Showing posts with label Satan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Satan. Show all posts

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Give Place No More

I just wanted to post a link to Elder Holland's most recent Conference talk. This is an amazing discourse on the difference between love and lust, and the opposing fruits they produce. I especially like this portion:
Like thieves in the night, unwelcome thoughts can and do seek entrance to our minds. But we don’t have to throw open the door, serve them tea and crumpets, and then tell them where the silverware is kept! (You shouldn’t be serving tea anyway.) Throw the rascals out! Replace lewd thoughts with hopeful images and joyful memories; picture the faces of those who love you and would be shattered if you let them down. More than one man has been saved from sin or stupidity by remembering the face of his mother, his wife, or his child waiting somewhere for him at home. Whatever thoughts you have, make sure they are welcome in your heart by invitation only.

We need to be sure that we don't let the adversary take control of our lives. The truth is we are behind the wheel-- and it's only when we let him take the driver's seat that he can take us where he wants us to be (which is a little town called "Misery"). It's amazing to fathom that-- why would we ever let him drive? Why would we give place to the enemy of our souls? I guess a lot of it comes down to the way sin is presented. The world is awash with messages of how appealing it is, how fun it is, even sometimes how right it is!
But none of that is the truth. I guess the important thing is to keep the Holy Ghost with us to help us know the truth (and remember it). It's a hard thing to "always remember". But we certainly can do it, with help from the Lord.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Opposite Goals

Today I was reading in 2 Nephi 24 (where Nephi quotes Isaiah 14), and a couple of things stood out to me: Obviously Satan seeks to gain followers. But we know from the scriptures that Satan will not support those who support (or obey) him (see Alma 30:60). So what is his goal? He is out to drag as many people as possible down to as low a point as he is at (sorry to end a sentence with a preposition). He wants to make everybody as miserable as he is (see 2 Nephi 2:27).
On the other hand, we know fully well what the Lord's work is (see Moses 1:39). He wants to bring as many people as possible to be where He is. He wants us to be with Him. He wants us to share in His joy and His blessings. He wants us to be like Him, to be with Him, and to have what He has. It shouldn't surprise me, I guess, but God and the devil have completely opposite goals. I guess it's just never hit me quite so hard.