Catching Lizards
Recently we vacationed on the Na Pali coast, the northwest shore of Kauai. The word Na Pali literally means “the cliffs.” It’s one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever vacationed. The turbulent waters and sheer cliffs that drop straight down over a thousand feet posed an ominous warning. Travel without a properly trained and experienced guide, in spite of the natural beauty and pristine surroundings, can be extremely dangerous.
While exploring we encountered a variety of lizards relaxing in the tropical sun. For a brief instant I remembered being a teenager hiking in the Santa Monica mountains. Often we caught the common blue belly lizards using a filament of grass tied to form a slip noose.
Using a fiber from a local plant I carefully fashioned a makeshift noose. Soon I spotted a lizard comfortably sunning itself. Sheltered by a tropical fern, it was unaware of my presence. I carefully threaded the noose between the fronds of the fern. The fiber wafted in the breeze lightly tapping the lizard on its back. It tilted its head and looked curiously at the noose. After several attempts I was able to slip the noose over the lizard’s head and around it’s neck. With a gentle tug I lifted the lizard up into the air and it’s weight cinched the noose tight so it couldn't escape. “Just like like the good ole days,” I thought to myself (no reptiles were harmed during the writing of this post).
Watching the lizard attempt to free itself reminded me of a TV program that aired in the 60’s and 70’s. I was feeling a little like Marlin Perkins, the host of the Wild Kingdom sponsored by Mutual of Omaha. He often introduced the commercial spots by relating them to a scene in the show. They went something like this, "Just as the mother lion protects her cubs, you can protect your children with an insurance policy from Mutual of Omaha..."
In my mind flashed these words, in Marlin Perkins voice, “Just as the unsuspecting lizard can be easily caught using the familiar, unthreatening thread-like fiber of a plant, so too can Satan entrap us with his cleverly disguised snares.”
There are many snares, hooks, traps and pits dug by our adversary and his minions. In the Book of Mormon we read of the account of Amulek as he was confronted by wicked men who attempted to trap him in his words. They desired to have him slain or cast into prison for his testimony of Christ.
“Now they knew not that Amulek could know of their designs. But it came to pass as they began to question him, he perceived their thoughts, and he said unto them: O ye wicked and perverse generation, ye lawyers and hypocrites, for ye are laying the foundations of the devil; for ye are laying traps and snares to catch the holy ones of God.”
Wouldn’t it be great if we could know how Satan plans to trap us in sin, or snare us with the lure of ‘seemingly insignificant’ or ‘little sins’ or mire us down with thoughts of inadequacy, imperfection and guilt?
The Book of Mormon prophet Nephi warned that the devil would lead many “by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever” (2 Ne. 26:22).
So what is a flaxen cord? And how can it be compared to sin?
A flaxen cord is consists of fine, light-colored fiber made from flax—its individual strands soft, delicate and easily broken. But as a cord—multiple filaments woven together—it becomes strong and unyielding. If we continually rationalize our involvement with “little sins,” we are being subtly, ever so gently, led away by Satan until eventually we will are bound with his “strong cords.”
It is important to be aware of the means by which Satan makes some choices appear small or inconsequential, when in reality they lead to greater sins?
The Apostle Paul said,
“lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
President Ezra Taft Benson declared: “The Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. … It fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil in our day.”
Satan desires to make all men miserable like he is. How does he set out to cause such pain and suffering? The following is a partial list of Satan's devices;
- Rationalization
- Complacency
- Apathy
- There is no devil
- There is no sin
- Desensitization
Rationalization
“And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this;”
C. S. Lewis gave us a keen insight into devilish tactics. In a fictional letter, the master devil, Screwtape, instructs the apprentice devil Wormwood, who is in training to become a more experienced devil:
“You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. … It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. … Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
Examples of sins that are commonly rationalized to be insignificant, harmless or of little consequence include; telling half-truths, viewing objectionable clips on youtube, watching movies with foul language or inappropriate visual content, listening to music with inappropriate lyrics, reading degrading books and magazines or taking unprescribed stimulants to help you stay awake at work or during school.
In these instances rationalizations such as; “it’s not that bad,” “everyone’s doing it,” “there’s only a little nudity or profanity in the film,” and “the educational benefits outweigh the negative content of the book, besides the book has no rating (R, PG-13, etc),” are bantered about by individuals wanting others to accompany them in their “little indiscretions.” As if the number of persons participating in a particular sin can somehow divide the accountability we each have for our own actions.
How utterly ridiculous this reasoning sounds when exposed to the light of day. Sadly, thoughts like these are all too common when we commence down the slippery slopes of rationalization. And if you think about it, aren’t most rationalizations just cleverly reasoned excuses for failing to do what we know, deep down inside, we should be doing?
Another way to view the absurdity of this thought process is to imagine a small boat in the midst of crashing waves on a tempest tossed sea. The ill fated passengers stagger, seasick from the ever changing the secular narrative of right and wrong (situational ethics). They entice, reason and beckon those who are standing on the firm footing of the shore, albeit close to the edge, as if the added weight of more passengers on the sinking vessel will somehow give it the needed ballast or buoyancy to remain afloat. But instead the added weight hastens the demise of the floundering vessel along with its passengers.
Complacency
Satan lulls some away through complacency saying, “all is well in Zion.” Complacency is like a powerful sedative that weakens resolve and replaces vigilance on the tower walls, allowing transgression to become encamped in our midst and penetrate our defenses. Meanwhile as the unsuspecting person (s) fail to heed the warning signs to move higher ground the tides of filth rise. Before they know it they up to their necks in all manner of sinful behavior wondering what happened to their family, their community and their nation.
Complacency is evident in when we procrastinate following spiritual promptings or we presume that there will be time enough tomorrow to repent.
Elder Henry B. Erying explained,
“It is hard to know when we have done enough for the Atonement to change our natures and so qualify us for eternal life. And we don’t know how many days we will have to give the service necessary for that mighty change to come. But we know that we will have days enough if only we don’t waste them.”
“The real tragedy of life is not in trying and failing, but in failing to try. It is not in risking too much for a worthy cause, but in risking too little. It is not in stretching for lofty goals, but in being willing to settle for less that we are capable of.”
Apathy
Apathy is a companion often found in the company of Complacency. While the complacent person often fails to recognize the warning signs, the apathetic person sees them but just doesn’t care. Their lack of interest or concern can be the result of ignorance, but in my experience it is most often the result of being too busy with the good things in this life, while neglecting the better and best things.
“The peril of this century,” declared Elder David O. McKay, “is spiritual apathy.”
“Apathy will cost us our exaltation as surely as choosing wickedness.”
Complacency and Apathy combine to create the “all is well” (2 Ne. 28:21) syndrome. A cleverly fashioned deception used to entrap persons who are careful to avoid the big pitfalls, obvious hooks and recurring traps. Like medical syndromes, the “all is well” syndrome can be complex, including a group or pattern of symptoms such as; “It’s not my problem—somebody else can deal with it,” "I need a break—It's someone else's turn to serve," “It’s all good—seeing life through rainbow colored glasses,” and “organized religion is not my thing—I commune with nature.”
Walking the perilous path of living gospel standards anonymously—under the radar, while avoiding taking a stand in public to save face with men, can lead to our losing face with God. Neglecting to actively, consciously seek righteousness can result in a sleepiness of spirit, laziness towards prayer and scripture study, and a dimming of the light of Christ in our lives.
“And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.”
There is no Devil
“And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.”
Elder Melvin J. Ballard said, “It is well to know the forces and the powers that are arrayed against us, and their purposes, that we may close our ranks and fortify ourselves”
Individuals who are ignorant or in denial of Satan’s existence give him a distinct advantage over them and their eternal happiness.
There is no Sin
The belief that there is no sin is usually preceded by the argument that there is no law, or at least no god given law. And if there are no eternal laws, then there can be no absolute right or wrong. No higher standards, in fact no real standards at all. No consistent morality, only relativisms that vacillate according to a broad spectrum of situational considerations. No choices between good and evil. No righteousness or happiness. Neither wickedness nor misery. In short no God.
Contemptuous individuals often criticize prophets for, “not living in the 21st century,” or claim the prophet and apostles are bigoted. They seek to persuade or cajole the church into lowering God’s standards to the level of their own sinful behavior.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell warned such individuals will,
“develop self-contentment instead of seeking self-improvement” and repentance. Lowering the Lord’s standards to the level of a society’s inappropriate behavior is—apostasy.”
Desensitization
The back sliding doors of the condo we rented opened up to our lanai (Hawaiian for porch) that was right on the beach. The afternoon that we arrived the waves were reported to be upwards of 40 feet high. The thunderous noise of the crashing waves seemed to engulf us. They were so loud that it was difficult to communicate.
One evening sitting on the lanai Billie was reading and I was writing. I wanted to get her input on a few ideas so I asked her a question. When she didn’t respond I repeated my question. But still no response. I tried again, only I raised my voice. Not too much, I didn’t want to startle her or sound like I was upset. The waves were so constant and raucous that it was nearly impossible for her to hear me.
I’m not sure how long it had taken, whether it was hours or a few days, for us to completely acclimate to the constant pounding of the surf on the shore and the turbulent waters churning over the shallow reef. But during the course of the week we had adapted and become accustomed to the crashing waves. They had become part of the background noise in our environment.
Changing trends in the world, some of which are very disturbing at first glance, over time become part of society’s normal background noise. Before long they no longer shock us, and if we are not careful they can even start to seem normal.
In “Essay on Man,” Alexander Pope said,
“Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, as to be hated needs but to be seen. Yet too oft, familiar with her face, we first endure, then pity, then embrace.”
In society, as well as with individuals, attitudes toward sin soften through the attrition of repeated exposure. The more we are exposed to sin, the more comfortable and desensitized to it we become. When a sin is increasingly portrayed as normal—everyone’s doing it and people stop speaking out against it—that society inevitably moves from disapproval to embrace.
Even knowing Satan's tactics and identifying the potential traps is not enough to keep us safe. Still we stumble and fall exposing our carnal weaknesses. A common denominator of the snares listed in this post is pride. Pride is one reason why persons who understand the doctrine of Christ and who have testimonies of gospel truths make poor decisions. Choices which lead them into temptation's snares, where nearly imperceptible threads are woven into expertly tailored nooses, which are dangled over head until the flaxen chord passes right in front of their nose and is securely fitted around their neck.