“It Is by the Power of the Resurrection of the Holy One of Israel”

D. Kelly Ogden, Andrew C. Skinner

Were it not for God’s wisdom, mercy, and grace in assuring that we will all be resurrected, our spirits “must become subject to that angel who fell,” the devil, and actually become like him, become his messengers, and live forever in misery, forever “shut out” of God’s presence. In other words, without the resurrection every human being would become a son (or daughter) of perdition.

Satan, the great deceiver, has power to transform himself “nigh unto an angel of light” (see also 2 Corinthians 11:14; Revelation 16:14; Alma 30:53; D&C 129:8). His purpose is to deceive, were it possible, the very elect (Joseph Smith–Matthew 1:22). The evil one stirs up people to do all kinds of secret sins in the dark. Even though the devil may seem to appear with light, he actually has no power to shine any light into anyone’s life.

God is good, as evidenced by his helping all humankind to escape from evil. The greatest evil is the awful, double-headed monster, death and hell, which would keep us away from an eternal family. And resurrection relieves at least some of the damning effects of that awful monster.

Verse by Verse: The Book of Mormon: Vol. 1

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