Christopher James Blythe (Brigham Young University)
A common Latter-day Saint folk belief is that individuals with addictions will continue to be haunted by their addiction after they die. In this paper, I consider the internal logic of this folk belief and examine how it interacts with official teachings concerning the faith’s health code, the Word of Wisdom. My research is based on contemporary interviews and visionary writings from the tradition’s past, particularly surrounding the experience of the addicted dead.
Part of 04-11 Charismata and Divination in Vernacular Mormonism, Friday, November 03, 8:30 am–10:00 am