One of the great ironies of the scriptures is how some of those who were sent to teach light and truth have been labeled as coming from darkness or insanity or having been influenced of the devil. Below are some examples from the scriptures with the very God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob receiving the most numerous of these utterly hypocritical accusations:
And now when the king had heard these words, he said unto his priests: Away with this fellow, and slay him; for what have we to do with him, for he is mad.
But I must fulfil the commandments wherewith God has commanded me; and because I have told you the truth ye are angry with me. And again, because I have spoken the word of God ye have judged me that I am mad. (Abinadi to the people of King Noah. Book of Mormon, Mosiah 14:1&4)
. . . if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a false prophet, and that he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he testifieth that your deeds are evil. (Testimony of Samuel the Lamanite regarding those who are of God and teach his truths, Book of Mormon, Helaman 13:26)
But the more part of them did not believe in the words of Samuel; therefore when they saw that they could not hit him with their stones and their arrows, they cried unto their captains, saying: Take this fellow and bind him, for behold he hath a devil; and because of the power of the devil which is in him we cannot hit him with our stones and our arrows; therefore take him and bind him, and away with him. (Book of Mormon, Helaman 16:6)
And it came to pass that he began to cry unto the people, saying: Behold, I am guilty, and these men are spotless before God. And he began to plead for them from that time forth; but they reviled him, saying: Art thou also possessed with the devil? And they spit upon him, and cast him out from among them, and also all those who believed in the words which had been spoken by Alma and Amulek; and they cast them out, and sent men to cast stones at them. (People of Ammoniha reviling against Zeezreom after he defended Alma and Amulek, Book of Mormon, Alma 14:7)
But as to the people that were in the land of Ammonihah, they yet remained a hard-hearted and a stiffnecked people; and they repented not of their sins, ascribing all the power of Alma and Amulek to the devil; for they were of the profession of Nehor, and did not believe in the repentance of their sins. (Book of Mormon, Alma 15:15)
. . . Imagining up some vain thing in their hearts, that it was wrought by men and by the power of the devil, to lead away and deceive the hearts of the people; and thus did Satan get possession of the hearts of the people again, insomuch that he did blind their eyes and lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was a foolish and a vain thing. (Nephites disbelieving signs of coming of the Lord attributing it to the power of the devil, Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 2:2)
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. (Bible KJV, Matthew 11:18, see also Luke 7:33)
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. (Bible KJV, Matthew 12:24, see also Mark 3:22)
The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? (Bible KJV, John 7:20)
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? (Bible KJV, John 8:48)
And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? (Bible KJV, John 10:20)
And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. (Bible KJV, Mark 3:21-22)
From these examples it seems that some of those who were commissioned by the Lord or imbued with power of the Holy Ghost to testify of truth and of Christ and His Gospel have been labled in the past as having a devil or being under the influence of a devil, especially when the message ran afoul of the traditions of the people.
Is there any reason to think this would not be the case today or in the future? What greater insult could the Jews have leveled at the Savior of the world, the very God of their Fathers and one who in short time future would be suffering for their very own sins, than to accuse his high and holy commission of being of the devil and evil. His meek response:
Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (Bible, KJV John 8:49-58)
I bear witness of that man who was accused of having a devil that he is the Anointed of the Father, his very Christ and the Savior of all who will believe on his name and hearken unto His words and doctrine; that one may thereby lay hold upon His grace and be saved. He is the First and the Last, the great I AM. He lives, and he will return again as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I invite all to seek for this Jesus of whom the prophets have testified. Behold He stands at the door and knocks and what great joy will fill the souls of those who will open unto Him!