Knowing Good from Evil

K. Douglas Bassett

D&C 46:8, 27; Omni 1:25; Ether 4:12; Moses 6:56; Isa. 5:20; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 202-215; Improvement Era, Apr. 1947, p. 201

“We must realize that all things, including information disseminated by our schools, churches, and government, should be judged according to the words of the prophets, especially the living Prophet. This procedure coupled with the understanding which will come through the Spirit of the Lord, if we are living in compliance with the scriptures, is the only sure foundation and basis of judgment. Any other course of action leaves us muddled, despondent, wandering in shades of gray, easy targets for Satan.” (Ezra Taft Benson, A Nation Asleep, p. 16)
“With the Lord there are no ‘gray areas.’ We are for Him or we are not. He asks us to serve Him with ALL our hearts, might and minds, and no one can give his all and still hold something back. But many nevertheless try to create ‘gray areas’ to justify their compromises.” (Church News, Editorial Page, Feb. 25, 1967)
“We can help yielding to wrong influences and being quarrelsome and selfish. We can help giving way to the spirit of theft, and we can resist the spirit of lust. God has given us power to resist these things, that our hearts may be kept free from them and also from doubt… . Whenever darkness fills our minds, we may know that we are not possessed of the Spirit of God, and we must get rid of it. When we are filled with the Spirit of God, we are filled with joy, with peace and with happiness no matter what our circumstances may be; for it is a spirit of cheerfulness and of happiness.” (George Q. Cannon, Gospel Truths, pp. 16-17)

Latter-Day Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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