Fighting The Devil Is More Important Than Success

Book of Mormon Marriage And Family Study

“And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil.”

Fighting evil is more important than success. Some or much of the evil in the world is blatantly wicked. LDS doctrine teaches that everyone is born with the light of Christ. This is true for every human being regardless of religion or race. Therefore, things like murder, terrorism, sex trafficking and other gross crimes have no excuse and nobody can claim ignorance that they didn’t know better, or be excused because they didn’t have the gospel.

God doesn’t stop all evil even though He easily could. He allows wicked people their agency. However, if more righteous people took action and got in the fight there would be much less evil in the world. It is said that the only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing.

The Doctrine and Covenants says “the whole world lieth in sin, and groaneth under darkness.” And, “for whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin.” D&C 84:49,51

I don’t think the Lord is cursing the worldly for not seeking Him out. God is not prideful and He doesn’t have an ego complex (like Satan does) if people don’t worship Him. I think the Lord when He says, “for whoso cometh not unto me is under the bondage of sin,” at least in part is recognizing Satan’s mission to destroy this world. And, the Devil is determined to do this. The scriptures refer to Satan as having a chain that covers the earth.

Therefore, fighting evil is more important than success.

How Does This Relate To Marriage And Family?

In this fallen world it is easy to get distracted with what is most important. For example, the school years are a good illustration of this. The pressure to perform well and possibly get all A’s may consume your child’s life. This unreasonable pressure whether it is self imposed or from others causes unnecessary stress and heartache. Furthermore, everything we do is at the expense of something else. Spending all their time studying to get A’s is not more important than growing close to God through the word of God. Obtaining the spiritual power to fight the Devil is more important than gaining perfect GPA.

My intention with this email is not to sound pessimistic or spread fear. Instead it is to show the power of light.

For example President Urchtdorf taught some powerful things about this;

• “Darkness vanishes in the presence of light…..
• “The absence of light causes darkness.”
• Satan will make every effort to create a shadow or get us into a shadow of our own making….
• My dear brothers, you are instruments in the hands of the Lord with the purpose of bringing light and healing to the souls of Heavenly Father’s children.”
• “Christ’s light brings hope, happiness, and healing of any spiritual wound or ailment. Those who experience this refining influence become instruments in the hands of the Light of the World to give light to others.” October 2017 General Conference

Additionally, in another General Conference on light, President Urchtdorf said;

“God’s light is real. It is available to all! It gives life to all things. It has the power to soften the sting of the deepest wound. It can be a healing balm for the loneliness and sickness of our souls. In the furrows of despair, it can plant the seeds of a brighter hope. It can enlighten the deepest valleys of sorrow. It can illuminate the path before us and lead us through the darkest night into the promise of a new dawn.” April 2013 General Conference, The Hope of God’s Light

The Sons of Mosiah to me are a powerful example of this power to bring light into the darkness, and how the Lord’s light and power is much greater than Satan’s darkness and wickedness. This is despite Satan covering the earth with a chain and sending people down a black hole of despair and darkness. The Sons of Mosiah converted their enemy (The Lamanites) who delighted in shedding their blood. The Lamanites were described this way before being converted by the Sons of Mosiah:

• “Pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love,”
• “loosed our brethren from the chains of hell.”
• “Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love;” Alma 26

If we help our children focus their efforts on this they will make a much greater difference in the world than becoming anxious about their performance in school.

If you live in the Salt Lake City valley, I invite you to join us at church on Sunday's at 1 p.m. We are a mid-singles ward; however, if you have a family please don't let that stop you. Please, join us for for our first meeting which is Sacrament meeting, and make sure you ask someone to introduce you to our ward mission leader. Our address is 7155 South 540 East, Midvale Utah, 84047.