Know Your Opponent

Two football teams are battling it out. Team A vs. Team B. Each team has their playbooks that define their strategies and plans. Prior to the game, Team A secured Team B's playbook. They also know what Team B's hand signals are. And furthermore, they figured out how to tap into Team B's intercom system and hear the coaches make decisions while the game is being played.

Has the likelihood that Team A will win the game increased? Absolutely.

Knowing your opponents strategies and plans gives the upper hand. It eliminates surprise and you can effectively plan to defend against their attacks and you can launch an effective offense.

Surprise is the #1 factor in winning a battle. When Santa Ana and his troops from Mexico were fighting the Texans in the 1800's, Sam Houston waited patiently until the time was right, mounted a surprise attack, and very quickly and with very little loss completely conquered the invading army, won the battle, and concluded the war. And this was just shortly after the Mexicans had completely whipped the Texans at the Alamo.

There is a spiritual battle going on each day, and each one of us is a participant. The adversary Satan and his minions are constantly trying to deceive us with the intent to overthrow us.

"There are many spirits which are false spirits, which have gone forth in the earth, deceiving the world. And also Satan hath sought to deceive you, that he might overthrow you."

Can we be more effective in this battle by understanding our adversary? Yes! The same principle applies. By understanding that he wants to deceive us with the intent to overthrow us we can focus preventing ourselves from being deceived.

And how do we keep ourselves from being deceived?

"And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations—

"Wherefore he that prayeth, whose spirit is contrite, the same is accepted of me if he obey mine ordinances. He that speaketh, whose spirit is contrite, whose language is meek and edifieth, the same is of God if he obey mine ordinances. And again, he that trembleth under my power shall be made strong, and shall bring forth fruits of praise and wisdom, according to the revelations and truths which I have given you."

- D&C 50:2-3, 52:14-17