Good and Evil

There are few of us alive who would like to describe ourselves or be
described as evil. The definition of evil as applied to people that
normally comes to mind is that of those whose deeds constitute the
most horrible of all crimes against mankind - crimes such as
premeditated and unconscionable murder, violent, unrestrained and
malicious physical assault, genocide, the abuse of the innocent, and
fear inducing as well as psychotic behaviour, among others.

Because all of mankind is innocent when they come into the world,
so evil, as it comes into being, must have a starting point from which
it develops into a pattern of behaviour that in practice leads to acts
which at their very extreme are evil in nature.

The very act of thinking by which we recognise our independent
existence, may be compared to a seed, which when nurtured in the
mind, transplants ideas to the heart, where they give rise to feelings
that are consummated in actions. Thus it can be quite literally said
that "as a man thinketh in his heart - so is he". Proverbs 23 v. 7

Where do thoughts come from and how do thoughts lead one to do
and become evil in nature?

Thought is a process of the conscious mind or intelligence which at
the outset is innocent and unaware of the distinctions between good
and evil. At birth the conscious mind or intelligence which is a
spiritual and eternal entity, is clothed with a physical body and
becomes subject to all the stimulae of senses which act upon the
body, resulting in the formation of a picture or mental interpretation
of the feelings experienced. In time these form part of the memory
which is a physical function with a spiritual cogniscance. The senses
of sound, touch, sight, smell and hearing combine to develop
experience and knowledge of the physical environment. The infant
child is, nevertheless, innocent and must be taught to distinguish
between actions that are right and wrong.

Evil, which is already present in the spiritual environment in which
every individual lives, acts upon the mind of the individual, through
both direct and indirect means to suggest to the mind actions
contrary to what is good.

As the mind develops to interpret thoughts and assimilate them as
feelings, so the conscious mind creates its own perceptions and
learned experience is gained.

To counter the effects of evil influence, every individual is also given
a positive spiritual influence to guide and direct them to make right
decisions. We call this our conscience. The ability for us to benefit
from this guiding light is strongly dependant on the response we
make to situations that arise in our lives, leading us to choose
between right and wrong and between good and evil.

If we follow the promptings of our conscience the guidance that it
gives will remain as a strong influence to help us make right choices.
"That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and
continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth
brighter and brighter until the perfect day. " D&C 50 v 24.

If we decline to heed the promptings of our conscience then its
influence will weaken, even to the point where we are willing to
behave "outside the box" of conventional and secure actions. "And
he that repents not, from him shall be taken the light which he has
received; for my spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the
Lord of Hosts." D&C 1. v 33

As our conscious mind processes and makes conclusions based on
our experiences we are able to learn to choose good as opposed to
evil. As we are imperfect in our understanding of what we
experience it is easy to draw wrong conclusions. Suffering occurs
as we make mistakes helping us to distinguish between right and
wrong. But even when we make good decisions, the conscious mind
can err and be persuaded by the influence of evil that doing good
is not conducive to physical enjoyment and perceived happiness.
Liberal interpretations can be applied to human reasoning and if
we accept these our definition of what is good becomes diluted.
Such thinking allows evil to take the stage in our lives. At its most
extreme this can corrupt the ability of the conscious mind to
distinguish between good and evil so that its boundaries are unclear.

Evil, at the outset, existed long before we were born. Indeed, the
Holy Scriptures are replete with references to evil and its origins.
"... an angel of God, according to that which is written, had fallen
from heaven; wherefore he became a devil having sought that
which was evil before God." 2 Nephi 2 v.17

Lucifer, who was that angel , and who was later given the title of
Devil or Satan, had great influence over the spirit children of God.
From the information given in the scriptures we learn that one
third of the spirit children of God followed him and were cast down
to the earth as unembodied spirits. These same spirits exercise
their influence on our minds directly - as well as indirectly, by the
behaviour, teachings and example of others, with the intent of
causing us to deny or reject God, reject his guiding influences and
belittle and break his commandments.

Just as it is commonly accepted that "beauty is in the eye of the
beholder ", so also we may wish to consider that the definition of
good and evil too can be viewed according to the generally
accepted societal point of view. This perspective allows us to
sleep at night without too much concern for the manner in which
we behave.

We can agree that there are a wide variety of shades of variance
when it comes to analysing the spectrum of good and evil as we
may perceive it, ranging from minor grievances or little white lies
to acts of a more serious nature and those which culminate in
major crimes against humanity.

The question of how we perceive what is good and evil,
however, has a major bearing on our thoughts and on
our behaviour.

Evil, as defined by us mere mortals, is not usually reckoned
according to the reasoning of the Gods. It may satisfy us to think
of evil only in its most extreme expression but for God all manner
of behaviour which rejects his counsel and his love is at best
foolish and at worst absolutely and unacceptably evil.

Consider the following reasoning. As a loving parent who wishes
to secure the well being of his or her children you would do
everything you can within reason to protect and love your
offspring. From warnings of "dont touch the hot plate" to "beware
of the landmines" you would give them the necessary guidance to
ensure that they do not suffer unnecessarily or injure themselves
or become a fatal victim of a road accident or any other of a
thousand possible dangers.

How would you then react if your neighbour openly encouraged
your children not only to ignore your loving parental advice but to
actively encourage them in the pursuit of every possible form of
dangerous activity? You would no doubt counsel your children to
avoid contact with such a person. To remove such influence from
their lives altogether, however, would require that you deprive
them of their freedom to choose for themselves since opposition in
all things exists to enable freedom of choice. Without one there
cannot be the other. And, to withhold wise counsel from your
children would be a dereliction of your duty as a responsible parent.

But here we are in the 21st century persuaded by many that we
originate from monkeys and apes and before that from the ooze of
primeval slime, that there is no God and therefore that we need
have no inhibitions about the manner in which we behave. Such is
the influence of evil that even the mere mention of God and religion
causes people everywhere to shun conversation. In the eyes of most
youth who have been raised to believe in evolutionary theories, we
who believe in God are the ultimate party poopers.

We live in a relatively peaceful society. Law and order prevail so that
we can enjoy the freedoms that God has given us. It has not always
been so, and as society rejects the counsels of a wise and loving God,
so the wheel of history will turn again and cause the loss of the
freedoms and breakdown of laws. Such wickedness has been the
resultant cause of destruction of every hedonistic society that lived to
pursue its selfish aims and became corrupted by its own lust for
pleasure and power.

To deny that evil exists is to deny the very fact of existence, just as
it is to deny the existence of God. Neither good nor evil can exist in
a total vacuum. Both are co-existent in the eternities though as is
blatantly obvious Good must be dominant or evil would reign. Order
must triumph or chaos would prevail. Love predominates to create
and maintain life - if not, then its opposite would have power to
destroy all that lives in harmony in the worlds without number that
are constantly in process of being created and nurtured by a loving
God. "And again, verily I say unto you, that which is governed by
law is also preserved by law and perfected and sanctified by the
same. That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but
seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and
altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by
mercy, justice, nor judgment. " D&C 88 v. 35

The scriptures consistently warn and inform that capitulation to evil
will cause the power of good to be weakened - conversely the opposite
is also true. When we observe to do good and live according to the
statutes and commandments of God, good prevails in our lives and in
the measure that it does so, evil loses its power of attraction and
ability to dominate us individually.

It is hard to be strong individually when all about us are opposed to
strict behaviour and are given to libertine disregard for the laws of
God. But like a rope whose fibres individually are weak, when
intertwined together they enforce and give great strength to the
whole. Together we can be strong and we must be strong if we are to
succeed in developing and maintaining the power of good in our lives.

The question "why" is one that should be considered. Why, if Satan
was in the beginning an angel of God, a spirit child of God along with
the rest of us, did he become evil ? The answer is found in the book
of Moses: "And Satan put it into the heart of the serpent, (for he had
drawn away many after him), and he sought also to beguile Eve, for
he knew not the mind of God, wherefore he sought to destroy the
world." Moses 4 v 6

Satan`s lust for power, his unyielding ambition, his pride and lack of
humility, his refusal to accept divine authority and his lack of respect
for the right of free moral agency given to mankind together with
other rebellious aspects of his character have all led to the
development of a super ego - it is noteworthy that these same
characteristics are and will be found in all the leaders of the world
who have been guilty of genocide and fratricide, mass murder, the
use of torture and sexual abuse as a means to an end that would
place them in a position of power and control over others.

Terror and bloodshed are weapons of Satan. In order to accomplish
his designs and destroy the societies of the world he aims to
undermine the family as its basic unit and set parents against each
other so as to persuade people everywhere that faithful marriage
vows are an unnecessary and futile covenant to be broken at will or
simply to be avoided.

Like the warrior leaders of the past his strategy is "divide and
conquer" - and that applies to every body of people everywhere,
whether in the home, the workplace, governmental institutions,
religious societies or any other organisation of merit. He attacks
ferociously the weakest link in every group and in order to compel
the human mind to fulfil his will he and his angels apply mental
pressure to disobey divine commands, incite fear, create scenarios
of insecurity, distort truth and urge people to respond with anger
and rage in situations where they are overburdened with anxiety
and sorrow.

In spite of the length of time that the earth has existed, Satan
continues his efforts to destroy the world and beguile its
inhabitants. The freedom of choice given to all of the spirit children
of God allows us to choose for ourselves, good or evil. "...and also a
third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away because of their
agency." D&C 29 v 36.

Obedience is either of one or of the other. As Jesus taught during
his mortal ministry, "A good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a
corrupt tree bringeth f orth evil fruit....by their fruits ye shall know
them." Matt 7 v 17, 20.

To be sure, we need to have a clear understanding of what is good
and what is evil. Again the Holy Scriptures give us a clear
perspective on this subject. The prophet Moroni spoke at length
on this subject when he said: "For I remember the word of God
which saith by their works shall ye know them; for if their works be
good, then they are good also. But behold, God hath said a man
being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift,
or prayeth unto God, except he do it with real intent it profiteth him
nothing. For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness. For
behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly;
wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained
the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God. And likewise also it
is counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent
of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none
such. Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good;
neither will he give a good gift.

For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither
can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore a man being
a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he
cannot be a servant of the devil. 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. But behold, that which is of God inviteth and
enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, everything that inviteth
and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is
inspired of God.

Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge
that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be
of the devil. For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge,
that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain,
that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from
the dark night. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every
man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you
the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to
persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of
Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in
Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a
perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the
devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one;
neither do his angels, neither do they who subject themselves
unto him.

And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may
judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge
wrongfully, for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall
be judged. Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should
search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from
evil; and if ye will lay hold on every good thing, and condemn it not,
ye certainly will be a child of Christ." Moroni 7 v.5-19

Moroni later repeated the words of Christ when he said: "And
whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good
cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to
all good;" Ether 4 v. 12

God, our eternal Father is advanced and complete in every manner
possible, complete with power, knowledge, wisdom, love and
understanding, complete with mercy and compassion, complete
with justice and perfect in judgment. He has attained to the fulness
of eternal happiness and is perfected in joy. He is whole and filled
with glory and light. To share all that he has with those who love
Him and honour Him adds to his glory and joy. As his very literal
spirit children we may inherit all that he has subject to our living in
accordance with his laws, obeying his commandments and by
becoming perfect through the same process that enabled him also to
become God. "He that receiveth my servants receiveth me; And he
that receiveth me receiveth my Father; And he that receiveth my
Father receiveth my Father`s kingdom; therefore all that my Father
hath shall be given unto him." D&C 84 v 36-38

In order to progress to this state of eternal fulfilment and inherit all
that the Father has we must first show that we are willing and
worthy of such eternal privilege. We must exercise faith in God and
"cleave unto every good thing" - we must repent of all the sins
and evil that we have done and gain such a strength of hope in God
that we lose all desire to do evil and instead seek and desire to do
good continuously. Our obedience to God our Father and his Son
Jesus Christ must be complete.

We must reject evil in all its many varied faces and forms and learn
to nurture all that is good within us regardless of the opposition we
endure or the hardships and sufferings of life: "For you shall live by
every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. For
the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and
whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. And the
Spirit giveth light to every man who cometh into the world; and the
Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to
the voice of the Spirit. And every one who hearkeneth to the voice of
the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father." D&C 84 v 44-47.

"And if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall
have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God."
D&C 14 v 7.

"And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keeps his commandments.
He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until
he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things. " D&C 93 v 27-28.

"And I, John, saw that he received not of the fulness at the first, but
received grace for grace; and he received not of the fulness at first,
but continued from grace to grace until he received a fulness. And
thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the
fulness at the first. And I, John, bear record that he received a
fulness of the glory of the Father. D&C 93 v 12-14, 16.

"For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness,
and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto
you, you shall receive grace for grace. And now, verily I say unto you,
I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn. And all
those who are begotten through me are partakers of the glory of the
same, and are the church of the Firstborn. D&C 93 v 20-22.

This is the purpose for which we were born. "For behold, this is my
work and my glory - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life
of man". Moses 1.v 39

Evil stands in opposition to the eternal aims of God, our Father and
his Son, Jesus Christ. Unless we have the courage to recognise evil
for what it is and the damning blight that it poses to our eternal
happiness we will be captured by its lures, enslaved by its charms
and fall under its influence. To accept anything which deviates from
the plan, will and mind of God is to accept evil. The cunning and
subtlety of the devil is shown in the manner in which he persuades
society to accept all manner of deviant behaviour. While he loves
his children God, our Father cannot accept evil which so often is
disguised in the persuasion that freedom of choice also equates with
acceptance of evil. It is not so. We can love and be tolerant of the
behaviour of our fellow man without accepting the false premises in
which that behaviour may be founded.

Opposite to eternal progress and eternal happiness is eternal
damnation and eternal regret. "And now behold, I say unto you then
cometh a death, even a second death, which is a spiritual death; then
is a time that whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a temporal death
shall also die a spiritual death; yea, he shall die as to things
pertaining unto righteousness. Then is the time, when their
torments shall be as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame
ascendeth up forever and ever; and then is the time that they
shall be chained down to an everlasting destruction, according
to the power and captivity of Satan, he having subjected them
according to his will. Then, I say unto you, they shall be as though
there had been no redemption made, for they cannot be redeemed
according to God`s justice; and they cannot die seeing there is no
more corruption." Alma 12 v 17-18

God is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow. His truths do not
change, his character and his perfections do not alter and none of his
attributes vary in the slightest degree. Therefore the boundaries
which define good and evil also cannot change. We cannot create our
own terms for the atonement which enables our redemption, only
those that have been set by our Redeemer are valid and they are
according to his laws which are both just and merciful.

Within the constraints of his laws is a straight and narrow path. It is
the path of good. As long as we maintain our lives within those
constraints we are free to enjoy life and happiness - but even
as much as one step beyond the prescribed limits of this path is a
minefield of evil - and we do not know where the mines are situated.