Recently I've been pondering how all that is good is from God and all that is evil is from the devil. The prophet Moroni clearly teaches this truth in The Book of Mormon:
The devil is sneaky and will do anything and everything to destroy us. We are at war and it is our responsibility to choose which path we will trod- the one to God or the one away from Him.
Other great related resources:
"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.If we're not sure, how can we judge between good and evil? Moroni continues to explain how the Lord himself has given us the ability to judge between good and evil:
"But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which 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" (Moroni 7:12-15).
"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.Awhile back I learned that it's sometimes hard to judge if something is evil, in this case ask if it is good and brings you closer to God. If you can't honestly say that it does, then it is not good, thus it is evil because it takes you away from God towards the devil.
"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" (Moroni 7:16-17).
The devil is sneaky and will do anything and everything to destroy us. We are at war and it is our responsibility to choose which path we will trod- the one to God or the one away from Him.
Other great related resources:
While the Devil’s business is to tempt humanity to rebel against God, and that constitutes evil, the potential to choose evil without temptation exists under the dispensation of moral agency.
There existed the impulse to evil before Lucifer became Satan, for he was not tempted by an evil power or entity greater than himself, but his own thoughts permitted him to rebel against God.
That choice is open to all of Heavenly father’s spirit children. They are permitted to choose for themselves whether to yield to the impulse to do good or to the impulse to do evil.
It is essential that we do not take the position that because we are tempted to do evil that we have no choice in what we do.
That we remain solely responsible for our actions is laid out with brilliant clarity by Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:13:
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” </I?
The Nuremberg Defense, "The Devil made me do it," will not work at Judgement Day.
It is essential that we do not see ourselves as helpless victims of Satan's blandishments and enticings, but appreciate that every mortal being is stronger than Satan's greatest power.
I’m not sure I agree with “Awhile back I learned that it’s sometimes hard to judge if something is evil, in this case ask if it is good and brings you closer to God. If you can’t honestly say that it does, then it is not good, thus it is evil…” There are gray areas. I seriously doubt God cares whether I had the blueberry oatmeal or toast and an egg this morning.