Comments on: As One that Hath a Familiar Spirit

By: Jacob J

Jacob J — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:45:22 +0000

Sam MB,

I have been meaning to ask this forever, but just how long is the book of yours? I swear you have a chapter devoted to every single topic posted on at BCC.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 09:25:14 +0000

How about just reading the context of the familier word, and derive from that what the meaning is in that particular text… Or is that too simple? :)

By: kevinf

kevinf — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 21:14:29 +0000

Constanza, they also rejected “Temple View Ward”.

By: BrianJ

BrianJ — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 21:07:52 +0000

I’ve never understood how anyone could think “familiar” in this verse means something “warm and fuzzy” or “remembered,” given the way it is used in Isa. 8: 19 / 2 Ne. 18: 19:

…unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and mutter…

It’s clearly a witchcraft/necromancy context.

By: Costanza

Costanza — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 19:54:47 +0000

Kevinf,
Cool story about the Phantom Ward. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry over the fact that the church banned the use of the name.

By: smb

smb — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 19:48:43 +0000

Ludlow’s evaluation is not consonant with early LDS interpretations. Phelps particularly makes this view clear.

By: kevinf

kevinf — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:05:15 +0000

I was aware of both usages, as in”witches familiar” and also as something with a familiar sound. It would seem that as an institution, the church is notcomfortable with the “supernatural”. A few years ago a boundary change within our stake was held up over new ward names. “Phantom Lake Ward” was not acceptable, specifically due to the use of the word Phantom, so now it is the 6th Ward.

By: Kevin Barney

Kevin Barney — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:33:42 +0000

Thanks for that survey of approaches, Justin. Very interesting.

(Needless to say, I disagree with Ludlow here.)

By: MattG

MattG — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:41:15 +0000

Thanks Kevin,

That was great. I always suspected it meant what you described.

By: Mark IV

Mark IV — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:40:29 +0000

I’s surprised, because I had never heard the explanation of familiar spirit in the sense of “something known”. Perhaps I need to pay more attention.

I’ve always understood familiar spirit to mean something like ghost. In Shalespeare’s Henry V, Joan says:

Now, ye familiar spirits that are cull’d
Out of the powerful legions under earth …