What is the nature of good versus evil?

What makes a good person go bad?

What can I do to help someone who has turned to evil?

Sometimes in life things can turn very ugly in a hurry. People you thought you knew and trusted can turn Jeckle and Hyde and do things that you would never even think they were capable of, but they still do. People can make unwise decisions, even people who you thought were the strongest ones in the church and do things or make mistakes that shake those closest to them. Why do they do these things you may ask?

When it comes to this earth, people have free agency, the right to choose good from evil. In this life everyone faces the battle on every side, every day between this good and evil. Pushed by the past, the good things and bad that they have seen, enjoyed, endured and even touched or been touched by, they change as much as the growing trees do inside.

Everyone carries scars and locked memories of trials they have born, and there is not one spirit on earth that is untouched by the influences of evil even in the slightest way. I know there are people out there who struggle daily with this battle, that face challenges of immense proportions. Facing abuse, drugs, pornography, lies, deception, poverty, famine, disasters of all kinds and descriptions. The common tie though that helps people through all these if they are willing to listen is the Savior.

The plan of God was never that man was made to suffer, but that man was made to learn and progress in life. I keep going back to that image of the path going to the tree in Nephi’s vision of the tree of life. In some ways I want to describe this path too, but add a bit to it to show something very important.

When people picture a path, most often they see this nice smooth paved path, one wide and easy to walk, with a nice rail to hold onto. I always pictured it as a long path, through all kinds of places, straight and narrow, but to keep it that way, it had to cross some rough terrain. It was not a path that is easy to tread, as there are holes near it, places where it can ger a bit slick and treacherous if you are not holding on tight, places where people wait with earnest fervor to try to pull the unwary off, places where it is dark and stormy, cold and seemingly lonely, and even places where it can be hard to cross because of the thorns and brambles on the side. There are sections where people wait to help others across who are willing to accept aid. There are others where groups wait to try to drag by any means possible people off the path.

The struggle down this path can be daunting at times. Along the way, people see the building off in the distance, see people they know and love calling. They see people seemingly having fun with no consequence, no sorrow, and calling for them to join in on things they know deep down are not good or right. They see the troubles ahead if they stay on the path, but they never quite see the pitfalls and snares out there if they let go and wander, even if just for a second, or know just how hard it is to get back once they fall off it.

The river is deceptively swift though calm on the surface, and the undertow great. It takes a lot of strong swimming and some help to get back out of it. The light that comes in the dark and treacherous land that everyone must look to to escape is the savior. He is there guiding the way, aiding those who need help the most, providing comfort, help and hope to those who are having a hard time finding it, and helping to pull people across those spots that seem the worst hurdles in life. He gave his very life to open the door that people could repent, pass through the atonement, return and find a way back.

There is a way back through the darkness, there always is, but the cunning plan of the devil would have all think that there is no way to return, nothing will ever be good or right again, so why try. There is so much more though to life, and hope springs for anyone who wishes or dares to try for it. If you truly want something, and I do mean really want to go forward and go for the Saviors plan, then you will do so with full heart. If you are doubting though and unsure of what you are doing there, that is when the snares are the closest, the eager hands of the enemy the strongest, and offer sweet words of flattery, twisted truths and deceptions that look good on the surface, but are rotten to the core when you look at them solidly. Those are the times when you need to search your heart, pray, study, review and find the real truth for yourself. Find out what the guides and leaders in the church have said on the things you are struggling with the most. Seek the iron rod and know for yourself the truth of it. There are others out there to help too.

When others you know and love slip, give them your love and support, but be very careful not to get dragged into their sins. Pray for them, try to show them a good example, and just do your best to work with what you can from the edges for keeping their problems from causing trouble for others.

If it is serious, such as abuse, seek help and do not wait for the problem to progress. People who abuse need help, and even if you love them, they will never get the help unless they either admit it and seek it themselves, or are caught and have to go through the programs to get help. In spite of the problems it can cause when they do get caught, it can be a huge relief in life though, and it can bring untold blessings when the problems are truly faced. Some people do not get caught in life though, as they can be slick or smart in how they pursue them. Those are the ones that it is best to stay away from and just pray that the damage they cause is not super bad. They are truly in the hands of the devil, and what they escape in punishment and justice on earth, someday they will have to answer for in heaven. May there be mercy on their souls then, for the tears of the innocent shall bear testament to every pain and stripe they have laid on the hearts of the ones they have hurt. Leave such as these in the hands of the savior, let it go as much as you can within his hands and pray for those they aim for that they might escape the worst of their abuse. Put the names of the afflicted in the temple that the prayers of the saints might be with them to aid in time of need. Pray for the soul of the one who is abusing, that they might see the error of their ways and stop, or have someone catch them and stop them. Never, ever let someone that is abusing though stop you from going to church. There is always a way to go to church and participate with the much needed spirit at times like this. When you feel the least like going to church, that is when you need the most to be there. Those are the times when God is trying to get a message to you, but the devil is trying his hardest to keep you from hearing it or learning from it.

Sometimes people are lost in life due to the cruel acts of others. Do not despair. Often when a heart has feasted in the spirit as a child, they will return at some point, because there is always that still small voice whispering, telling them that something is not right, something is off, something is not where they should be. Often they do come back, older and wiser, and just wish to be a part of it again. Give such as these the example you can of living as much as humanly possible as a good saint. Never give up hope, as that is the one thing that is always there with the light of the savior. When the darkness closes around at its worst, when the storms of life arise, when the land grows treacherous and steep. When hearts are turned to ravening and the wolves close round, those are the times when you need to look for the light the most. When death strikes those you love, the tears of heaven fall with you, and you are never alone. The light is always there, always shining, always leading and guiding the way, always sending comfort and trying to help in any way possible. When the spirit whispers for you to do or call someone listen, please listen, that one small act could mean the difference between disaster and someone coming back to the light themselves. Hope springs from the most unlikely of places sometimes. If you do the right things, the light will follow, and blessings do come, often blessings you never expected.

Sometimes the answer to prayers is no, but for good reasons that you cannot see. Often that no, that uneasy feeling like something is not right has good cause and meaning that you cannot see at this time, but that really is important. If something is bothering you listen to that whisper. God knows the innermost hearts of all spirits on earth, and just who and what we are, what each person is capable of, so his hand guides in ways that are unexpected but best for everyone who needs to see it the most. Trust him, he knows what he is doing.

Sometimes he gives us the right to make a choice in life as to which path is right, and there is no good or bad feeling about either decision when we pray. Then it is up to us to research well, study and pray about it, and find the best answer for what he would have us do. Take the time to research it out and plan it well if such is the case.

Good people can go bad, I know. I have seen it many times, but just because they go bad is no reason at all for you to let go or give up on what you know is right. Hang on all the tighter to that rod and keep fighting up that path. It is worth the battle in the end. You might be surprised later and find them on the path somewhere behind you. You never know. The key is though that it is your spirit you need to bring down the path in the end, your heart that needs to find the pure light of Christ and your soul that has to work on building itself and filling itself with the right and good things of life. You are the one whose light will shine or fail at the end depending on what you do. By staying with it, you build the reserves to keep it shining through the dark times. You can make it if you truly wish to work and stay with it through rough times in the church.

If you do not have one, get a patriarchal blessing too. There is a lot of good in those, and they are a very good guide and inspiration at times when you need them the worst. The other thing you can do if you are struggling very hard is get a blessing, and put your name in the temple. Do not be afraid to ask for help, that is what it is there for. Hang in there, best of blessings and think on these things. You are not alone, nor ever will be in the dark. I send you this message in the hopes that it helps,

Sincerely,

Maraleh

Tags: Faith Hope Iron Rod Atonement Christ Peace Love Tears Abuse Blessings Spiri