Satan, An Agent Of God?

[Kiviuq]

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.

[Aliwe]

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.

Fascinating. A God who can not see the end from the beginning, who makes mistakes and changes course.

[Ron Beron]

Fascinating. A God who can not see the end from the beginning, who makes mistakes and changes course.

Well, there are cockroaches.

[Kiviuq]

Fascinating. A God who can not see the end from the beginning, who makes mistakes and changes course.

So, are you implying that the world today is exactly the way God wants it to be (in relation to the amount of sin caused by Satan?) I’m not asking about if things are the way He knew they would become, but rather, that they are the way he wants it to be.

[Aliwe]

So, are you implying that the world today is exactly the way God wants it to be (in relation to the amount of sin caused by Satan?) I’m not asking about if things are the way He knew they would become, but rather, that they are the way he wants it to be.

Sometimes I'm actually impressed by the theology in the Book of Mormon. For example, in 2 Nephi chapter 2 I read:

[11] For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

[12] Wherefore, it must needs have been created for a thing of naught; wherefore there would have been no purpose in the end of its creation. Wherefore, this thing must needs destroy the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also the power, and the mercy, and the justice of God.

[13] And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.

[Alan]

In my view Lucifer remains convinced he can win this war. I believe he sees it as a numbers game. The more he can covertly get to follow him in this life, coupled with those already commited to his cause from the pre-earth life, the greater his argument that he was right all along. Although salvation will come to practically all, he thinks that the more he can entrap people in sinful desires and behaviour, the harder it will be for them to repent in the spirit world and they will give up trying, just as they do here.

Is he part of the plan of salvation? Yes and no. No because his "ministry" wasn't necessary, yes because he is a child of God and is actually here now doing what he is doing. So in a sense, because he is a child of God he was always part of the plan, just as we are.