A commentary on
Embraced by the Light
by Betty Eadie.
Upon leaving her body, Eadie was
met by three men curiously dressed in traditional Catholic monk's robes. They had been with her for
"eternities" which is a common LDS term encompassing The LDS doctrine
of both the pre-existence" and the "law of eternal progression".
Eadie begins to recall images of
her pre-existence, pre-earth, recognizing old spirit being acquaintances, that
her "death" was a rebirth to a greater understanding and knowledge.[1]
Eadie communicates with her
"ministering angels" through something more than occult
"telepathy". She claimed to
be able to actually feel "their emotions and interest", to
"experience their feelings"[2]
.
This was the beginning of several
illusions to a New Age monistic world view - an undifferentiated oneness of
eternal intelligence of all things[3]
. Eadie claims that every particle,
every element comprising matter has spirit, has an eternal intelligence,
plants, flowers, water - everything.
Later, while in a garden in heaven, Eadie claims to have seen a rose and
could "feel its spirit ... such intelligence within that petal ... I felt
God in the plant, in me, his love pouring into us. We are all one".[4]
When one compares the above
particulars with LDS doctrine, they are a perfect match. The LDS Apostle Bruce McConkie wrote,
"Pre-existence is the term commonly used to describe the pre-mortal
existence of the spirit of God the Father[5]". Prophet Joseph fielding Smith wrote,
"We lived in the presence of God in the Spirit before we came here[6]".
Again, McConkie writes
"matter or element is self-existent and eternal in nature[7]". Also, "all forms of life existed as
spirit beings and entities before the foundation of this earth were laid. There were spirit men, spirit beasts, spirit
fowl, and spirit fish, spirit plants, and spirit trees[8]".
Joseph Smith taught that "The
mind or the intelligence which man possess is coequal with God himself[9]".
Eadie goes on to describe herself as moving
rapidly through a long tunnel of darkness, being aware of others either
traveling with her or lingering behind (similar to the LDS belief of spirit
prison), and finally into the bright and radiant light and arms of, who she
claims is, Jesus Christ.
She felt that she was
"worthy" (another LDS expression for meriting eternal life) to be
there[10]. Jesus began to explain some of the mysteries
and meanings of life to her and introduced her to other angels or ministering
spirits which showed her around heaven and even other worlds inhabited by
spirit brothers and sisters.
It is not the purpose of this
commentary to go into exhaustive detail , documenting every point of her near
death experience (N.D.E.) accounting.
Several more will be pointed out.
Suffice to say that almost every page is clearly shaped by Betty Eadie's
own Mormon background. The following
are some examples of direct influence of LDS doctrine, and therefore heresy, on
the content of Betty Eadie's story.
Ministering Angels[11] Seeking
spirits for help and information is common in Mormonism, Yet the Bible condemns
this[12]. The LDS Apostle Bruce McConkie explains,
Joseph Smith '... explained the difference between an angel and a
ministering spirit: the one a resurrected or translated body with its spirit
ministering to embodied spirits - the other a disembodied spirit visiting and
ministering to disembodied spirits'[13]".
Eadie: Animals have souls[14]
likewise, Mormon theology states, "... the Lord has said that not only has
man a spirit, and is thereby a living soul, but likewise beasts of the field,
The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea have spirits, and hence are living
souls[15].
Eadie: Jesus is a God[16]. In Mormonism, Jesus was only a God, a
separate being from the Father. He was
the first spirit-born child of celestial parents in the pre-existence, and the
only begotten son in the flesh through a union between the Father and
Mary. He was the brother of Lucifer[17].
Eadie: Jesus is her
and our elder brother[18].
LDS Theology teaches that all people are spirit children of God the Father
and a heavenly mother including Jesus "to whom all others are juniors[19]".
Eadie: There are
levels of heaven[20].
There are three levels of heaven or "degrees of glory" in LDS
theology - the Celestial, terrestrial, and Telestial. Even the wicked (murderers, adulterers, sorcerers) will make it
into the lowest (Telestial) level[21].
Eadie relates the teaching of universalism: that all people
eventually will go to heaven, even atheists, who will stay until they learn to
accept the greater power around them ... eventually they will learn to move on[22]. In addition to this reference, also consider
Mormon apostle Parly Pratt's teachings, regarding the realm of spirit prison,
"There is also the Jew, the Mahometan (sic), the infidel, who did not
believe in Christ while in the flesh, who must be taught, must come to the knowledge
of the crucified and risen Redeemer ... there are also the varieties of the
heathen spirits: the Nobel and refined philosopher...down to the most
uncultivated of the savage world[23]".
Eadie: There are
other worlds filled with other of God's spirit children[24]. This also is the precise teaching of
Mormon-ism[25].
Eadie: There is a
governing council of 12 men[26]
The same is true in Mormonism[27].
Eadie: There exists
a vail of forgetfulness between the spirit world and mortal probation[28]. This is true in Mormonism as well[29]. Also, consider "While it is true that
we once stood in His presence, seeing as we are seen, knowing, according to our
intelligence, as we are known, the curtain has dropped, we have changed our
abode, we have taken upon ourselves flesh; the vail (sic) of forgetfulness (that)
intervenes between this life and that[30]".
Eadie: She denies
the Trinity[31]. The LDS church aggressively attacks the
biblical revelation of the triune nature of God[32]. Smith, the LDS founder, declared, "...
many men say there is one God; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are only
one God. I say this is a strange God
... he would be a giant or a monster[33]".
Eadie: Others are
co-creators with God[34]. Again this is taught in Mormonism[35].
Eadie: There were
"valiant" spirits in the pre-existence. This same peculiar ideas is taught in Mormonism[36].
Eadie: We are by
nature divine, Gods in embryo progressing to become like Him[37]. This is specific and peculiar LDS theology[38]; "God was once a man who ... advanced to
his present state of perfection ... man is God in embryo ... may attain to the
rank and sanctity of Godship[39].
Eadie: God is the
Father of our spirits[40]. This is a commonly known LDS doctrine[41].