Tempter's Tool of the Trade

Feeling the spirit is directly tied to keeping the commandments. The adversary knows that law and therefore, repeatedly tempts us mortals to disregard the commandments of God with the intention to reduce light within us and to make us less able to feel the spirit.

“And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers.” (D&C 93:39)

“And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.” (Alma 12:11)

Satan more fully understands than do we that as we harden our hearts, rebel against truth, disobey the word of God, commit sin, live untrue doctrines because of the traditions of our fathers, and fail to repent, our ability and connection with God is greatly reduced. Since we generally fail to sufficiently recognize this important relationship between obedience to God and our ability to hear Him, Satan continually uses it as his firsthand tool of the trade and too often succeeds.

Soooo …. We do not hear Him because we cannot feel Him because we lost the light we previously had because of our disobedience. Since we hear Him less, feel less, and perhaps care less, we tend to disobey more and it becomes a fast vicious spiral downhill into the captivity of the devil and the chains of hell!

The alternative is to be like Jesus: “He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them.” (D&C 20:22) Then the upward spiral ascends as we obey what we know, receive further light and truth, and continually repeat!