Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour…(1 Peter 5:8)
It is time for everybody to awake and be aware that there is an Adversary in our midst. The Adversary I am speaking about has many names and has many layers. He has been known as Lucifer, Satan, and the devil. He has always been around in some form, generations among generations. But, for the people born in our lifetimes, his methods of leading us off the path of spiritual enlightenment towards our Heavenly Father are now more sophisticated and also simplistic. He is ruthless, cunning, diabolical, methodical, and his power comes from preying upon the weaknesses in our mortality. His desire is to erase our free agency for his own purposes. It is important for everyone on earth, no matter what choice of faith they pursue, to be warned that he is out there and is always at work against you, regardless if you believe in him or not.
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often referred to as Mormons) we learn much about the Pre-Mortal realm and what happened during the War in Heaven. Mormons are counseled in the ways to live righteously so that we are better able to defend against his influences, and see clearly the methods that he would use against us. He is the master of deception. Because he knows and remembers us from the Spirit World, he knows certain things about us that he uses to his advantage. Those things may be what we are not aware of ourselves. But as Mormons, we have the opportunity to have the comfort and protection of the Holy Ghost as a constant companion.
Every one of every faith and even unbelievers are able and entitled to receive promptings from the Holy Ghost on occasion, but Mormons receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost as a constant companion upon Baptism into the church. So long as we do our part and are obedient to the teachings of the gospel and counsel of church leaders, the Holy Ghost resides within us. When the Holy Ghost is within us, Satan has no power over us. Having the Holy Ghost as a constant companion allows us to increase our perception of the many ways in which Satan works, and also increases our resistances to his influences. However, we are just as susceptible to his temptations if we choose to ignore the promptings of the Holy Ghost. But the knowledge of the protection that is offered us and the truthfulness of the gospel makes it more difficult for Satan to destroy our agency.
In these times, it seems that Satan is especially fond of using the coercion tactics of popular opinion to increase his foothold on humanity. He leads more and more people away from Heavenly Father through justification and rationalization of sinful behavior.
Elder James E. Faust, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, wrote,
Who has not heard and felt the enticings of the devil? His voice often sounds so reasonable and his message so easy to justify. It is an enticing, intriguing voice with dulcet tones. It is neither hard nor discordant. No one would listen to Satan’s voice if it sounded harsh or mean. If the devil’s voice were unpleasant, it would not entice people to listen to it.
He further explains that,
Some of Satan’s most appealing lines are “Everyone does it”; “If it doesn’t hurt anybody else, it’s all right”; “If you feel all right about it, it’s OK”; or “It’s the ‘in’ thing to do.” These subtle entreaties make Satan the great imitator, the master deceiver, the arch counterfeiter, and the great forger. (James E. Faust, “‘The Great Imitator’,” Ensign, Nov 1987, 33)
Satan is the ultimate Adversary. He lives, just as our Lord, and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, lives. Only, his goal is to make us as miserable as he is. It is important for everyone to be aware and warned that he and his fellow compatriots exist and are at work against us. To have this knowledge will assist in greater control over what the Adversary would throw at you. Those experiences that he would contribute in are those that are unnecessary in our lives and could be avoided altogether. Satan wants us to turn away from Heavenly Father like he did. He wants us for his own purposes. He will employ every method available to him to achieve his misdeeds. But we need not fear him. We can receive power, comfort, and protection from the eternal gospel of Jesus Christ.
