How Do You Know The Difference Between A Prompting From God And A Prompting From Satan?

[ERayR]

And God and Satan both give us thoughts to work with to help us along with our decisions.

Usually, yes, but Satan certainly has enough power to cause a car part to wear out or malfunction.

First find the problem, and then consider "what" or "who" might have caused it.

Yes, as well as how well you understand the reading material, with both Satan and God offering their own thoughts to "help" you.

True, but you don't have to see him for him to be visiting you. Both Satan and God can deliver messages and they both have messengers (angels/demons) who deliver messages for them, and most of the time we don't see them when we're in the process of trying to figure out if a message in our mind came from God or from Satan.

The words "can appear" can also equate to "can seem to be", FYI, so what we're talking about here is how Satan can seem to be a messenger who is helping you to see what is true... with "light" being something which helps you to see what is true.

Whether from his own mouth or from the mouths of his messengers, it's still the word of Satan... just as God's word is what God says both personally and through his messengers (including the messengers we don't see with our eyes).

Anyway, I'm just trying to help you deliver a good message.

Ahab:

My message was that we do give satan too much credit. What messages we choose to listen too is our resposibility and we often blur the message and the source according to our own desires and we are not going to be able to excuse our choices by the I was deceived excuse.

[ldsfaqs]

How Do You Know The Difference Between A Prompting From God And A Prompting From Satan?

By verifying it...... in wisdom and in truth. We all know the heart can be deceiving.

However, since everyone comes from different perspectives, and have different talents and skills, there ability to verify accurately will very greatly.

Thus, the reason why God has always called "True Prophets" and "Apostles", that none can call themselves, save they be called of God as Aaron was called of God. And how was Aaron called, by authority and the laying on of hands. Moses had the authority giving by God directly. No other man, no matter how much they "feel" they are called of God, they are not.

That effectively eliminates most other religions save Mormonism, and the Orthodox & Catholics as having the potential of having the true authority of God. One then has to discover which of those is actually true and has that authority.

This is the secret, and is the very reason why discussions like this never go anywhere, because ALL think they have the market. Fact is, all are wrong, unless they have the Lords Anointed guiding them. NONE can claim truth without it.

[cinepro]

From the BoM, if it entices us to do good it is of God if it entices us to do bad it is of Satan.

This is of course just one point.

When I hear the story of Abraham and Isaac, my reaction is to say "Even if I thought God were telling me to do it, I wouldn't kill my son."

Is this a sign of moral strength or weakness on my part?

[Vance]

Is this a sign of moral strength or weakness on my part?

No. It is a sign of something else.

[Ahab]

When I hear the story of Abraham and Isaac, my reaction is to say "Even if I thought God were telling me to do it, I wouldn't kill my son."

Is this a sign of moral strength or weakness on my part?

You can think something and not be sure that what you are thinking is true.

Abraham was SURE it was God who was telling him to do that, and he was ready to do it based on his own level of certainty that it really was God.

Would you do it if you were as sure as Abraham was that it was God?

Imagine how sure you would need to be before you would, if there is a point where you would, and then imagine being at that level of faith.

That's what you should strive for.

[LeSellers]

When I hear the story of Abraham and Isaac, my reaction is to say "Even if I thought God were telling me to do it, I wouldn't kill my son."

Is this a sign of moral strength or weakness on my part?

Neither.

It's a sign that you don't know the voice of God.

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have , which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Do you really believe that Abraham took Isaac to Moriah just on the off chance that it was God speaking?

Abraham knew the voice of God: he had heard it repeatedly. It wasn't an issue of knowing it was a commandment but of whether he, Abraham, had the faith to act on it.

We also forget, too often, anyway, that it took at least as much faith for the man Isaac (he was in his late teens or early twenties, his father was 120, to go with his father. He was no dummy. He asked about the lamb, if you recall. He knew what was happening, and went in spite of what must have been severe trepidation.

Lehi

[Calm]

As I said in the EV vs. LDS witness thread, it's not a question that can be answered very easily. It's something that we must ultimately learn for ourselves, and it has to do with our relationship with God. Each person must get to know God on a personal level (that is, to know God as our Father, not just that He exists, and develop a literal father-child relationship with Him), and then revelations and inspirations from Him will become easier to recognize and understand. Developing that relationship, though, is a very personal process.

I think is why abuse of a child by someone who is supposed to be in authority over him as well as love and care for him is such a horror...especially if by design, because such abuse can also develop a child who finds it very difficult to trust which means it is almost impossible to get to know God on that personal level. Thankfully all things are possible with God, his love and his ability to teach hope and forgiveness.

[Kevin Christensen]

When I hear the story of Abraham and Isaac, my reaction is to say "Even if I thought God were telling me to do it, I wouldn't kill my son."

Is this a sign of moral strength or weakness on my part?

I see it as more a sign that you don't understand the story.

In Gen. 22, the story starts like this:

"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of."

Abraham demonstrates an understanding that you do not when he says this:

"And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ***; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you."

When his son asks about the forthcoming offering, Abraham says: "My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together."

In his Improvement Era series articles, especially the Sacrifice of Isaac and the Sacrifice of Sarah, Nibley observes that the reason Abraham could interpret the situation as he comes from his life experience with arrested sacrifices and the appearance of substitutes. So what happens with Isaac is not out of the blue, completely unlike anything in his experience, but the latest variation on the recurring theme of his life, and therefore, something he had been prepared to understand. As a child Abraham was to be sacrificed, but a substitute was provided. When offered on the altar himself, the sacrificing priest became the substitute (Abraham 1 and Pseudo Philo). Twice when Sariah herself was on the lion couch, the Kings who would have killed her had she refused them, were smitten with impotence, and thereby became the substitutes (see the Sacrifice of Sarah). So when Isaac's turn comes, Abraham has the experience to properly interpret the significance, and has the correct expectation of that will happen.

Abraham's experiences too, go far beyond just promptings to interpret. He has seen face to face.

Kevin Christensen

Pittsburgh, PA

Edited August 29, 2011 by Kevin Christensen

[Franktalk]

A couple of thoughts.

We can protect our self from the voices of the evil spirits. We do this by confessing our sin and then asking the Holy Ghost to fill us, I always add that I am requesting to be filled so there is no room for another. I also ask to be covered by the blood of Christ. Satan and his friends can't get through that wall of defense. But it is short lived because we sin so easily. But in that short time we only will hear the voice or Spirit of God. I have found that God does respond to my thoughts whereas Satan responds to situations or the spoken word. If we glance at a part of the world which is a temptation and we appear to Satan like we desire that thing then Satan will respond. We in essence have given him permission. An evil spirit will not confess the Gospel. So ask the spirit which gives you a message if Christ died for my sins.

1 John 4

1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Man is a spirit but talks through the flesh. So man can lie like crazy.

Any spirit which God sends will quickly confess Christ.

We have to be careful not to use scripture as our test of a spirit. Scripture is not our witness on earth. We interpret scripture all over the place and God knows this.

1 John 5:7-8

7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

8And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

If you are spiritually attacked then confess your sins and forgive those who sin against you. If you do not forgive you will not be forgiven. Then ask for the blood of Christ. If the attack continues then somehow you have given them permission to be there. You may have an idol in your possession that you don't even realize. You may not hold God as the ruler in your life. God will respect your choice. If you place man's knowledge above God then God will respect your choice. You have in essence given the god of this world permission to come into your house.

We are to be led by the Spirit of God not by any other means. If we fail to follow that commandment then we invite the results.

If you wish to hear God clearly then cast off the world.

Edited August 30, 2011 by Franktalk

[Franktalk]

Isaac was the child of promise. Abraham knew this. So if Isaac was killed then God had to bring him back to life to fulfill His promise. Abraham by faith did as he was told. It is the faith of Abraham in the faithfulness of God that makes him the father of faith.

[HeatherAnn]

Ahab:

My message was that we do give satan too much credit. What messages we choose to listen too is our resposibility and we often blur the message and the source according to our own desires and we are not going to be able to excuse our choices by the I was deceived excuse.

I agree, ERay.

Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is within us (Luke 17).

We know that our thoughts create our feelings, motives & actions... good or bad.

It all stems from within.

Yes, we may be positively influenced by a beautiful sunset, or hear inspiring music...

And we may be negatively influenced with trash through media etc...

Yet, the impact it has depends on how we take it... what we do with it. - Do we resonate with it, or dismiss it?

And it's good to remember that God created EVERYTHING, including our advesary (which may be unique to each according to our strengths & weaknesses).

There must be opposition in all things.... which still boggles my mind.

[Maidservant]

When I hear the story of Abraham and Isaac, my reaction is to say "Even if I thought God were telling me to do it, I wouldn't kill my son."

Is this a sign of moral strength or weakness on my part?

Kevin Christianson and Franktalk just now added to my understanding of this, but also if you haven't already, you may like to read in the Book of Jasher on this story. I personally long ago decided to stop trying to interpret this story, or touch it with a ten foot pole, on the basis that if there was a spiritual foundation for it, I was not there at that place to understand it.

As to the OP . . . due to experiences in my life, including my struggles with mental health, I MUST distrust my "feelings". I do not, EVER, trust my feelings as feelings and say to myself, that is God, Satan, or myself. Because I know I will always get it wrong (and that is me, I don't say this for others).

I also have always gone along in life without worrying whether I am being talked to, tempted or messed with by Satan . . . I have always concentrated on myself as a weak human being (without any additional help from Satan), and my efforts to know God and do right. So I always think of it as a struggle of self, not as a battle between Satan and God for me. Interestingly, it is only recently that I have thought a couple of times, that maybe I should consider that Satan is deliberately trying to harm me, and learn to protect myself. But even with that, I don't worry excessively, because I know too well my blessings . . . that God has me in his hand, that I am protected by my covenants, and if I just keep trying to live faithfully, any power Satan MAY directly have will be defused. One of my touchstones is that I try to realize if what I feel or think is in line with what the prophet would say. But that doesn't mean I look up exact quotes for that.

Similarly, I do not have FEELINGS or a FEELING witness that the Church or Book of Mormon is true. I did once have an ecstatic witness about the prophet (that he really was one). I rarely have what I consider "promptings" to do good things. I have learned to recognize what it feels like when something bad is happening or going to happen or that I am being warned about a bad or deceptive situation . . . I finally can recognize this, it comes very specifically, and it is like a prophecy. I also sometimes can feel if something is going to be "all right", but this is harder for me. I have even had discussions with God several years before now (based on some situations were "good feelings" led me to a REALLY bad place) that I knew I could not hear the Holy Ghost, so for God not to bother sending him, and I do think He agreed, ha ha. One of the troubles I have is that I am very sensitive to all spirits, whether they are in a body or out of a body, so I am constantly bombarded with information from spirits (such as if I am in a crowded room at a ward party), and I can be troubled by the energy of these things without having all the skills to sort it out or stop it from happening to me.

But for most of the time I don't worry about any of these things. I don't worry about if I feel anything when I pray or read the scriptures, I don't worry about if God is telling me some direction to take . . . what I do is, I just live, and I do my best, and I love the commandments. I have confidence that God walks with me, and his will, will be worked out in my life naturally as long as I do what I know is right to the best of my ability. So I don't find God inside me much (maybe), but he's out in my world, leading me to my best life, guiding me. The mess in my head (complete with voices), I just let it do its thing and try not to have it interfere with the joy I can have as a mother, singing hymns in church, doing my visiting teaching, reading powerful verses in the Book of Mormon about Jesus Christ, making decisions about education, etc.

The coda to all this is that at this time in my life, I am in an experience where great decisions must be made and I am constantly on my knees asking for guidance and still I cannot know in one sure stroke whether I am doing right or not. It may be that that in itself is my clue. But it seems to me that I just must continue to work it out by living, by choosing, and I do know God is with me and knows my struggle. So I think I am having this experience precisely so I can learn to "hear" on a new level than I have done before.

[wenglund]

When I hear the story of Abraham and Isaac, my reaction is to say "Even if I thought God were telling me to do it, I wouldn't kill my son."

Is this a sign of moral strength or weakness on my part?

It is a sign of stronger moral trust in yourself than in God.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[Ahab]

Ahab:

My message was that we do give satan too much credit.

I think we should give him "credit" when credit is due to him. He does certain things, regardless of whether or not we respond to him, and we need to be aware of his works.

What messages we choose to listen too is our resposibility and we often blur the message and the source according to our own desires and we are not going to be able to excuse our choices by the I was deceived excuse.

It will be our fault that we chose to listen and pay attention to what Satan told us, but still he told us what he told us and it's not like he is free from his own actions.

My point was simply that Satan does give us thoughts, just as God does, and just as everybody else does.

I didn't mean to imply we aren't responsible for what we do with those thoughts.

[jo1952]

Some people greatly underestimate how Satan works in their lives, and in this world, in general.

Perhaps it would help if people realized that Satan is a "deceiver" and a "slanderer", which means he can actually tell us things which we can think are true but in fact are really not true.

I know I've been deceived before while thinking it was God who was communicating with me, only later to find out it was Satan.

Does anyone else have any stories they would like to tell about when they once thought Satan was God?

Experiences like that actually help us, in the end, because we then know more about the difference between Satan and God.

I have many thoughts running through my head right now. So my words will sound a bit confused (no doubts about that!) until my rambling finally finds its way to be able to make some sense.

I will say first that the adversary is working 24/7 trying to find ways to trip us up. This is his personal mission - to frustrate and destroy the Plan of Salvation. He is extremely powerful, as are his followers. However, we fortunately have Father's good angels watching over us. I think there is much more going on around us in the spiritual realm than we are aware of. Prinicipalities of darkness cover the earth, and they are well organized with beings who have various levels of abilities and powers; an hierarchy with Satan as their leader.

It is interesting that the physical manifestations of satan's handiwork seem to have been very common in Biblical times. Today it seems less prevalent - but this may be due to the fact that living on the American continent, and especially living in the USA, we have extra protection as God taught in the BoM that we are in a land of promise. However, inasmuch as our country is straying so far from God in general, that it could be only due to the righteous who live here, that God has withheld grave punishments, including being less protected by His angels who are now holding Satan back, so to speak. If you read what is going on in the rest of the world, you will be able to find that there is much more satanic activity and manifestations than here in America. Mostly what we hear about is "possession" and the ritual of "exorcism" being performed; though I am not aware of any of these activities within the Church. Maybe this is another blessing being enjoyed by the Church which we aren't even aware of (though our Leaders may be aware and just don't talk about it so as not to alarm us).

Of course, there are out and out satan worshipers who are very organized to the extent that they actually have an underground method to communicate with different covens all over the USA. They carry out both animal and human sacrifices. There are times when their strength ebbs and flows through our history. I won't go into any more detail, though I know more than I have written. So that no one starts getting the wrong impression, I WILL clarify that the reason I know this much is because I was victimized by a satanic cult back in 1984; the same time Richard Ramirez (a satanist), aka the Night Stalker, was on his murder streak in California. If anyone wants to hear any more of my nightmare, you can send me a private message. If I had not been the one who experienced this, I would think that the story was made up. However, records of this case are in the files of the local police department of the city that I lived in at that time. I learned that the LDS Church is infiltrated with satanic cult members; in fact the police were certain that it was someone from my Ward who was responsible for all that happened. Unfortunately, they were never able to gather enough evidence to prove it.

I think, for the most part, I feel Satan's influence through my thoughts. There are other times when I have a very real sense of the presence of evil when I have been out and about. I also see the adversary's influence grow exponentially on other websites whenever posters who are obviously being led very strongly by the Holy Ghost back other posters who are serving satan rather than God into points of discussion where they start feeling threatened by truth (actually I think it is Satan who is feeling threatened, so he ratchets up his influence of hate into their thoughts). Fortunately those types of discussion are not allowed to escalate to that scale here on Mormon Dialogue. But the evil becomes tangible and a flurry of private messages will be sent among posters giving affirmation that they see the evil there as well. Satan is very happy when he is able to get Christians to fight against other Christians. What better way than to try to destroy the church (members who make of the body of Christ inside and outside of the LDS Church), than from within?

Therefore, most of my experience with actually fighting satan has been experienced while defending not only LDS beliefs, but also in defending ANY believer who is obviously being led by the Holy Ghost and who have much experiencing with the Holy Ghost. It is the believers who think they are helping God by joining forces against anyone who claims to be having experiences with the Holy Ghost, who are actually in Satan's camp. And that is the source where evil can build up to the point that it is tangible (yet they remain blind to this phenomena).

Regards,

jo

Edited August 31, 2011 by jo1952

[jo1952]

Kevin Christianson and Franktalk just now added to my understanding of this, but also if you haven't already, you may like to read in the Book of Jasher on this story. I personally long ago decided to stop trying to interpret this story, or touch it with a ten foot pole, on the basis that if there was a spiritual foundation for it, I was not there at that place to understand it.

As to the OP . . . due to experiences in my life, including my struggles with mental health, I MUST distrust my "feelings". I do not, EVER, trust my feelings as feelings and say to myself, that is God, Satan, or myself. Because I know I will always get it wrong (and that is me, I don't say this for others).

I also have always gone along in life without worrying whether I am being talked to, tempted or messed with by Satan . . . I have always concentrated on myself as a weak human being (without any additional help from Satan), and my efforts to know God and do right. So I always think of it as a struggle of self, not as a battle between Satan and God for me. Interestingly, it is only recently that I have thought a couple of times, that maybe I should consider that Satan is deliberately trying to harm me, and learn to protect myself. But even with that, I don't worry excessively, because I know too well my blessings . . . that God has me in his hand, that I am protected by my covenants, and if I just keep trying to live faithfully, any power Satan MAY directly have will be defused. One of my touchstones is that I try to realize if what I feel or think is in line with what the prophet would say. But that doesn't mean I look up exact quotes for that.

Similarly, I do not have FEELINGS or a FEELING witness that the Church or Book of Mormon is true. I did once have an ecstatic witness about the prophet (that he really was one). I rarely have what I consider "promptings" to do good things. I have learned to recognize what it feels like when something bad is happening or going to happen or that I am being warned about a bad or deceptive situation . . . I finally can recognize this, it comes very specifically, and it is like a prophecy. I also sometimes can feel if something is going to be "all right", but this is harder for me. I have even had discussions with God several years before now (based on some situations were "good feelings" led me to a REALLY bad place) that I knew I could not hear the Holy Ghost, so for God not to bother sending him, and I do think He agreed, ha ha. One of the troubles I have is that I am very sensitive to all spirits, whether they are in a body or out of a body, so I am constantly bombarded with information from spirits (such as if I am in a crowded room at a ward party), and I can be troubled by the energy of these things without having all the skills to sort it out or stop it from happening to me.

But for most of the time I don't worry about any of these things. I don't worry about if I feel anything when I pray or read the scriptures, I don't worry about if God is telling me some direction to take . . . what I do is, I just live, and I do my best, and I love the commandments. I have confidence that God walks with me, and his will, will be worked out in my life naturally as long as I do what I know is right to the best of my ability. So I don't find God inside me much (maybe), but he's out in my world, leading me to my best life, guiding me. The mess in my head (complete with voices), I just let it do its thing and try not to have it interfere with the joy I can have as a mother, singing hymns in church, doing my visiting teaching, reading powerful verses in the Book of Mormon about Jesus Christ, making decisions about education, etc.

The coda to all this is that at this time in my life, I am in an experience where great decisions must be made and I am constantly on my knees asking for guidance and still I cannot know in one sure stroke whether I am doing right or not. It may be that that in itself is my clue. But it seems to me that I just must continue to work it out by living, by choosing, and I do know God is with me and knows my struggle. So I think I am having this experience precisely so I can learn to "hear" on a new level than I have done before.

Hi Maidservant!

I just wanted to thank you for sharing your thoughts. I feel that you have much courage in facing the trials you have been given. How awesome your spirit is to just keep fighting your personal struggle and battles. You are an inspiration to me! I believe there is something very special about those individuals who are given the bodies which have these difficult and trying defects. I know that you already know Father not only knows what is best for you; I also think He is preparing you for some purpose He feels that only you will be able to carry out for Him after this estate.

May Father's blessings rain down about you and keep you safe and your faith continually gaining strength.

Love,

jo

[Maidservant]

Hi Maidservant!

I just wanted to thank you for sharing your thoughts. I feel that you have much courage in facing the trials you have been given. How awesome your spirit is to just keep fighting your personal struggle and battles. You are an inspiration to me! I believe there is something very special about those individuals who are given the bodies which have these difficult and trying defects. I know that you already know Father not only knows what is best for you; I also think He is preparing you for some purpose He feels that only you will be able to carry out for Him after this estate.

May Father's blessings rain down about you and keep you safe and your faith continually gaining strength.

Love,

jo

Thank you, jo, for your kind words . God bless you too, and I'm glad you're a part of this board. I love the voice you have.

[Kiviuq]

It was stated above that “[satan] is extremely powerful”.

Where does Satan get his power? Is not the ability to perform miracles only based on the priesthood principles of righteousness? “Satan commands and the elements obey.” Is this really possible?

Therefore, whatever power Satan has must be given to him from God, assumedly to accomplish God’s purpose. If the world today is too evil, perhaps God gave Satan too much power. At any time, God could pull back some of Satan’s power.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Saints and Evangelicals,

In the Witness/Testimony thread the query was posed: How do we distinguish promptings from God from promptings from Satan. Please share your doctrines that instruct how we can distinguish the Holy Spirit from evil spirits from the random thoughts in our heads. (Please wait a page or two until people have had a chance to present their views before contrasting and comparing the various views)

I think this will be profitable for any believer who would like to approach receving revelation from God with confidence and faith.

Light or Darkness is how I know. My be simplistic but it works for me.

[Pixelmonster]

It must not be easy in the LDS sphere. Joseph Smith failed to sell the copyright to his new Book of Mormon and claimed the command to do it was a revelation from Satan.

If the Prophet of the Restoration can't tell one from the other it is no wonder LDS leadership today appears lost and confused.

Are they really sure who it is they worship? For my dime I think it is The God of This World.

[Bernard Gui]

It must not be easy in the LDS sphere. Joseph Smith failed to sell the copyright to his new Book of Mormon and claimed the command to do it was a revelation from Satan.

If the Prophet of the Restoration can't tell one from the other it is no wonder LDS leadership today appears lost and confused.

Are they really sure who it is they worship? For my dime I think it is The God of This World.

You lose your dime.

Bernard

[Hestia]

Are they really sure who it is they worship? For my dime I think it is The God of This World.

If all you are going to do is trash the church you can go elsewhere.

[Storm Rider]

It must not be easy in the LDS sphere. Joseph Smith failed to sell the copyright to his new Book of Mormon and claimed the command to do it was a revelation from Satan.

If the Prophet of the Restoration can't tell one from the other it is no wonder LDS leadership today appears lost and confused.

Are they really sure who it is they worship? For my dime I think it is The God of This World.

All I can do is shake my head in pity for you. May the God of Abraham have mercy upon you, may the Son of God forgive you, and may the Holy Spirit lead you to all truth.

[Calm]

Joseph Smith failed to sell the copyright to his new Book of Mormon and claimed the command to do it was a revelation from Satan.

If you are going to criticize, it is better to keep up with the scholarship so you don't look so foolish.

http://en.fairmormon.org/Book_of_Mormon/Attempt_to_sell_copyright

[Storm Rider]

Learning to live by the Spirit is a process that is not learned in a day. It is true that many great men in ages past and in the future will be lead away by the temptations of the Evil one; however, we all can recognize the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit leads us to truth, to paths of righteousness, and denies the passions of mortality. If any voice leads to the satisfaction of the ego, the passions of the flesh, or to anything that destroys faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world; that voice is of the evil one and must be closed off.

Though we can be lead astray by evil spirits is not reason enough to shut off all spiritual guidance. It means we must take care. There are those times where we will feel our hearts burn just as the two men that walked the Emmaus road with the Savior unwares felt. We will recognize truth quickly and easily; just as it will be much more demanding at other times. It will feel as if we are alone. It is at those times where we must be bold and strike out, making decisions the best we can based upon our past experience and knowledge. Little do we know that he has never left us alone; he stands beside us waiting to see our own choices and decisions and to help us to stand should we fall. It is not the decision that is the problem; it is the burying the decision in fear of making an error that is the sin.