blooit Posted June 17, 2014 Posted June 17, 2014 God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The same cannot be said of satan. Is it conceivable that satan is getting better at leading people astray? Since he is not perfect or complete, could it be that he is getting better and better at what he does? Could this partially explain how bad things are going to get in the latter days?
Tsuzuki Posted June 17, 2014 Posted June 17, 2014 Satan is the Holy Ghost, the third member of the Godhead, and He's just doing His job.
CV75 Posted June 17, 2014 Posted June 17, 2014 God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The same cannot be said of satan. Is it conceivable that satan is getting better at leading people astray? Since he is not perfect or complete, could it be that he is getting better and better at what he does? Could this partially explain how bad things are going to get in the latter days?I don't see why not--he has more to work with! And if latter-day souls are among the very elect, once one of them falls he can twist the light more diabolically than his forebears.
Ahab Posted June 17, 2014 Posted June 17, 2014 Compare internet porn on HD computer screens to carvings on bathroom walls. And murdering with guns and bombs to having to use a knife, sword, or spear. Technology does make a big difference. Other than that though I think he still uses the same basic ideas.
ERayR Posted June 17, 2014 Posted June 17, 2014 It seems there is still an awful lot of the old fashioned wars, abuse and murders going on.
JLHPROF Posted June 17, 2014 Posted June 17, 2014 God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The same cannot be said of satan. Is it conceivable that satan is getting better at leading people astray? Since he is not perfect or complete, could it be that he is getting better and better at what he does? Could this partially explain how bad things are going to get in the latter days? I don't believe Satan can progress (gain more light/truth/knowledge). And I'm not sure he can actually regress (become more wicked). Also, the gospel teaches that Satan can have no power over us other than what we give him. So if we take all that into account, I would say that the only reason more people are being led astray is that we as a society are less inclined towards righteous things and more accepting of sinful behavior. That's not on Satan's genius, but on our free agency to choose what we prefer. But I bet Satan is loving having more wickedness to work with and it does give him more opportunities to expose the righteous to wickedness and sin.Take same sex relations as an example. It has been considered a grievous sin in the gospel forever, but as society has become more accepting of it Satan has had an easier time convincing people to accept it or even partake. It is our acceptance that makes Satan's job easier.The same pattern has occurred with abortion, extra-marital sex, and many other principles of the gospel that are no longer societally acceptable. The eternal law hasn't changed, but our acceptance of sin has made Satan's job much easier to spread sin. 1
The Nehor Posted June 17, 2014 Posted June 17, 2014 No, he is still using the same tricks he always has and we are still falling for them. That is one of the downsides of hell. Not only is satan evil but he is unimaginative and boring. Satan is the Holy Ghost, the third member of the Godhead, and He's just doing His job. Ummmmm......no. 3
thesometimesaint Posted June 17, 2014 Posted June 17, 2014 Satan is the Holy Ghost, the third member of the Godhead, and He's just doing His job. Not in LDS Theology
thesometimesaint Posted June 17, 2014 Posted June 17, 2014 God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The same cannot be said of satan. Is it conceivable that satan is getting better at leading people astray? Since he is not perfect or complete, could it be that he is getting better and better at what he does? Could this partially explain how bad things are going to get in the latter days? No he is not. We're just getting better at listening to him. 1
Grand Moff Tarkin Posted June 17, 2014 Posted June 17, 2014 Assuming satan is real, which I typically don't, I would imagine he could gain experience like anyone else...
Tsuzuki Posted June 17, 2014 Posted June 17, 2014 Not in LDS TheologyI just thought that while we were speculating, I might as well jump on the bandwagon.
thesometimesaint Posted June 18, 2014 Posted June 18, 2014 I just thought that while we were speculating, I might as well jump on the bandwagon. Normally I'm fine with speculating. But the idea that the Holy Ghost is somehow Satan goes against very basic Christian ideas, and LDS Theology in specific.
Tsuzuki Posted June 18, 2014 Posted June 18, 2014 Normally I'm fine with speculating. But the idea that the Holy Ghost is somehow Satan goes against very basic Christian ideas, and LDS Theology in specific.Not necessarily. According to the ancient Israelites, Satan was basically God's prosecuting attorney, and It wasn't until they encountered Zoroastrianism that Satan began being depicted as the enemy of God. In the book of Job he was hanging out with God like he lived there. Another part of this train of thought comes from 2 Peter 1:19, where in the Latin version, we're told to have "Lucifer" arise in our hearts. As for LDS theology in particular, the Holy Ghost is the only member of the Godhead who doesn't have a physical body, and we're never told why.
thesometimesaint Posted June 18, 2014 Posted June 18, 2014 Not necessarily. According to the ancient Israelites, Satan was basically God's prosecuting attorney, and It wasn't until they encountered Zoroastrianism that Satan began being depicted as the enemy of God. In the book of Job he was hanging out with God like he lived there. Another part of this train of thought comes from 2 Peter 1:19, where in the Latin version, we're told to have "Lucifer" arise in our hearts. As for LDS theology in particular, the Holy Ghost is the only member of the Godhead who doesn't have a physical body, and we're never told why. The ancient Israelites were not Christians. They weren't particularly monotheistic either. In LDS Theology the Holy Ghost doesn't have a physical body so he can enter our hearts.https://www.lds.org/topics/holy-ghost?lang=eng
JLHPROF Posted June 18, 2014 Posted June 18, 2014 The ancient Israelites were not Christians. They weren't particularly monotheistic either. In LDS Theology the Holy Ghost doesn't have a physical body so he can enter our hearts.https://www.lds.org/topics/holy-ghost?lang=eng But we do believe the Holy Ghost will come to earth and receive a body at some point (presumably between the revelation calling him a spirit and the end of the Millennium). Who knows, maybe he's here now or came and went without us knowing?
cinepro Posted June 18, 2014 Posted June 18, 2014 I don't understand why people blame pornography on Satan. It's a pretty basic LDS teaching that our sexual desires come from God, not from Satan, so even if Satan did nothing, 15-year-old teenagers would want to look at pictures of attractive naked people. Sure, it's a lot easier to see pornography now than it was 500 years ago, but that's not Satan's fault either. 1
why me Posted June 18, 2014 Posted June 18, 2014 I don't understand why people blame pornography on Satan. It's a pretty basic LDS teaching that our sexual desires come from God, not from Satan, so even if Satan did nothing, 15-year-old teenagers would want to look at pictures of attractive naked people. Sure, it's a lot easier to see pornography now than it was 500 years ago, but that's not Satan's fault either. The problem with your post is the overlooking that in such films people are basically having premarital sex which can basically distort the meaning of sex as a marital bond sealed by the holy spirit. Porn is basically denying the marital bond that comes with sex as a deep expression of love. Can one blame satan for the spread of porn. I think so since it would be in his interest to distort the marriage bond and the role that sex plays in it. It is to lessen the precious gift that god has given to humanity, to express their deepest feelings for another human being. However, there is a sexual desire within the human being for the continuation of the species. However, porn plays into this sexual desire in ways that are cheapening such desires. Also, one cannot overlook the lives of the actors involved. Many do not fare to well in the outside world.
Tsuzuki Posted June 19, 2014 Posted June 19, 2014 The ancient Israelites were not Christians. They weren't particularly monotheistic either. In LDS Theology the Holy Ghost doesn't have a physical body so he can enter our hearts.https://www.lds.org/topics/holy-ghost?lang=engSo it's within the realm of speculation.
Tsuzuki Posted June 19, 2014 Posted June 19, 2014 I don't understand why people blame pornography on Satan. It's a pretty basic LDS teaching that our sexual desires come from God, not from Satan, so even if Satan did nothing, 15-year-old teenagers would want to look at pictures of attractive naked people. Sure, it's a lot easier to see pornography now than it was 500 years ago, but that's not Satan's fault either. If Satan is the Holy Ghost, then the paradox is resolved.
The Nehor Posted June 19, 2014 Posted June 19, 2014 If Satan is the Holy Ghost, then the paradox is resolved. No, it just moves the paradox into the Holy Ghost.
Alan Posted June 19, 2014 Posted June 19, 2014 Lucifer is not particularly clever, just experienced.He has learned how to tempt more effectively and on a larger scale. This has been done mainly by recruiting mortals to his service without them realising, and by gaining an understanding of our triggers. So in that sense I would have to answer "yes" to the OP.
Tsuzuki Posted June 19, 2014 Posted June 19, 2014 (edited) No, it just moves the paradox into the Holy Ghost."For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn 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." - 2 Nephi 2:11 Edited June 19, 2014 by Tsuzuki
thesometimesaint Posted June 19, 2014 Posted June 19, 2014 But we do believe the Holy Ghost will come to earth and receive a body at some point (presumably between the revelation calling him a spirit and the end of the Millennium). Who knows, maybe he's here now or came and went without us knowing? That is not LDS doctrine. But I will allow it is possible within LDS doctrine. We still have people receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. So I don't believe he has received his physical body yet.
JLHPROF Posted June 19, 2014 Posted June 19, 2014 That is not LDS doctrine. But I will allow it is possible within LDS doctrine. We still have people receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. So I don't believe he has received his physical body yet. I fully acknowledge that it is speculation, but I base my beliefs on the following (among others): "They who have tabernacles have power over those who have not.” Joseph Smith TPJS 189 How can the Holy Ghost maintain power over those with bodies (esp. resurrected) unless he has a body? Basically, this is why we with our bodies right now can easily cast out the Holy Ghost by our actions. If he never gains a body he will be subject to us for eternity. "these personages are called God the first, the Creator, God the second, the Redeemer, and God the third, the Witness or Testator." So we know there are three Gods over this earth - the one that created it, the one that redeemed it and the one that bears witness of them. The beginning, the middle and the end if we apply a little logic. "For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy." D&C 93:33-34How can a member of the Godhead never be allowed a fulness of joy?
cinepro Posted June 19, 2014 Posted June 19, 2014 The problem with your post is the overlooking that in such films people are basically having premarital sex which can basically distort the meaning of sex as a marital bond sealed by the holy spirit. Porn is basically denying the marital bond that comes with sex as a deep expression of love. Can one blame satan for the spread of porn. I think so since it would be in his interest to distort the marriage bond and the role that sex plays in it. It is to lessen the precious gift that god has given to humanity, to express their deepest feelings for another human being. However, there is a sexual desire within the human being for the continuation of the species. However, porn plays into this sexual desire in ways that are cheapening such desires. Also, one cannot overlook the lives of the actors involved. Many do not fare to well in the outside world. I don't think that's how our "natural desires" work. Unless you believe that every "desire" a person has for their future - spouse before they get married is Satan whispering in their ears, and then the moment they get married, those exact same desires are taken over by God. Satan might be spending his time trying to get people to make, buy, sell and watch pornography, but if he is he's wasting his time, because people will do it anyway without needing him to.
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