Lessons on the Plan of Salvaton
Lesson No. Thirty

Satan's Plan of Unhappiness

Satan’s plan of unhappiness is versatile, enticing, and opposite to our Father’s plan of salvation (see 2 Nephi 9:28) – President Ezra Taft Benson taught that the Book of Mormon exposes many false philosophies of our day.  (See A Witness and A Warning, p. 3) Many modern philosophies are part of Satan’s plan and they lead to unhappiness. These philosophies teach there is no need for obedience or repentance or change. They include the following:

There is no God or no Christ – Korihor, an antichrist in the Book of Mormon, taught: “Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ.  Ye look forward and say that ye see a remission of your sins.  But behold, it is the effect of a frenzied mind; and this derangement of your minds comes because of the tradition of your fathers, which lead you away into a belief of things which are not so” (Alma 30:15-16).

There is no need for God because men know for themselves – The Book of Mormon warns: “O that cunning plan of the evil one!  O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men!  When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not.  And they shall perish” (2 Nephi 9:28).

There is no sin – Korihor also taught "that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever, a man did was no crime” (Alma 30:17). Today many people do not believe in sin, therefore, anything goes, and tolerance becomes most important. 

There is no consequence for sin – Nehor was also an antichrist of the Book of Mormon because he taught doctrine contrary to the true doctrine of Christ. Nehor said: “that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, and in the end, all men should have eternal life” (Alma 1:4).

We can be saved in our sins – The Book of Mormon prophet Amulek, in teaching the wicked people of Ammonihah, said, “the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins…on the conditions of repentance” (Helaman 5:10-11).  Many believe that they can be saved in their sins by confessing Christ and then living whatever life style they please.

Small sins will be overlooked – Nephi warned us against the the false doctrine that small sins will be overlooked saying, “there shall 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 advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this…and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God” (2 Nephi 28:8).

God’s love is unconditional – Nephi also warned that in our day many would teach “false, vain and foolish doctrines” (2 Nephi 28:9) which includes the idea that God’s love is unconditional.  In the Ensign, February 2003 Elder Russel M. Nelson wrote with great insight of Divine Love:   “While divine love can be called perfect, infinite, enduring, and universal, it cannot correctly be characterized as unconditional…Understanding that divine love and blessings are not unconditional can defend us against common fallacies such as ‘God will love me regardless’…”

Repentance is unnecessary because mercy has precedence over justice – In the Book of Mormon Alma taught the importance of obedience and repentance, and that no one can excuse sin by denying that God will be just.  Instead we should repent and “let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in our heart; and let it bring us down to the dust in humility…that the great plan of mercy can have claim upon us” (Alma 42:30-31).

Testimony – Obedience is the first law of the gospel – Jesus is the only person who has ever lived who was completely obedient.  The rest of us all fall short.  To be reconciled with God we must develop “faith unto repentance” (Alma 34:16).  Our faith must be sufficient to cause us to repent so we can receive the full blessings of the atonement.

Jesus has “power given unto him from the Father to redeem us from our sins because of repentance…and repentance brings us unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of our souls” (Helaman 5:11).  The atonement of the Lord and our willingness to obey and repent are at the heart of the Father’s “great plan of happiness” (Alma 42:8).  Therefore, Satan’s plan of unhappiness does everything possible to keep us from obedience and repentance.