Know your enemy

We are all warriors on the spiritual battlefront. At stake is salvation, the eternal welfare of our souls. If we are to succeed in defeating our enemy the devil, we must learn his tactics so we can avoid falling victim to his attacks.

Alma 47 has some great lessons that teach us about the nature of Satan. Amalickiah was most definitely skilled in the arts of the devil. Here's what he teaches us about how Satan will try to capture us.

Verse 4: He is very subtle. As Elder Uchtdorf says, only a matter of degrees can mean the difference between arriving at our destination and catastrophe.

Verse 4: He has a plan. Satan knows us better than we know ourselves. He does not have the limitation of the veil so he has full knowledge of our weaknesses.

Verse 8: He seeks to gain favor in our eyes. He will try to make evil seem desirable and pleasurable. His goal is to make us want what he offers.

Verse 10: He is most active at night. When we are tired and weak, Satan is at his busiest trying to catch us in his snares.

Verse 10: He operates in secret. He will work in a way so that others don't know how he is trying to get you. He wants to talk to you alone.

Verse 10: He literally wants you to come down from your position. He wants you to bring yourself down to his level.

Verse 11 & 12: He is very persistent and patient. He will continue to tempt you until you show signs of weakness.

Verse 12: He will get as close as he can to you without giving away his position to try and capture you.

Verse 12: He will try to lull you away by making you feel secure. He will do what he can to make you feel that you are in no danger.

Verse 13: He will promise you power, wealth, or whatever your currency is in order to trick you into giving up that which is of the most worth.

Verse 18: He will use others to do his dirty work. If he gets close enough, he will destroy you.

Verse 22: He tries to appear harmless. He gets close by not disclosing the danger that you are in.

Verse 24: He is ruthless. Once he gets close enough to you, he stabs you in the heart.

Verse 26: He is a complete liar. He will twist the truth in order to get you to believe what he wants.

Verse 27: He will use your love against you. He will try to manipulate something that is good to fit his purposes. If he can make you angry, he can blind you to his attack.

Verse 30: He is a total fraud.

Verse 34: He will work with others in secret combinations to keep the truth hidden.

Verse 35: He is cunning and will not stop until he has obtained what he desires.

Now that we know some of his tactics, we must formulate our battle plan. Just like GI Joe once said, "Now you know, and knowing is half the battle." Recognize how satan is trying to work on you. Build up your defenses, and when appropriate, even engage in an attack of your own in order to weaken his power over you (Alma 46:31).

Here are a few thoughts.

1. Recognize the subtle ways he tries to manipulate your thoughts during the day. Recognize that when you think that what you're doing isn't "all that bad" that it isn't "all that good" either. Small acts of disobedience only lead to greater acts of disobedience.

2. Recognize your weaknesses and anticipate the attack. We are promised that by acknowledging our weaknesses and trusting in the Lord that our weaknesses may become strengths (Ether 12:27). Don't be stupid and put yourself in a position that gives satan more power over you. If you have problems with drinking, stay as far away from bars as possible. If you have problems with pornography, don't leave your computer in the back room of the house and don't spend time "surfing" the net.

3. Don't fall for the lies that people that don't live the gospel are having a good time. Wickedness never was happiness. There is peace in laying your head on your pillow at night and knowing that you've tried your best to do what is right.

4. Recognize that satan works his hardest when we are physically drained. Keep your guard up, especially at night.

5. If you are facing what you feel is a private battle with sin, get others involved, and don't fight the battle in secret. Your bishop or priesthood leaders can offer help that will help you overcome your trials if you acknowledge your weakness before them. As agents of the Lord, Bishops have special insight and inspiration that allows them to help you form a better battle plan.

6. Recognize that what satan wants is for you to be miserable like himself. If you stumble, pick yourself back up and try to regain the ground that you lost.

7. Recognize that satan will continue to pester over and over and over again. He has all the time in the world to tempt you. Keep your guard up at all times. No wonder we are commanded to pray always that we may come off conqueror.

8. Stand in holy places. Satan can not get as close as he would like if we are striving to keep the spirit with us. Darkness has to leave when it is consumed by the light of the gospel.

9. Don't get over-confident in your abilities to withstand satan's temptations. Recognize that he's been at this game a lot longer than you have, so stay as far away as possible. The ONLY person on this earth who has been able to overcome all that satan put before Him is the Lord Jesus Christ. Anyone else who trusts in their own abilities to overcome satan will fail.

10. Don't fall into the trap of coveting, pride, or worldliness. The only thing any of us take with us when we leave this world is our knowledge.

11. Recognize when others might be doing the work of the devil and do your best to avoid them.

12. Control your anger and emotions. If satan can get you to act out in anger, he can get you to do things that you would normally consider irrational. Anger separates us from the Lord because we can not feel the Spirit and be angry at the same time. Do everything you can to keep the love of the Lord in your heart at all times.

We can win the battle, if we trust in our General, the Lord Jesus Christ. He has already won the victory. It is up to us to determine if we are on the Lord's side or if we will choose damnation by falling captive to the devil. Hopefully by recognizing how the devil attacks you, you can fortify your defenses and leverage a powerful offense when directed by the Lord.