The theme of the war in heaven
Many members of the church easily recognize Satan’s role as a tempter of persons and as a figure who stands opposed to the plan of salvation. When we think of the war in heaven, we often, without giving it much thought, think it was simply a grand debate over whether we should follow God’s plan or whether we should follow Satan’s plan. While this is true, it is far too simplistic. We concentrate heavily on God’s plan, and we often fail to realize exactly what Satan’s plan was.
On the one hand, God’s plan was to send us to earth where we could learn and have experiences away from God’s direct influence. This would allow us to develop in ways not possible while still in his presence. If we lived righteously, we could return to his Him and gain exaltation and eternal life.
God’s plan allowed for the use of free agency or choice. Whatever you call it, is the same thing: freedom.
On the other hand, Satan’s plan would force us to all be good so we could all return to heaven.
God’s and Satan’s ideas were similar: they both desired for everyone to return to heaven after their probation on earth was finished. The major difference? God’s plan was to use freedom, while Satan’s was to use coercion. Satan’s plan, albeit philanthropic-sounding in its efforts to allow everyone to return to heaven, was so evil, due to its use of force, that Satan and his followers were cast out of heaven.
We are taught by our church leaders to liken scriptures and gospel principles to our lives. Satan’s false-philanthropy, as I like to call it, can be easily seen in today’s world, especially in the realm of law and politics.
Several of the people currently running to be the next president of the United States have plans to roll out a national form of health care service. These plans, like Satan’s, sound very nice: every person in the country would be covered for health-related expenses; every person would be taken care of. And the cost? We would all be taxed for it, involuntarily. We would be forced to participate, even if we didn’t want to pay for it. Allowing individuals choices within this system, eg., allowing them to pick their own doctors and providers, would still be the same kind of system, only with the facade of allowing for choice. Regardless, it would still be utilizing force.
As we approach the election season, and as we progress toward more and more socialistic proposals, let us keep these ideas in mind. No kind of paternalism, no matter how nice, pleasant, or otherwise philanthropic-sounding, is truly in accordance with the gospel of Jesus Christ, unless it is implemented voluntarily and people have total freedom as to whether they participate or not.
Any other system is operating under the same principle as what Satan proposed in the pre-existence.