Witch of Endor
In the old Testament Hannah prayed many years for a son. She had one on the promise she would give him to the lord. She sent him to the household of Eli to be taken care of and visited him once a year.
Samuel was called and chosen as the prophet. He also was appointed to the politial office of a Judge in Isreal. The Equivolant of a King, Prime Minister or President of a nation today. His Son's also served in Government offices.
His son's abused the power though so wanted a king to be like other nations. The lord repeatedly told them through Samuel what would happen but the people persisted. To teach them a lesson the lord than said go ahead.
The first king chosen was Saul who at first was a good king. But pride, Jeolousy and impatiente overtook him and he lost his right for his posterity to the kingship. He remained King until his death though.
One of the laws in Ancient Isreal made by him and other rightous leader's was not to seek out a witch. OR one with a familar spirit.
Samuel no longer received revelation for him in mortality and he was dead. Saul no longer received revelation through proper channels either.
So Saul in disguise went to a witch in Endor to get revelation. The witch brought up the spirit of Samuel and he said he displeased God and would die by the sword tommorrow. Which he did by suicide him and his three son's.
However there are problems in bringing Samuel up. Would it be Paradise if a righteous spirit was at the beck and call of these spiritualists? Evil spirit's have some knowledge of the future so it was more than likelty it was an evil spirit that was denied the chance of getting a body.
Mark E Peterson in his book the Three kings said if such people never told the truth why consult them. And Counselor to Joseph F SMith Charles W Penrose said it was not SAmuel but what the witch said she saw.
With the aid of the Joseph Smith Translation that is also what it says. Righteous people are not at the beck and call of Mediums it would be misery if Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Samuel, Moses and other righteous spirit's were at there beck and call.
Even with just the aid of the King James version people with basic gospel knowledge know that the devil is the father of all lies but will tell the truth for his purposes such as in that situation. Always accompanied by a lie. And in the bible dictionary it says under heading Saul if Samuel came it was in spite of the Medium not because of it.
Needless to say the medium the witch perported to be Samuel did prophecy correctly and tragically SAul and his three sons were killed the next day and David and his posterity reigned over the house of Isreal for the next several generations.
