God’s Power vs Satan’s Power

I had a friend ask me the following questions so I decided to answer them in the form a blog post.

How does God get his power? #

Before I attempt to answer the question, I’d like to review some doctrines (found in scripture) that have served as “building blocks” to me coming to the conclusions that I have. Many of these doctrines can be found in Cleon Skousen’s talk The Meaning of the Atonement.

1. There are things to act, and things to be acted upon

   And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hat created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon.“ (2 Nephi 2:14)

   Father Lehi says that everything in the Universe is made of two things. This is where we get the building blocks concept "Something to act and something to be acted upon.”

2. Intelligences “act” for themselves

   Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth was not created or made, neither indeed can be. All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence. (D&C 93:29-30)

   These Intelligences are independent and act voluntarily, they are not compelled and the heavens wait on them until they obey. They don’t do anything until they’re ready, just like us.

3. Matter is “acted upon”

   And the Gods watched those things which they had ordered until they obeyed. (Abraham 4:18)

   And the Gods organized the earth to bring forth grass from its own seed, and the herb to bring forth herb from its own seed, yielding seed after his kind; and the earth to bring forth the tree from its own seed, yielding fruit, whose seed could only bring forth the same in itself, after his kind; and the Gods saw that they were obeyed. (Abraham 4: 12)

   And the Gods pronounced the dry land, Earth; and the gathering together of the waters, pronounced they, Great Waters; and the Gods saw that they were obeyed.

   For behold, the dust of the earth moveth hither and thither, to the dividing asunder, at the command of our great and everlasting God. Yea, behold at his voice do the hills and the mountains tremble and quake. (Helaman 12:8-9)

4. Matter and Intelligence are the building blocks of everything

   There is life or intelligence in all matter throughout the vast extent of all the eternities: it is in the rock, in the sand, in water, air, the gases, and in short, in every description and organization of matter, whether it be solid, liquid or gaseous particle operating within particle (Brigham Young)

   Matter by itself cannot do much, but when it is attached to Intelligence, it will listen and obey God’s command. (This also applies to authorized Priesthood holders. See Jacob 4:6 and 1 Nephi 20:13).

When Christ organized the universe, he simply said, “let there be light” and it was so. The Intelligences listened and re-organized themselves in such a way caused the lights to appear. Likewise, when an authorized priesthood holder commands a sick person to be healed, again, the Intelligences listen and re-organize themselves in such a way so that the subject no longer has issues. All of this brings up a very interesting question, “Why do the Intelligences listen to God?”.

Why? #

In response to the previous question, I’m sure you’re thinking, “Well because he’s God!”. While that is true, have you ever thought to ask yourself, “what makes God a God?”?

• God’s power is his honor

  And it came to pass that Adam, being tempted of the devil—for, behold, the devil was before Adam, for he rebelled against me, saying, Give me thine honor, which is my power; and also a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency; (D&C 29:36)

  And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor (Moses 4:1)

  God continually walks the razor’s edge of perfection. That is why the Intelligences listen to him, they respect and honor him because of his perfection. Alma instructs us that if God were to do something that was “unjust” He would cease to be God; he is simply saying that if He were to do something “wrong” (he never would) the Intelligences would stop respecting Him, and he would lose his power govern. (SEE Alma 42: 13, 22, 25)

How does Satan get his power? #

Satan is the manifestation of perfect knowledge with zero light. As you know, Satan and his followers have not had the veil placed over their minds, so they remember life in the preexistence perfectly. They have had “thousands of ages” to learn, practice and improve their skills as a tempter. Satan’s power comes from his knowledge; he perfectly understands science and the laws the control the universe.

Does he know our thoughts? #

[Satan] will appear to us in the person of a friend or a relative in whom we have confidence. He has power to place thoughts in our minds and to whisper to us in unspoken impressions to entice us to satisfy our appetites or carnal desires and in various ways he plays upon our weaknesses and desires. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Melchizedek Priesthood Course of Study, 1972–73, p. 298.)

Surely Satan and his followers have some knowledge of our thoughts and tendencies. He has knowledge that is superior to man’s knowledge, but he lacks the wisdom to properly use his knowledge for good purposes.

Furthermore, think about the “thousands of ages” that you spent with God in the preexistence with our eternal family. There, you surely developed deep and personal relationships with at least some of your heavenly siblings. Statistically speaking, it is likely that some of your closest “friends” that you had gained while in the pre-earth life were deceived by Lucifer and lost their first estate. Now, fast forward to the day you were born on earth and Satan is ready to assign a tempter (or group of tempters) to be with you and try you for as long as you are alive. Who do you think he is going to choose? Clearly, it is going to be the people who knew you the best in the preexistence, people who probably know you better than you might know yourself. They know your personality, how you think, and where your weaknesses are. No wonder they are so good! They’re cheating! It’s not fair! At times, it does seem like that, but remember this:

Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. (2 Kings 6:16)

You have a host of ancestors who DO love you and are waging war against your tempters to make sure that you make it out ok.

What does to mean when it says Satan has power over water? #

God (and Christ) LOVE symbolism, and they do so for many reasons.

1. Easily translated
2. Provides “levels” of understanding. (everybody gets what they’re ready for)
3. Another witness - Symbolism targets the other side of your brain.

Water is a little bit tricky when it comes to symbolism because it has multiple meanings, based on context.

1. “Living water” - symbolizes Christ and his teachings.
2. Water - baptism
3. Bodies of water - symbolizes the “world.”

When Jesus walked on water, that was symbolic of him overcoming the world and being unaffected by it.

I don’t think that Satan has any more power over water than he does anything else. However, I do think that that scripture is speaking symbolically, saying that he has power over the “world”.