What powers does satan have? How does he work?

[synergy13]

I've been thinking a lot about how satan influences, what powers he has, etc. Can he influence thoughts? Can he do anything physical since he doesn't have a body? For instance, can he make physical things happen? If he follows the principle of opposites and Christ can do all these things to bring about good and peace are his powers equal yet in the opposite direction?

[HiJolly]

Having been around the block, it is my opinion that if you really work hard to understand Satan and his powers, you WILL REGRET IT. If instead you study the priesthood of the Son of God, you will benefit, the people around you will benefit, and at some point if you still want to, you will understand Satan's 'power'.

Yes he can influence, even engender, thoughts. Yes he can make physical things happen. His oppositional powers are considerable but not equal to Christ's powers.

HJ

[Dravin]

If he follows the principle of opposites and Christ can do all these things to bring about good and peace are his powers equal yet in the opposite direction?

There is no principle of opposites, there is a principle of opposition but there is a distinction to be had. If I'm commanded to heal the sick for instance it doesn't mean the opposition to following God's command will be to sicken healthy people.

[Anddenex]

If you have not read it, read Screw Tape Letters ( I believe that is the correct title ) by C.S. Lewis.

Wonderful book.

[synergy13]

Thanks addenex, yes, I've read it, but it's been a really long time. Good time to revisit wormwood.

Thanks for your thoughts everyone!

[Traveler]

I believe that the powers available to Satan to influence our lives is in essence the same as the powers exercised by G-d to influence individuals. That for every opportunity that G-d through his spirit and those angles aligned with him has in our lives - Satan and his followers have the same opportunities and abilities to influence us. In scripture this is known as opposition in all things.

Thus the "choice" or power is left to each individual as to which spirit or influence has the "upper hand" in our lives.

The Traveler

[mnn727]

I personally don't believe that Satan can himself do physical things however I do agree wholeheartedly with the rest of HiJollys post in that

it is my opinion that if you really work hard to understand Satan and his powers, you WILL REGRET IT. If instead you study the priesthood of the Son of God, you will benefit, the people around you will benefit, and at some point if you still want to, you will understand Satan's 'power'

I believe he can influence thought (as much as we let him) and he has full knowledge of the pre-existence, unlike us, so he knows 'what buttons to push'. We are the ones able to give him influence over us and if we give him too much influence over ourselves then we will do the physical things he wants done.

[ZionsRodeVos]

I believe a powerful example of Satan's power is found in Joseph Smith History 1:15-16 when Joseph went to pray vocally. A power, which I understand to be Satan, seized Joseph and prevented him from speaking and Joseph said he felt as if the power would destroy him. Too me, those are physical means that Satan can use to directly influence a person.

15 After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. I had scarcely done so, when immediately I was aseized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak. Thick bdarkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.

16 But, exerting all my powers to acall upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into bdespair and abandon myself to destruction—not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being—just at this moment of great alarm, I saw a pillar of clight exactly over my head, above the brightness of the dsun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

[HiJolly]

[QUOTE=mnn727;729736]I personally don't believe that Satan can himself do physical things QUOTE]
I know Satan is not a physical being, but I'm sure he can affect physical things/ people.

Doctrine and Covenants 129:8 and the Reality of Satan’s Physicality | Religious Studies Center

HiJolly

[PastorBob]

Always seek to know the patterns of the darkness to avoid them. Always. I cannot restate this enough. Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Satan has the power to take you to the pinnacle of the temple (almost the highest peace and contentment humanly possible) for a time to try and get you to cast yourself down and worship him (find your fulfillment in lusts, married or not), to plant thoughts of any kind in the mind, to put a man into any position of authority in the legal or political field or in any religion ( Luke 4:6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.) to make the wrong partners fall in love, to incite lifelong delusion and illusion which is sweet at first but ends in pain late in life, to incite a person to anger, lust, greed, pride etc, to cause illnesses (Luke 13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" or afterwards, to organize people to fight a war, and take over people's bodies for a short or extended time. The list is endless, but all of his deceptions are generally very pleasant - at first. No one drinks bitter poison.

He has the power to destroy but not create (at least anything perfect), and has created stories of him being able to heal to entice the weak minded to commit the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (attributing to Satan what is God's power alone, such as healing or casting out evil spirits) by saying that so and so was healed by so and so, but that when they were blessed or exorcised the original injury came back and so on. Only God has the power to do good, through whatever medium he chooses, and he is no respector of persons or their religions. Mark 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

40 For he that is not against us is on our part.

He first works through playing on your thoughts and desires, because he desires nothing more than for you to die with unfulfilled desires. As you move away from trying to fulfill yourself outside of God he will steadily bring in greater temptations, through his devotees which are everywhere, and at the end direct manifestations with first bribes and then threats, and lastly persecution, strife, and disbelief from the millions of minds he is one with.

His servants, whether they are simply materialists who ignorantly worship their own egos, or people who work directly with him and knowingly for whatever reason, become a part of him when they die (read about legion) just as those who become the sons of God become one with Him, yet maintain their individuality outwardly.

Those who follow faith without works - έργον τό (dead faith with no "workings" or more correctly translated, proofs one is on the right path) he never bothers much.

"And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred." - Mark 4:10-20