Satan

Lucifer, Satan, or the Devil

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has unique doctrine concerning Satan. Satan, also known as Lucifer, is a spirit child of God, just like all of us were. He was with us in the premortal life, and was even called the "Son of the Morning" in Isaiah. Latter-day Saint doctrine teaches that he had much responsibility and authority. He had great influence over those around him. But instead of following Heavenly Father's plan, he became desirous of more power and used his influence on others to lead them away from God.

Isaiah 14:12 states, "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!" Satan's downfall came as he proposed a plan that would take away the agency of men, which is an eternal principle valued by God. He also became consumed by his desire for glory and power. Elder ElRay L. Christensen said this about Satan,

That which Satan sought as being "evil before God" was to force all men to do the will of God. Using compulsion or force he offered to ‘save’ every person, and for so doing he demanded the honor and the glory that belongs to God. In contrast to Satan’s proposition, the Lord’s plan permitted individual progress by giving us the right to choose between good and evil (ElRay L. Christiansen, “The Adversary,” New Era, Sept. 1975, 4).

When Christ’s plan was chosen instead of his, Satan became angry and rebelled against God. He was so convincing that one third of all of Heavenly Father’s spirit children followed Satan (see D&C 29: 36; Moses 4: 1-4; Abr. 3: 27-28). Lucifer and his followers were eventually cast out of heaven and were denied the opportunity to ever have mortal bodies. They are eternally cut off from the presence of God. Now Satan and his followers work to thwart Heavenly Father’s plan and lead his children to sin and spiritual death (see Rev. 12: 9; 2 Ne. 2: 27; 9: 8-9).

Satan is the enemy of the righteous and those working to bring about God’s will. He is a necessary opposite to God. Latter-day Saints view Satan as a literal being and believe that we must have opposition so that we can choose between good and evil (see D&C 29: 39). An apostle, George Q. Canon stated, “the adversary ... aims to destroy us. Angry that his plan was not adopted in the heavens; angry at his failure in the rebellion against God and at his expulsion from the courts of glory; angry at his being deprived of a body, he and those who fell with him have been eager ever since that dreadful time to destroy their brethren and sisters who did not rebel with them. We who are here tonight, as well as all who are upon the earth, kept our first estate. We did not listen to Lucifer. He was a mighty angel; he had exceedingly great power in the presence of God. He used his great influence with the family of God to convince them that the plan which he proposed was the better one, and to persuade them to reject the plan of God and his Son Jesus, our elder brother. Failing in this, he has, apparently, declared war against all his brethren and sisters who were honorable and maintained their allegiance to God. Therefore he is continually spreading snares for the feet of the children of men.”

Church leaders are greatly concerned about the large number of people that do not believe Satan is a literal being. Elder Marion G. Romney stated, “A corollary to the pernicious falsehood that God is dead is the equally pernicious doctrine that there is no devil. Satan himself is the father of both of these lies. To believe them is to surrender to him. Such surrender has always led, is leading now, and will continue to lead men to destruction.” The scriptures clearly teach that Satan is real (see Abraham 3:27-28, Moses 1:12-23, Moses 4:1-4, Isaiah 14:12-15, 2 Corinthians 11:12-15, Revelations 12:3-4, 2 Nephi 2:17, 2 Nephi 9:8, D&C 29:36-37).

Other Links: http://lds.about.com/library/weekly/previousyears/aa073101a.htm Church Publication Search http://www.mormon.org/question/faq/category/answer/0,9777,1601-1-1371-16,00.html http://www.mormon.org/question/faq/category/answer/0,9777,1601-1-1372-16,00.html http://scriptures.lds.org/gsd/devil