Strategies of the Devil

This week has been a week with lots of new information and understanding about how the Lord would have his church run and how He would ask us to live and obey him. With so many weighing in on social media, I found that I was torn back and forth on what was truth and what Heavenly Father would want me to do and understand. I was thankful for my study in the scriptures this week as I concentrated on the strategies of the devil in these the latter days. I desire to understand how the devil works and recognize in my life when he is putting things in my path that are there to cause me to stumble. It takes work and diligence to stay steady and when we begin to stumble to increase our hold on the rod of iron, or the word of God, and steady ourselves against the false doctrine and strategies that promote “the kingdom of the devil” (2 Nephi 28:19)
 I found in my study this week the words of Bishop Richard C Edgley of the Presiding Bishopric to bring great comfort and warning. He warned about the reality and attacks of the advisory:
“We have … had very specific warnings regarding Satan’s power, influence, and determination. Nephi prophesied more than twenty-five hundred years ago of the trials and turbulence that you would face. You all know the scripture. It is found in the 28th chapter of 2 Nephi: “For behold, at that day shall he 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 s well- and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell” [2 Nephi 28:20–21] “I believe this scripture is true. I believe the time is now. And I believe the target is you. For the most part, Satan has made great strides in establishing and selling his value system, which is based upon the son of man, not the Son of God: ‘Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die’ (2 Nephi 28:7) and ‘There is no hell’ (2 Nephi 28:22). His is a value system based upon selfishness, self-indulgence, and immediate gratification. Thus we see devastating decisions constantly being made by those of your age. We see cultures infested with drugs, sex, alcohol, pornography, laziness, and many other spiritually devastating practices. But that does not have to be you. “President Gordon B. Hinckley has warned us and pleaded with us: ‘I wish to say in the strongest language of which I am capable, stay away from moral iniquity. You know what is right and wrong. You cannot use ignorance as an excuse for unacceptable behavior. … “‘I beg of you, my dear young friends, to avoid such behavior. It will not be easy. It will require self-discipline. … You need the strength that comes of prayer’ (“To Men of the Priesthood,” Ensign, Nov. 2002, 58–59)”
 President Hinckley asks that we stay away from that which Satan would make look appealing. We must head the warning issued by Isaiah “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” ((Isaiah 5:20) We must stand for what is right and we need to be strong and call upon the Lord in prayer to help us to withstand the evil that is so prevalent in our communities.