August 2006 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

24
Resisting
The Book of Mormon
and the revelations
of the Restoration
teach how we can
resist the strategies
of the devil.
Evil
BY ELDER ROBERT F. ORTON
Of the Seventy
During nine years of full-time
service for the Church in France,
Belgium, Romania, Moldova, and
now the Europe East Area, I have seen inspiring
examples of faith, compassionate service,
and endurance. But regretfully, wherever I have
served I have also witnessed the devil at work
among the people. Those whom Satan entices
by his cunning are generally unsuspecting and
well intentioned; however, once they allow
themselves to be deceived and delivered into
the devil’s hands, they often seem less able to
free themselves from his chains.
The deception frequently begins with halftruths
such as these: Because God loves all
people and is merciful, He will forgive all sin
at the last day. A loving Father would never
permit His children to be led forever out of
His presence by a devil. Therefore, the
deceptive reasoning continues, it is all right
to eat, drink, and be merry, to cheat a little
and lie a little, for by grace all will be saved.
But a careful reading of 2 Nephi 28:7–8,
21–22; Ephesians 2:4–9; and other references
cited herein can help us understand that
these views do not represent true doctrine.
More than 545 years before the birth of
Christ, the prophet Nephi was permitted to
see our day. He warned that apostasy would
abound because of false teachers who teach
vain and foolish doctrines, and he added
that “at that day shall [the devil] rage in the
hearts of the children of men, and stir them
up to anger against that which is good. 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”
(2 Nephi 28:20–21).
The Book of Mormon and the revelations
of the Restoration teach how we can resist
the evil strategies of the devil. These teachings
include the following:
1. Establish a
foundation on Christ.
President Marion G.
Romney (1897–1988),
who served as a counselor
in the First
Presidency, was once asked what advice he
would give to members of the Salt Lake
Bonneville Stake for the New Year. He
replied, “Tell them to be a little bit better
each day.” To become like Christ may seem
to be an insurmountable task, but to become
a little bit better each day is not so daunting,
and this process can provide the power
necessary to combat the forces of evil.
Helaman tells us, “It is upon the rock
LEFT: CHRIST CALLING PETER AND ANDREW, BY JAMES T. HARWOOD; ILLUSTRATED BY CARY HENRIE