S. Michael Wilcox - Dont Leap with the Sheep: And Other Scriptural Strategies for Avoiding Satans Snares

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First printing in hardbound 2001
First printing in paperbound 2007

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wilcox, S. Michael.

Don't leap with the sheep: and other scriptural strategies for avoiding Satan's snares/S. Michael Wilcox.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 1-57008-719-9 (alk. paper) (hardbound)

ISBN 978-1-59038-901-0 (paperbound)

1. Spiritual warfare. 2. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsDoctrines. 3. Mormon ChurchDoctrines. I. Title.

BT975.W52 2001
248.4'89332dc21 2001004410

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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INTRODUCTION

CLEARING THE MISTS

Only one man was never blinded by the mists of the adversary, and that was the Lord Jesus Christ. [He] was in all points tempted like as we are, wrote Paul, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15.) All the rest of us have had our judgment dimmed by the darkness spread by the tempter. Even one as righteous as Nephi cried out in the anguish of his soul, O wretched man that I am! I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins. (2 Nephi 4:1719.)

When Nephi wrote that expression, he added an eloquent prayer beseeching the Lord to help him resist every effort to divert him from the true purposes of life: Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin? May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road! O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my waybut clear my way before me. (2 Nephi 4:3133.)

If even the most righteous felt a need to pray this way, what does that teach the rest of us? We may use other words, but the emotion and the earnestness must be the same. This is particularly true since we live in a world where the powers of darkness prevail upon the earth, among the children of men. (D&C 38:11.) It is also true in light of the eternal consequences of this life, which are too important for us to fail.

ENTHRONED IN GLORY

Brigham Young described the importance of life by saying, Mankind are organized of element designed to endure to all eternity. It is brought together, organized, and capacitated to receive knowledge and intelligence, to be enthroned in glory, to be made angels, Godsbeings who will hold control over the elements, and have power by their word to command the creation and redemption of worlds, or to extinguish suns by their breath, and disorganize worlds, hurling them back into their chaotic state. This is what you and I are created for. (Journal of Discourses, 26 vols. [London: Latter-day Saints Book Depot, 185486], 3:356.)

Since the Lord knew we would live in a mortal world where the mists of darkness would be so dominant, and since he understands the eternal consequences of life, it would be surprising indeed if he did not include in his great plan of happiness the means necessary for his children to see through the mists and obtain the celestial prize. This would, of necessity, be a central theme in all his communications with his children on the earth.

THE BEST BOOKS

My grandfather was a great hero to me as I grew up. He allowed me to work with him and would discuss scripture stories with me as though I were an equal even when I was just a boy. I remember vividly the image of my grandpa sitting in his big green rocking chair with the Bible open on his lap. I can smell the leather and feel the tiny ripples and soft creases of the binding. I can hear the sound the pages made as he turned them. There is no sound equal to that sacred rustle of the thin leaves of what God himself called the best books. I believe that the Lord smiles when he hears that sound ascending from our homes. Few memories of my childhood bring a greater warmth of security than this one of my grandfather. I believe that the Lord anchored that memory in my mind as a future guide.

When the potential to receive a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory (D&C 132:16) rests upon us; when we view our own frailness in facing the opposition spoken of by Nephi; when we feel compelled to pray, Father in Heaven, don't let us fail! Clear the mists of darkness from before us that we may partake of the fruit of the tree of life! there is calm assurance available. If we listen carefully, we will hear the Lord answer, I will! I can! I have! When these times come in my own life, into my mind a memory distills. I see the familiar face of my grandfather, feel the soft leather binding of his scriptures, and hear again that holy rustle of pages turning through his fingers. The individual stories recorded on those sacred leaves come to mind, and the mists never fail to clear.

CHAPTER ONE

THE FINAL BATTLE

The first general conference session I ever attended made a deep impression on me. I was seventeen and had waited in line outside the Tabernacle several hours to obtain a seat in the gallery. President Hugh B. Brown was a counselor in the First Presidency at the time. It was the middle of the 60s, and the moral climate of America was in decline. At the end of his address, President Brown spoke directly to the young men in the audience, and his words went to the center of my soul:

I hope that every young man under the sound of my voice will resolve tonight, I'm going to keep myself clean. I'm going to serve the Lord. I am going to prepare every way I can for future service, because I want to be prepared when the final battle shall come. And some of you young men are going to engage in that battle. Some of you are going to engage in the final testing time, which is coming and is closer to us than we know.