 |
Gramps,
I enjoy reading your column quite a bit. I have just read with great
interest the two most recent questions, the two regarding millions of earths
and Christ the Savior for all for them. My question is would you please
explain in conjunction to those answers if Satan is also allowed to tempt
the people of other earths or only this one and if not, are we the only part
of the human family that are tempted? Thanks in advance. Will, from Idaho |
Dear
Will,
There
is undoubtedly much in the works of God that he has chosen not to reveal to us.
To Moses he said,
And
worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own
purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten. . . .
But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. (Moses 1:33-35).
So
I believe that you will not find in the scriptures any specific reference that
reveals that Satan influences the inhabitants of other planets. We may
conjecture about such things, but the truth will only be known when it is
revealed from heaven. Nevertheless, let us conjecture for a moment.
We
do know that the Lord, Jesus Christ provided an infinite atonement, and is the
Savior of all the worlds. We know that in the pre-mortal spirit world Satan held
great sway with many of the children of the Father, and many followed after him.
It is unlikely that all those who love Satan more than God and seek to promote
his works were sent here to this one world. We know
that there are many telestial kingdoms. Wickedness and opposition to
truth are characteristic of the telestial kingdom. It would seem that wherever
wickedness exists it is authored, sponsored and promoted by the Adversary.
Although,
as we mentioned above, we find nothing in the scriptures that specifically
declares the influence of Satan on other worlds, there are come apocryphal
writings that do make that declaration. Hugh Nibley in his Collected Works of
Hugh Nibley, 1,7, p.195-96, records a statement from the Psalms of Thomas as
follows:
“When
God sent forth a ship of light ‘laden with the riches of the Living,’ Satan
and his pirate crew coming ‘I know not from where’ seized ‘the treasure of
the Mighty One’ and ‘distributed it among their worlds,’ until they were
forced to give it up” (Psalms of Thomas 3:1-15).
Gramps