While waiting I stood pondering ... all these thousands of inmates, all their crimes, all their time, and how did Satan and his militia successfully influence so many good men and women?
My answer: Trained Special Forces.
Evil spirits who follow Lucifer do seem to be assigned specific powers or missions. And interestingly enough, this seems to be done in the manner of an organized assault, just as Christ's missionary force is an organized assault against evil.
Evil Spirits "Called to Serve"
An example of an evil spirit assigned a particular duty is found in Alma, where we learn that Korihor was possessed by a "lying spirit," a spirit given the specific assignment by Satan to further his cause by the weapon of "lying." (See: Alma 30:42) Or how about the spirits skilled with this weapon "the spirit of contention." (See: 3 Nephi 11:29) We can safely imagine that Satan has great charisma. He is eloquent, articulate, convincing, and a fantastic leader. He has trained many "special forces" - like Sherem (Jacob 7:4), Korihor (Alma 30:42,53), and Zeezrom (Alma 11:21) "who was expert in the devices of the devil."
Perhaps we spend way too much time focusing on Satan's strategy to "reign with blood and horror" and "wars and rumors of wars" that we forget about his most powerful special forces.
In my opinion, the most powerful weapons of destruction you and I face everyday include Satan's Special Forces - His spirits focusing on (Insert the following):
DECEPTION Synonyms: trick, stratagem, ruse, wile, hoax, imposture.
Moses 1:16 Get thee hence, Satan; deceive me not; for God said unto me:...FLATTERY Synonyms: praise, adulation, compliments, honeyed words; fawning, cajolery; informal sweet talk, soft soap, snow job, buttering up.
D & C 52:14 And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations—
D & C 46:8 Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived ...
D & C 10:29 Now, behold, they have altered these words, because Satan saith unto them: He hath deceived you—and thus he flattereth them away to do iniquity, ....
2 Nephi 28:22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none.
Jacob 7:4 ...he (Sherem) could use much flattery and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil.LEAD Synonyms: accompany, precede, guide, persuade, convince, head, vanguard.
3 Nephi 2:2 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."Flattery and Led" are typical tools used to overthrow governments. Note how the King-Men took control of Zarahemla from Governor Pahoran Alma 61:4 ...for they have used great flattery and they have led away the hearts of many people. And how about Alma 46:10.
Moses 4:4 And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice.
PACIFY and LULL Synonyms: placate, appease, calm (down), conciliate. Calm or send to sleep.
2 Nephi 28:21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
These special forces have been training for thousands of years.
They are good at what they do.
As a result...
Thousands of us end up captive in "prisons of sin".
How else could he have been so successful in the pre-existence. See: What Satan Doesn't Want You to Know About the War.
CHALLENGE
Look around you today and identify one of Satan Special Forces, at work.
dr rick
dr rick's index- Review the section "The Study of Evil."
Yes! Satan does DECEIVE a person by FLATTERY and by LEADING a person down the path of sin. Oh, how he makes a person feel comfortable doing it, just ask a less active person who stays home during the Sabbath. They find it easier and easier as time goes by. Had some experience with staying home due to illness and found out that if I got comfortable it would not bother me. What I did was follow the lessons at home both Sunday School and Priesthood lessons. That one eyed monster stayed off, meaning the tv. Having the Missionaries bring the Sacrament was a Special Blessing to me and getting a blessing from them was my pain pill. We could study evil till the cow jumps over the moon and never really find out all there is to know about it. Just like we could study GOOD and GREATNESS and it would just leave us with more questions. At times we all think we are carrying a heavy cross, but I find that prayer will lessen the burden of that cross. Some people cry about pain all the time, my outlook is that my HEAVENLY FATHER has given us pain so that we can know that we are alive. Pain pills are not the answer all the time, sometimes the basic thing known as PRAYER is the answer to pain, especially if your body loves pain pills to easily. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that the Atonement is for all of us, regardless of who we are, or where we are at, even in jail.
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