“That Ye May Not Be Tempted Above That Which Ye Can Bear”

Joseph F. McConkie, Robert L. Millet

Too often people have taken license with the following words of Paul the Apostle:

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

They have falsely supposed that they could hurl themselves into the path of sin, enter into forbidden territory, or wander briefly from that road which is strait and narrow-and then be divinely delivered from spiritual destruction. Such people are deceived. They have bought into another of Satan’s lies. Unless they repent, they will lose their souls.

We cannot repeatedly tempt God and expect him to keep us from the effects of our shortsightedness. Rather, as Alma here teaches, we must be vigilant, ever watchful, careful and cautious so as not to slip into sin. The promise of the Almighty is that there is no situation out of which God cannot deliver us and no temptation that he cannot empower us against-if we are seeking with all our heart to avoid the taints of the world, if we are striving to navigate the gospel path with fidelity and devotion.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 3

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