A couple of years ago, as a husband, father, and active member of the church, my life was forever changed when I was arrested. I then spent significant time in jail and am now serving a lengthy prison sentence. During that time, I have experienced trials and difficulties that can only be described as the Lord compelling me to be humble. While I wish I had been able to humble myself, I can now testify of the blessings that come with being compelled to humility.
The hymn “The Lord is My Shepherd,” #108, beautifully describes the co-existence of trials and blessings by saying, “In the midst of affliction my table is spread. With blessings unmeasured my cup runneth over.” I have felt incredible blessings while going through what is undoubtedly my greatest time of trial.
One of the blessings has been to have the time available to study and learn of Christ. Through this process, the Holy Ghost has taught me lessons every day that have helped bring me closer to Christ. While living in the least spiritual environment I ever have, I have been blessed with the most spiritual experiences of my life. Many of the lessons have been painful. They cause me to realize how wrong I have been about so many things in so many situations. Those powerful lessons are still continuing today.
2 Nephi 28 teaches us about the methods of Satan, including in verse 21 which describes how Satan will pacify us, lead us into carnal security, and lead us carefully down to hell. That careful process is done through lies that Satan gets us to believe, little by little. I have discovered many of these lies that I had come to believe throughout my life. These realizations have come to me through the spirit, as described in 2 Nephi 28:30, “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.”
I want to share ten of these lies that I believed, and have thankfully, yet painfully, been taught the truths about. These are in no particular order. Some of these lies also contain partial truths, which makes them even more difficult to discern, and more detrimental to our spirits. It is my thought that maybe somebody else out there believes some or all of these lies. If you find that you have come to believe one or more of them, it is my hope and desperate prayer that you will be able to come to these truths, without such an extreme compulsion to humility, and that you will start in the right direction without paying such a high price as I have had to pay.
Because of my limitations, this blog is maintained by a friend, but the writing is mine. Your comments will be forwarded to me, and I will respond through the friend as I am able.
Ten Lies I Believed 