A. Merlin Frei
Have you ever had a dream so powerful that you pondered and thought upon it for days?
It was a short dream, but the truths that were taught were powerful and could expand one’s vision to the point that his life would be changed forever.
Our son, Doug, an officer in the U.S. Navy dressed in his formal Navy whites, was teaching a large group of people. His topic was power.
To illustrate the topic, Doug held up a rod of iron and asked the question: What does this rod of iron symbolize? Many in the audience immediately answered: “The rod of iron is the word of God!”
Without elaborating, Doug said: “The other source of power is luck.”
I do not remember anything else in this dream, but it was powerful to me because of its truths as taught in the scriptures.
It is interesting to note that the word luck and Lucifer stem from the same root: luc. I do not intend to link the two together except for the definition of the word, Luck.
To have luck, either good or bad, comes generally by chance. It is often associated with gamboling and other vices which are associated with selfishness.
The name, Lucifer, is mentioned only one time in the Bible. In Isaiah 14: 12-16, we are taught that Lucifer, son of the morning, fell from heaven because he selfishly sought the power of God. He is spoken of as a man of great power, that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms. His name literally means, light bearer. He was cast out of heaven because of his rebellion. He and his followers are still in opposition against God (Revelation 12:9; Doctrine and Covenants 76:25-29).
Satan’s goal has not changed. His sole purpose is to estrange us from God and bring us into captivity. He has great power. His temptations always lead to evil, in opposition to God’s commandments. Misery is his reward. He has no blessing to give and will not support those who are deceived by his lies. His temptations usually come when we choose to satisfy our own carnal and selfish desires.
President Ezra Taft Benson explained the importance of making correct choices:
“The Book of Mormon teaches that ‘it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things’ (2 Nephi 2:11)—and so there is. Opposition provides choices, and choices bring consequences—good or bad.
“The Book of Mormon explains that men ‘are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil’ (2 Nephi 2:27).
“God loves us; the devil hates us. God wants us to have a fulness of joy as He has. The devil wants us to be miserable as he is. God gives us commandments to bless us. The devil would have us break these commandments to curse us.
“Daily, constantly, we choose by our desires, our thoughts, and our actions whether we want to be blessed or cursed, happy or miserable” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1988, 5; or Ensign, May 1988, 6).
Agency is a gift from God. He is very jealous of that gift and will not violate it. We are free to choose either source of power – God or Lucifer. We are not free to choose the consequences of our choices. How do we know when our choices lead us the wrong way? It is simple. Moroni, a prophet of God in ancient America teaches us how to judge truth:
Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually (Moroni 7:12, see also 13-26).
Even their very names teach us: “God –Good.” “Devil – evil.” Why stop there?
Take away the “e” from evil and you have “vil (vile).” Take away the “v” and you have “il.” Take the “i” away and you have “l” and who wants to go there!
Heavenly Father promises: Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (1 Corinthians 2:9).
He warns the foolish and worldly: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (ibid. vs. 14)
How can we overcome the “natural man” in each of us? King Benjamin teaches us: For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 3:19 highlights mine).
The longer we procrastinate the harder it becomes but Elder Jeffrey R. Holland teaches us that it is never too late to change. He said: however late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines (Conference Report; April 2012).
We would be wise to have eyes to see and ears to hear the voice of our God. Let us yield to the enticing’s of the Holy Spirit and bask in His glorious light and goodness.