In yesterday's post I wrote about overcoming temptations. Today I will write something about the tempter(s). Because of latter-day revelation LDS Church members have knowledge that is not commonly understood by traditional Christians. Many vital truths that are only alluded to in our present-day Bible have been made much clearer through the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
When the innocent young Joseph Smith went into the grove of trees to "ask of God" which church he should join, as suggested in James 1:5, he had no idea what he was getting in to. But a desperate unseen being who hates truth did, and this is what happened. In Joseph's own words:
"After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was seized upon by some power and such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction. But, exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction - not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being - just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. . ."
(Pearl of Great Price, Jos. Smith History, vs. 15-17.)
Who or what was this dark, powerful being?
God declared to the prophet Jeremiah: "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."
This is no figure of speech to symbolize something. God literally did know Jeremiah before he was born on earth, because the spirit person, Jeremiah, had lived in God's presence for a very long time. Every human being is a spirit son or daughter of God and lived in His presence for eons of time while preparing to come to earth. Our Father had a magnificent plan for us which would bring about our greatest joy and happiness for all eternity. We spirit children were as varied in intellect, desire, and influence, there, as we are here. The greatest spirit of all was our Father's first-born son, Jehovah, who lovingly obeyed and followed his Father in all things. Another brilliant spirit son was Lucifer, referred to in the scriptures as a "son of the morning."
God, our Father, presented His great plan to us. To achieve the ultimate goal, a Redeemer would be necessary, for we could never accomplish it on our own. It would also require that we obey the laws and commandments that God would establish for us here. Apparently there was some discussion about who would be our Redeemer. Lucifer didn't like the plan, and he offered a new or amended one, assuring that everyone would be saved. He volunteered to be the "savior" to bring it about, and as a result he wanted God's glory and honor (to actually "replace" Him). Jehovah supported Father's plan, and He stood forth and offered to be the Redeemer. He would come to earth as God's own Son to carry out the awesome mission as our Savior and Redeemer, and the glory would be the Father's forever.
Job 38:7 tells us that we "shouted for joy"! Well, most of us did. We had the freedom and power to choose our actions and attitudes, and many spirits sided with Lucifer, who wouldn't let go of his anger and determination to ruin the Father's plan. There was war in heaven, and eventually Lucifer and his followers were banished from God's presence. They were cast down to earth without bodies, and they are here, still trying to accomplish Lucifer's (Satan's) purposes. They are the tempters. The wickedness and debauchery that exists on this earth is because people give in to their enticements.
Some scripture references:
Isaiah 14:12-15
Doctrine & Covenants 76:26-27
2 Nephi 24:12-15
Revelation 12:7-9
Abraham 3:22-28
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