Deceive Me Not
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Before Reading
Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:
- How does Elder Stevenson illustrate the concept of deception using personal anecdotes?
- What strategies does Elder Stevenson suggest to resist Satan's deceptions?
- Why does Elder Stevenson emphasize the importance of knowing our eternal identity?
- How does obedience to commandments help us avoid deception and find lasting happiness?
- What role do prophets play in guiding us towards truth and away from deception?
Topics
Understanding the Deceptions of Satan
Elder Stevenson warns of the deceptions of Satan, who seeks to lead us away from truth and towards falsehoods. Satan tries to make us question reality and ignore or replace eternal truths with more pleasing illusions. This can have serious consequences, as we can be led astray from the path of righteousness.
Satan, the father of lies and the great deceiver, would have us question things as they really are and either ignore eternal truths or replace them with something that appears more pleasing.
He has made a reputation for himself convincing mortals that skunks are just kittens or that, with an application of paint, you can turn a Labrador into a Dalmatian!
- What are some examples of Satan's deceptions mentioned in the talk?
- How does Satan attempt to lead us away from truth?
- Can you think of a time when you were deceived by something that seemed pleasing but was not true?
- How can you better discern truth from deception in your own life?
Recognizing Our Divine Identity
Elder Stevenson emphasizes the importance of knowing our divine identity as children of God. This knowledge can help us resist Satan's deceptions and stand firm in our faith. He uses the example of Moses, who rebuked Satan by affirming his identity as a son of God.
To summarize, in this marvelous vision, Moses beheld God, and he also learned something important about himself: he was indeed a son of God.
In other words, Moses said: "You cannot deceive me, for I know who I am. I was created in the image of God. You don't have His light and glory. So why should I worship you or fall prey to your deception?"
- Why is recognizing our divine identity important in resisting Satan's deceptions?
- How did Moses use his understanding of his divine identity to resist Satan?
- How does knowing your divine identity influence your decisions and actions?
- How can you strengthen your understanding of your divine identity?
Receiving Heavenly Help and Commandments
Elder Stevenson testifies that God continues to guide us through His servants and provides commandments to help us resist challenges and temptations. These commandments, given through prophets, lead to happiness in this life and glory in the next.
The way is simple. Through His servants, God speaks to us, His children, and gives us commandments.
God continues to give commandments to our living prophet today.
- How do commandments help us resist challenges and temptations?
- What is the role of prophets in providing divine guidance and commandments?
- How have the commandments guided you in making righteous decisions?
- How can you better heed the counsel and commandments given by the prophets?
Experiencing Lasting Joy through Obedience
Elder Stevenson teaches that obedience to God's commandments is the key to avoiding deception and experiencing lasting joy. Despite Satan's attempts to deceive us into thinking that obedience will rob us of happiness, righteousness brings blessings and joy into our lives.
This divine formula is rather simple: righteousness, or obedience to commandments, brings blessings, and blessings bring happiness, or joy, into our lives.
May we recognize Satan's deceptions for what they are. May we withstand and see through the lies and influences of the one who seeks to destroy our souls and steal from us our present joy and future glory.
- How does obedience to commandments lead to lasting joy and happiness?
- What are some of Satan's deceptions regarding obedience and happiness?
- How have you experienced joy and blessings through obedience to commandments?
- How can you better resist Satan's deceptions about obedience and happiness?
Staying Faithful and Vigilant
Elder Stevenson urges us to remain faithful and vigilant to discern truth and hear the voice of the Lord. He affirms that the only way to discern truth is through the Spirit and by heeding the words of God's servants.
My dear brothers and sisters, we must continue to be faithful and vigilant, for so is the only way to discern truth and to hear the voice of the Lord through His servants.
We are the Saints of Almighty God, the hope of Israel! Will we falter? "Shall we shrink or shun the fight? No! ... To God's command, soul, heart, and hand, faithful and true we will ever stand."
- Why is it important to stay faithful and vigilant?
- How can we better discern truth and hear the voice of the Lord?
- How have you experienced the guidance of the Spirit in discerning truth?
- How can you strengthen your faith and vigilance in following God's commandments?
