Can
the Burning of the Bosom and the Stupor of Thought
be Duplicated by Satan?
Copyright © 2001
Dear
Annette,
Last
Sunday, my son who told me that his priesthood leader told the class that Satan
can duplicate the burning of the bosom and the stupor of thought.
Since this was directly against what I had taught my son, he was pleased
to set me straight. I told him that
his priesthood leader was mistaken. He
has to be, doesn't he? Please
answer letter this as soon as possible.
Sign
me,
Heartsick!
Between 1906-1907, the First Presidency (Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, Anthon H. Lund) issued several statements dealing with this very subject. They said, “Let it not be forgotten that the evil one has great power in the earth, and that by every possible means he seeks to darken the minds of men, and then offers them falsehood and deception in the guise of truth. Satan is a skilful imitator, and as genuine gospel truth is given the world in ever-increasing abundance, so he spreads the counterfeit coin of false doctrine. Beware of his spurious currency, it will purchase for you nothing but disappointment, misery and spiritual death. The "father of lies" he has been called, and such an adept has he become, through the ages of practice in his nefarious work, that were it possible he would deceive the very elect.”
From their
words we realize that Satan will try to deceive us in any way possible. But does
he have the power to destroy our lifeline to God?
If he can replicate the burning of the bosom and the stupor of thought,
how can we know what is truth? Smith,
Winder, and Lund (1906-1907) further state, “The gifts of the Spirit and the
powers of the holy Priesthood are of God, they
are given for the blessing of the people, for their encouragement, and for the
strengthening of their faith. This Satan knows full well, therefore he seeks by
imitation -- miracles to blind and deceive the children of God.
…
But that we
may not be deceived, led into error, tossed to and fro by every wind of
doctrine, the foolish vagaries or the cunning craftiness of men, or follow the
false cry of, Lo, here is Christ, or there, God has instituted the true
order of communication between himself and man, ….”
Smith,
Winder, and Lund states that there is a true order of communication.
They intimate that it is only between God and man.
If this were true then that would mean that Satan has no power to destroy
this communication.
Where in the
scriptures does it speak of this true order of communication?
In D&C 9, it sets forth
how we can get answers from the Lord. Since
this is the way that Christ, himself, set up through the prophet Joseph Smith,
one can reasonably assume that this is the true order of communication with the
Lord. We can also assume that the
Lord’s communication with us, through the burning of the bosom and the
stupor of thought, is protected communication and is kept from Satan’s
duplication.
If the Lord
allowed Satan to destroy this communication line, how would the Lord tell the
prophet how to run the church? The
Lord sends inspiration to the prophet the same as he does to you and me.
Then we have to find out where the thoughts came from.
Were they from God or Satan? We
can only do that through the steps set forth in D&C 9:8-9
which states:
8.
But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind;
then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your
bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.
9. But if it be not right you
shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall
cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that
which is sacred save it be given you from me.
When we
follow the true order of communication set by God, we can be assured that the
answers we get are from God. This
is not to say that we, in our narrow point of view, will totally understand all
that the Lord has told us at that moment. We
are told that we will learn line upon line, precept upon precept; here a little
there a little, until we come to know total knowledge that the Father has for
us. See: D&C 98:12
12.
For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and
I will try you and prove you herewith.
The Lord has
promised to try our faith, because of this we must realize that sometimes the
answers, which we know are from God, may seen impossible.
We are not privy to the full picture that God has and he is testing us to
see if we will continue to follow him even when things seem impossible.
Remember, to the Lord all things are possible.
When we
receive the Lord’s word and we know through the true order of communication
that it is from him, we must follow his words in faith and not murmur.
The Lord told Oliver Cowdery in D&C 9:6:
6.
Do not murmur, my son, for it is wisdom in me that I have dealt with you
after this manner.
It behooves
each of us, to follow the Lord in faith and let him do with us as he deems good
for our growth and development, knowing that we can trust the words we gain
through the true order of communication, that of the burning of the bosom and
the stupor of thought!
Reference
Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, Anthon H. Lund : The First Presidency. Improvement Era, Vol. 10, 1906-1907, pp. 929-943.