“The arch deceiver has studied every way possible to achieve his ends, using every tool, every device possible. He takes over, distorts, and changes and camouflages everything created for the good of man, … so he may take over their minds and pervert their bodies and claim them his. “He never sleeps—he is diligent and persevering. He analyzes carefully his problem and then moves forward diligently, methodically to reach that objective. He uses all five senses and man’s natural hunger and thirst to lead him away. He anticipates resistance and fortifies himself against it....He overlooks nothing that will deceive and distort and prostitute. He uses money, power, force. He entices man and attacks at his weakest spot. He takes the good and creates ugliness. … He uses every teaching art to subvert man. ”President Kimball, How to Evaluate Your Performance,” Improvement Era, Oct. 1969, 12.
When I read this thought the scripture which counsels us to “watch” and be “aware” of the adversary came to mind. I have found in my own life that it is very easy to justify actions that may offend the spirit even in small degrees. It may be something as small as a song on the radio or a commercial on TV that may offend the spirit. But this I have learned is foolish, Elder Eyring describe the consequences of justifying sin, even in the smallest degree. He is discussing the consequences of not accepting the counsel of the prophets, but it is also applicable to any of the other channels of revelation.
“Another fallacy is to believe that the choice to accept or not accept the counsel of prophets is no more than deciding whether to accept good advice and gain its benefits or to stay where we are. But the choice not to take prophetic counsel changes the very ground upon which we stand. That ground becomes more dangerous. The failure to take prophetic counsel lessens our power to take inspired counsel in the future.(Henry B. Eyring, “Safety in Counsel,” Ensign, Jun 2008, 4–9)
When I ponder this idea, The movie Back to the Future Two comes to mind. In this movie, Marty Mcfly has been taken into the future (2012 Ironically enough) by his good friend Dr. Emmet Brown to help Marty's future Son avoid a disastrous choice that would destroy the Mcfly family. While in the future, Marty sees in a store window a sports almanac which he plans to use to make some easy money once he gets back to the year 1985.. Instead, Biff, the nemesis to the Mcfly family connects the dots and realizes that Marty Mcfly is Marty Jr. from 1985 and has ended up in the year 2012 in a time machine.So, Biff steals the Sports Almanac and the time machine without Marty or D.r Emmett Brown knowing, and flys back the the year 1955 and gives the sports Almanac to his younger self. As a result, Biff became rich and powerful by using the almanac.
Unbeknownst to Mary and Dr. Brown, when they travel back to the year 1985, the entire world has changed. Their town, their family, their friends, everything, where they live. When we make a choice, no matter how small it is, changes the very ground we stand on much like the choice marty made in the movie. Now, that is an extreme example but if we do not repent and return to higher ground Satan will continue to lead us along and further change the ground upon which we stand.
It is my hope that we remember just how real Satan is and how calculating he is in seeking to destroy us.
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