that said people were always surrounded by evil spirits, and that they were being tempted. I believe its a real thing. However, I believe you have to literally invite evil for it to start wrecking havoc. However, that being said, Cory, while in Japan on his mission, did an exorcism on a member's house.
I texted Socorro, Chris and Danny, and Kristen. Here's the text conversation:
@Chris: I keep hearing someone in my apartment.
@Chris: I'm going crazy. The doors are all locked. (I know I'm not crazy)
@Chris: There's definitely someone in the apartment. (Please believe me?)
@Chris: A spirit maybe? (Oh cow, now I really am crazy)
Chris: Maybe you just need to get out and do something. (He doesn't believe me....)
@Kristen, Danny, Socorro: I think there's a spirit in my apartment (Well, maybe they'll believe me)
@Chris: I just got back with the new brakes. I've been out all day.
@Chris: I'm frightened.
Danny: Yeah? What kind? (You don't believe me either..... )
Socorro: ? What makes you think that? (Maybe?)
@Danny: A noisy one.
@Socorro: Someone keeps walking in the kitchen. All doors are locked.
Danny: Really....? there are a lot of noises in those apartments.
Socorro: And there is no one there? (Sigh, she believes me)
@Socorro: Nope.
@Danny: Someone keeps walking across the floor.
Socorro: We should do some evps..... or have a priesthood holder help you out.
@Socorro: Yeah. :S
Chris: Don't be, there's nothing there. Maybe put on some loud music. (*Glares at Christopher*)
Chris: Or a movie.
Chris: Pray
Chris: Read Scriptures.
Chris: Go for a run.
Socorro: Are you ok there by yourself?
@Chris: I left the house.
@Socorro: I went back to work.
Kristen: A spirit? Why do you think that?
@Kristen: Someone kept walking in the kitchen.
Kristen: Huh. Maybe that's why the ghostbuster car sticks around.
For those that don't know, this is the car regularly seen behind my house.
Well, it gets worse. I went to get socorro after work so we can build the bookcases I bought 2 days earlier. after that was done, I mentioned that I had to use the restroom. The toilet paper was still upstairs cause I haven't completely moved downstairs yet, so I wander up there and do my business. I came back downstairs to find all the lights on, and Socorro completely spooked.
Socorro: You were in the bathroom the entire time, right?
Laura: ..... yes?
Socorro: Something moved across the kitchen. I saw something. I don't know what it was though.
Suffice it to say, we left the lights on. Finished my room and I took her home. I came home, gave the ferrets food and water, and locked all doors and turned off all the lights. All of them.
Saying my prayers last night, I asked to be protected, and remembered that evil spirits (if it was an evil spirit) can't do anything to you if you don't invite them, I went to sleep.
I woke up this morning to find the kitchen light on, my upstairs bedroom light on, and the hallway light on. I got out of the house.
I called Danny. Again, he asked, "Are you sure you don't sleepwalk?" And I was like. "I have sleepwalked in the past, and would be willing to attribute the lights on to something like that." The light in the kitchen was over the sink, way out of the way of the pathway up to my room. I may have sleepwalked, and I may be nuts. However, something freaked Socorro out last night, and I'm not dismissing this very lightly.
Today, I've been doing research on LDS doctrine on Ghosts/Spirits/Evil Spirits. There's not alot out there. If anyone has suggestions, I'd be welcome to them.... short of going to the bishop, or home teachers, or even Danny and saying: "Can you perform a prayer that no one has experience doing to get rid of a spirit that we think is in my house, and you think I'm crazy for telling you this?" I mean, yes, I will go to my bishop about this, but I want thoughts and opinions......
I get to go home tonight to a ghost.... lovely.
P.S. Check out my 101 in 1001 and see how I'm doing!
15 thoughts :
I think it's either 1 or 2, probably 2. My guess is that if you go to a bishop, he will not have anything useful for you.
Thank you Reuben.
As always, your logic brings me back to reality....
:)
i know i'll sound like i'm crazy too, but i've had them in my apartment. seen them, heard them, all of the above.
and the only people that believe me are my sisters because they see them too.
eventually, we just get used to them and ignore it. but sometimes there's a noisy one that cause a whole lot of trouble.
in that case, we've just had the apartment dedicated. :)
My advice: Go to your bishop. Ask him if a priesthood blessing on the apartment would be too much. Because, to be quite honest, there seems to be a spirit of sorts here in my house... but, it's like it can't do anything. I found out that because of the priesthood blessing Jake's dad put on the house, that things like this have a much harder time of happening. Also, I have been interested in spirits and such before. Never anything big, but always have believed in them. One rule I have established with myself is to not watch television shows oriented around the supernatural. That is basically like telling spirits "Hey, come see me!". Good luck!
There is a section in the missionary white handbook about dedicating homes. The priesthood is not required. "Church members may dedicate their homes as sacred edifices where the Holy Spirit can resided and where family members can worship, find safety from the world, grow spiritually, and prepare for eternal family relationships. ... To dedicate a home, a family might gather and offer a prayer that includes the elements mentioned above and other words as the Spirit directs." The first thing that missionaries did in my mission was dedicate the apartment after moving in. I recommend doing this. It will help.
Other things to consider. Spirits are real. It's as simple to know this as reading D&C 129. After all, if there is a way to tell a messenger is not from God, that means there is a possibility of there being so. You are not crazy. Your bishop will be able to give you some specific advise if you ask.
Next, people who do not hold the priesthood can indeed communicate with those that are dead. Consider 1 Samuel 28, wherein King Saul asks a witch woman to raise the spirit of Samuel, and she does.
Now consider that Christ cast a legion of Devils into a herd of swine, and they caused them to run off a cliff. Again, spirits have power.
Now away from quotable church doctrine, I myself have never seen a spirit, but I have felt the presence of one. I believe they are real and can indeed be countered. They only have as much power as you give them, which is why a Ouija board is such a dangerous tool. You are inviting them to have power over you. Do crazy things happen because of spirits? Probably. Will you ever be able to prove it? No. It's not something you can prove.
In any case the best option you have open to you right now would be prayer. Don't feel like you can't ask for God's protection just because you don't have the Priesthood. That's not how he works.
Most ghost experiences occur to people who believed in them beforehand—or who were at least open to the idea.
Find a friend who firmly believes that spirits do not have the sort of tangible effects you mention, and magically, these sorts of things go away once said friend steps into the room.
The way I see it, assuming that evil spirits exist and also have "visible" power, there are far better ways to terrorize the world than walk around some college student's kitchen...
I would also like to point out that the Ouija board was completely created by an American businessman. As a game. To make money.
The Ouija board works by involuntary movements that you help along because your mind inherently wants to make order out of chaos. Even if you go in with the best intentions, you typically end up directing your movements towards sequences that make sense. UNLESS you try it blindfolded WITHOUT memorizing the board beforehand. This removes your ability to "suggest" your own movements with your mind. Have an observer write down what you select while you have the blindfold on. You will find that the result is unintelligible nonsense.
I'm not completely discounting spirits or believing in spirits, but I am suggesting that a little research never hurts. Having a very intelligent, engineer father has taught me to seek out the inner workings of my surroundings before attributing it to fate, the paranormal, etc. :)
Can I change my answer to #1? I don't know about Laura, but the rest of y'all are totally nuts.
...i'm just sayin'...
@michelle, Thanks. Its nice to know I'm not completely crazy.
@ Jess I'm still not discounting the fact that I'm nuts, but the fact that Socorro was spooked was weird, and my friend, who is sensitive to spirits.... felt funny in my apartment. As for Ouija boards, I know how they work, but the point is to invite spirits to talk to you. Any object that invites spirits to talk to you, or invites that kind of thing in general, is not good. Its the principal behind the board, not the board its self. :)
Yes, I read lots of ouija board stories and ghost stories before posting this. I just never found anything substantial before asking you guys for help.
Thanks for the advice guys.
So... You don't know me. I'm a friend of Brandon's (yes, that Brandon), but I may be able to help.
It doesn't sound like you have an evil spirit. I could get into why, but just trust me. Besides, if you did, it probably wouldn't be linked to your house.
Also, a dedication won't stop that kind of thing. Dedications are good, but they don't work that way. None of that "religious iconography" stuff does. You shouldn't have to look outside your scriptures to see that.
Also, they don't need to be invited. That's a myth.
Still. It's not a good idea to invite them. I wouldn't participate in any evp stuff, if I were you.
The advice about not watching supernatural movies is bunk. That doesn't invite them at all. That just excites your imagination.
The advice about praying for God's protection is right on. That's what you should be doing anyway, right?
My advice? Just move on and ignore it. Don't dwell on it. You can never underestimate your own power to trick yourself if you do.
Well, I was mostly referring to watching television akin to shows like "Paranormal State" or "Ghost Hunters"-
I have had experiences which state that watching these shows is a bad idea.
In these shows, they are messing around with things that should not be messed with.
And in these shows, they invoke spirits with what they say.
However, as I do not have any concrete proof to back up such a claim (and honestly, there really isn't going to ever be anything much to disprove, or prove any of these things in the first place, unless I'm missing something...), I cannot say for sure they watching these shows is a bad idea.
However, when you are already being bugged by spirit(s)... it certainly wouldn't help to become even more frightened by watching stuff pertaining to them.
Ooh that's just freaky!
My friend is staying with me here in Kakogawa for a couple days--and she's been telling me all these kinds of spooky stories about poltergeists in her hotels and whatnot. I'm just a little bit jumpy now! Eeee...
Nothing wrong with saying a prayer for protection and well-being (physical and spiritual safety) wherever you live.
Haha I don't think you're nuts. I'd like to see what happens if the next time it gets spooky you invite someone who doesn't believe in them at all to come over. Just see what happens. It'll be an experiment
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