The War in Heaven—Last Quarter

As I’m sure you’re all aware, the war in heaven took place for one primary reason. Satan proposed that we not be endowed with the ability to choose. He desired that we be forced to do all that we were “supposed” to do. Satan was not innocent in proposing this plan. He wasn’t scolded merely for having a ridiculous brain storm idea. He was fully knowledgeable that this proposal was contrary to God’s will and wisdom.
“Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused the he should be cast down;” Moses 4:3 (emphasis added)

I can picture Satan trying to share with us all of the risks involved if we didn’t go with his plan.

“What if you fail? It’s hard down there!
“Do you really want to have to go through all of that challenge and strife?”
“Do you really want to leave this beautifully perfect place merely to prove yourselves once again.”
“Aren’t things perfect enough for you now?” and so on… His weapon then, as it is now, was force, fear, and doubt.

As you know, it wasn’t enough for us to simply “boo and hiss” him into a silent submission. His proposal was so vile, so evil, that we had to be much more aggressive than that to fight his plan. We had to engage in an all out war. Even though we had double the army fighting against him in his desire, he still did not back down. And even though he clearly knows “how the story ends” he still will not back down. And so the very same war continues here on earth.

Ironically, Satan’s proposal plays a significant reason as to why things are so very difficult for us here on earth. I’m sure that things were much more blissful in the pre-mortal existence, but clearly there was a very significant component to our eternal progression missing. This component was so critical that our Savior, Jesus Christ, was willing to suffer incomprehensibly just so that we could have it… and that critical component was the experience of exercising Agency. (I dare not call it “free” Agency, lest I forget the heavy price that was paid for it.)

Understanding that the ability to choose is the only way in which we have any semblance of any Agency TO exercise, is a step in the right direction towards understanding why the U.S. Constitution required the guiding hand of the Lord. He not only provided it for us, as he did the 10 Commandments to Moses, but He even went so far as to hand-pick the men who would draft this “heavenly banner”, hand-pick the land upon which it would be instituted, and even selected the men who would fight for it’s full ratification against all odds.

You see, one of Lucifer’s primary strategies is to “restrict our agency through the power of earthly governments.” (David O. McKay, “The Constitution, A Heavenly Banner”) He doesn’t need to necessarily tempt us with pornography, drugs, adultery, or other bold-face sins. He needs only to corrupt our government with evil men who will destroy our ability to choose and use that God-given agency. Then, as he lulls a perfectly free people into apathy, busy-ness, and naïveté, we will wake to find that our freedoms have disappeared from us all together.

“And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them CAPTIVE at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice.” Moses 4:4

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” --Thomas Jefferson

The only reason why a government was ever created in this land is to ensure that such rights would not be infringed upon. And to this end, the government was created by the people, to serve the people and to protect their unalienable rights from the likes of Lucifer who would aim to destroy these rights.

If you can look at every proposed bill, every government action in this light, you will see things more clearly. Ask yourself, does this proposed bill or process infringe on the ability of freedom or the right to choose? If it does, then it is not of God nor His plan.
Obviously, our Heavenly Father teaches us agency as much as He does consequences of those choices. While we are free to choose our behavior, we are not free to choose the consequences. No governmental ruling or shell game will ever change that. A government of any kind can establish a rule to thwart a choice here on earth, but it will not be binding in the eternities.

The Constitution was created in an effort to ensure that we can make eternal decisions today. We experience freedom in many aspects of our lives which enable us to choose an to be sealed in the temple for all eternity, raising our children in righteousness, growing our own crops that we may be healthy and prepared for emergencies, and to provide service to our fellowman with a full purpose of heart. What is alarming however is that every single one of those freedoms that I just mentioned are threatened by the actions of men who are not guided by God. For example, our ability to be sealed in the temple is threatened with the proposals of gay marriage. Our ability to raise our children in righteousness is threatened with proposals which would require unrighteous topics to be taught in our schools. Our ability to grow our own food in our own way and to store up such food is threatened already by certain Executive Orders which have already been made and by bills which are presently before our Congress, and yes, even our ability to serve in righteousness is threatened by two issue which have received overwhelming support by our politicians in D.C. If I had an entire day I could not begin to share with you all that has already been put into place to deprive us of our inherent, divine rights. But perhaps it is not for me to do for you. Perhaps there is more value in you using the eternal gift of Agency as your own guide as you review what’s going on in the world around you and discerning by the Spirit whether a freedom is enhanced or lost. I for one did not fight in a war in heaven only to lose here on earth--especially when the ending has already been determined for us. That’s like betting on a horse that you know is going to lose, or buying a car that you know is going to break down. I intend to continue the fight with just as much faith and action now as I did then. I hope that you’ll join me.


Copyright 2009 Kellene Bishop. All rights reserved. You are welcome to repost this information so long as it is credited to Kellene Bishop.