Chapter 17: Spirits in Mortality.

 

 

Kory had enjoyed his many visits back to mortality through various assignments. On one of the first visits, he became aware of another force that was present. He was helping his extended family during a particularly difficult challenge they were facing. Through faithful prayers that were being offered in mortality on the family’s behalf, he had been assigned to accompany an uncle and aunt to help their family. They were to render assistance that would be necessary to weather the upcoming storm. Kory was not as familiar with this family as his own and was only helping as a companion. Uncle Ray and Aunt Barbara were the primary individuals called for the assignment to assist their niece, who had recently passed away in difficult circumstances, and their great-nephew. Kory was selected to assist and observe. He had been told that this particular assignment would help him with knowledge that would teach and direct those who are to come to the spirit world when their time came. He was excited as he compared this brief companionship to the missionaries in the mortal world. Kory and his companions had a little more insight into spiritual matters with their experiences as of late. He was eager to go and thought it would be a meaningful adventure.

The three individuals had been summoned to the great hall for a briefing as to the nature of the assignment. Afterward, they headed down the path toward the veil. As the threesome came closer to the veil, Kory noticed that the section of the veil that would be used to enter the mortal sphere was a location he had not used before. He usually had to attend his family in Alabama, and the entry point he used to travel to that earthly destination was down a little farther on the veil, toward the meadow. He was excited to enter at a different location to see where it would take him into mortality. Uncle Ray and Aunt Barbara were also eager to be on this assignment. There was a great need to help their niece feel comfortable enough to follow them back to the spirit world and help provide assistance for her son, Joey. As they traveled through the veil, Kory noticed it was not unlike traveling on Earth. He realized that the landscape was different than in Alabama and that the spirit world corresponded to the area in which they now were present.

The first thing Kory noticed was the lack of light that attended them. He was surprised at the feeling that came with the absence of light. He then realized he had become accustomed to the brilliance and light in his new home. There was darkness ahead. He stayed a little closer to his companions and looked out at the oncoming landscape. They were standing outside of a house on a quiet, deserted street. It was dark, and the streetlight cast an eerie shadow, but immediately surrounding the three spirit beings a light still emanated.

“It looks like we are right on time,” Uncle Ray commented.

A young man turned the corner and made his way down the sidewalk toward the house the three spirit beings were standing in front of. His head was down, and he had his hood pulled up over his head. His hands were thrust into his pockets. He did not notice the three brilliant beings hovering above the ground, and Kory could hardly believe it. How could he not notice us? Kory wondered. We must be each giving off at least 1,000 watts! The boy continued toward the house and walked right past them.

A movement to his right caught Kory’s eye. Hiding behind the corner of the house was a dark shadow. Kory moved closer, and the shadow seemed to hide further in the recesses of the darkness. Upon closer inspection, Kory saw that there were other dark shadows with the first one. Kory glanced at Uncle Ray to see if he was aware of the individual shadows hiding at the corner of the house.

The house was made of old, once-white wood planks. Paint was peeling off, and the house seemed sad and neglected. Kory’s mind flashed back to the spirit world where everything was beautiful and clean. Houses there were made of white marble or onyx. They glowed, and there were no shadows anywhere. Even the materials that the buildings were built with had light flowing from them.

Kory quickly stepped around the house. The dark shadowy figures disappeared instantly, as fast as the flip of a light switch. Kory shrugged and headed back to the front of the house, where his companions were. Uncle Ray and Aunt Barbara had knowing smirks on their faces.

“Did you see them?” Aunt Barbara asked.

“See who?” Kory frowned. “I saw something, but I don’t know what they were. Why would they run from me?”

“They cannot abide your light,” Uncle Ray said. “They are part of Satan’s minions, unembodied spirits that lurk in the mortal world, causing pain and unhappiness. This is part of our mission, to help Joey remain safe from those spirits and others.”

“Others?” Kory asked.

“Yes, other spirits who have not learned to leave this mortal world to move on and progress in the spirit world,” Aunt Barbara explained. “Spirits who once had a body and then died, disembodied. They are looking for the pleasures of the flesh and physical body but are frustrated, as they no longer have their bodies to experience those pleasures. Their desires are still there and stronger than ever. All of our feelings and senses are more powerful in the spirit form. Those dark spirit beings are more chained to those vices than they were in mortality. But not all is lost for them—unlike the dark shadows that you observed. At least the disembodied—those beings who once lived in mortality—have a chance to change and progress if they only have the desire to do so.”

“That is why we are here: to help one such individual, the young man who just entered the house, my great-nephew, Joey,” Uncle Ray said.

“Well, I’m ready when you are,” Kory stated.

The three spirit individuals entered the house and found the young man slumped on the couch. They could see by the grim frown on his face that he was particularly upset. His eyes filled with tears, and he shouted into the empty air, “I am trying to be better, but I need help! I do not want to have this pain any longer!”

Kory’s heart filled with compassion for the young man.

Quickly, Aunt Barbara was at the young man’s side. “It’s okay, Joey. You are not alone.”

She explained to Kory the history behind Joey’s pain and frustration. Drugs had long ago taken part of his life. The experience had started when he was just a small boy. His mother was a drug addict and would give him small doses to put him to sleep and keep him quiet. He did not stand a chance under her care. His mother had recently died of a drug overdose, and he was left alone to care for himself. Without her to supply his drugs, he was going through major withdrawal. Earlier that night, he had been out looking for drugs to end his pain.

Aunt Barbara sat on the couch trying to comfort Joey. Uncle Ray stood as a guard against unseen forces from entering the house. He caught Kory’s eye and motioned with a nod toward a door near the back of the room. Kory swung around to see a small, frail lady in spirit form, crying and wringing her hands. She gazed intently at Joey sitting on the couch. Slowly, Uncle Ray moved toward her. She looked up at him with wide, scared eyes and started to shake her head.

“No, I will not go with you! I told them before. I cannot leave Joey. He has no one. He is in pain. I am in terrible pain!” she wailed.

Uncle Ray gently put his arm around her. “Mary, it will be all right. I am here to help both you and Joey.”

“What can you do? I died! I can’t make Joey see me or feel me! He needs medicine! He needs me!” Mary cried.

“Mary, there are others who will be able to assist Joey, even better than you can. We are not here only to help him but to help you find peace also.”

“I cannot find peace! I thought once I died that the craving for the drugs would go away. But they didn’t!” she screamed. “It is worse than ever. My new body of light is healthy, but I still crave the drugs.”

“That is one of the things people do not understand until they pass over. Your body does not need the drugs, but your appetites and passions are still there, and since we experience feelings, senses, and emotions stronger in spirit form, they feel more intense. I am so sorry. There is a solution, though,” Uncle Ray offered.

“What? What can you do?” Mary cried.

“We are here, commissioned by Jesus Christ, to start you on the path that will bring you peace and joy,” Uncle Ray explained. “I know that you did not want to leave Joey after the funeral and stayed here. But it is time to come with us. You must go back to that glorious place with us, so you can learn and progress. Your appetites and cravings will eventually go away. Unfortunately, it will take even longer without the body and spirit together, but it will work. Once you have gotten through the hard stages, you will feel peace and love that was promised by Jesus.”

“But who will watch out for my boy?” Mary pleaded.

“Let me introduce Kory. He is here to help us in this matter. Kory will stay with you while I go make some arrangements for Joey. Charles is there now. Aunt Barbara will stay with Joey until I return with Charles,” Uncle Ray said.

“Oh, I like Charles,” Mary said. “I was so happy to know that we had a guardian angel to help us when I passed. He had been such a comfort to me. But he left, and I didn’t know what to do.”

“Charles has been working on our solution. He is there now, and that is why we are here. I will only be a moment.” Uncle Ray quickly flew out the door.

Mary shyly looked at Kory and smiled. “Thank you for coming to help us. I didn’t want to leave Joey, since they were here!” She pointed to the window with a look of dread.

Kory looked over his shoulder and sensed the dark spirits waiting out in the yard. “I understand. You love Joey. I know that things will be all right. Those spirits beyond the walls cannot abide our light. We bear the holy priesthood and stand as sentinels, so they cannot overpower you,” Kory explained. “Please remember your agency is still in place. Even though things seem dark now, there is always power within you. You just need to have a little faith and to pray, and then you will have the power of heaven at your side.” Kory smiled at her and put a comforting arm around her shoulder.

“Thank you, Kory. It has been hard the past few days. There have been many trying to help me since the funeral, but I was so scared. Those dark spirits felt so strong. I was also in so much pain, wanting the drugs and all,” Mary said shyly.

“It will be all right. You’ll see,” Kory said.

Suddenly, the room filled with light. Uncle Ray stood in the company of another gentleman. “Kory, I would like you to meet Charles. He has been very busy helping Mary and Joey the past week.”

“By Jove, I think we finally got it!” Charles grinned. “It amazes me how some people, no matter how well-intentioned, are sometimes so thickheaded! I have been working to influence a group of young men to come help Joey. Boy! All they want to do is eat, sleep, and play video games. I know it’s summer vacation, but they sure have been a challenge. Finally I was able to touch their hearts. They are on their way here now!” Charles said excitedly.

Just then there was a knock on the door. Joey sat up and peered toward the door. Aunt Barbara gently kissed his cheek and said, “It will be okay, Joey. Go answer the door.”

Joey slowly got up and went to the door. He pulled the door open, and a group of three young men burst into the room.

“Hey, Joey, how are you doing?” they chorused. “We heard about your mom, and we are so sorry!”

One of the boys said, “We thought you could use some company. So here we are! We were wondering if you would like to come and spend the weekend with us. We’re going with our young men’s group at church to a camp-out this weekend. It will be totally awesome!”

“I don’t know, guys,” Joey mumbled. “I don’t have any supplies.”

“Don’t need anything, Joey! We have everything that you will need. Just bring your toothbrush and some clean underwear—or not!” They all laughed. “We are here to take you, and no is not an answer.” The boy chuckled.

“I don’t know what to say,” Joey said with a tentative smile.

One of the boys put a hand on Joey’s shoulder. “No need to say anything. Now, where is your room? I’ll help you throw a few things in a bag. My mom said that since my brother is gone on his mission, you can stay with us for a while. You can sleep in his room. It’s up to you, though. I know you turned eighteen a few months ago, so you are legally an adult, but you might like the company for awhile,” the boy said with a grin.

Joey and one of the boys headed off to the back of the house. The other two boys looked at each other.

“Do you feel that? I feel great! I guess we should have thought of this sooner. I have been worried about Joey since his mother died a few days ago. I feel almost like a missionary and a rescuer!” one of the boys commented.

The other boy nodded and smiled.

Just then Kory heard a gut-wrenching, inhuman-sounding wail of agony come from outside the window. He could tell that this new turn of events had caused the dark spirits much pain and grief. Kory could no longer feel their presence.

“He will be all right now,” Uncle Ray said. “Charles and these fine young priesthood holders will take care of Joey. Our work is finished here. We have chased away part of Satan’s host.” He nodded toward the window. “We have laid the foundation for the priesthood to work in the life of Joey. Now, Mary, he will be in good hands. Will you come back with us? You have a long journey ahead of you.”

Aunt Barbara put her arm around Mary and gave her a comforting squeeze. Mary smiled at them and seemed to glow brighter as her smile increased.

Charles waved good-bye and followed the three boys and Joey down the street. Kory, Aunt Barbara, and Uncle Ray led Mary to the veil entrance they had used earlier. The mission had been a huge success.