Temptation has many faces, probably as many faces as there are people to be tempted. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, were tempted by Satan to disobey Father and they partook of the forbidden fruit. What Satan did not know is that Heavenly Father was counting on him to tempt them. By their transgressing they triggered the fall from God’s presence and their Celestial home. They transgressed, therefore, they had only themselves to blame for their being exposed to the ‘cold and dreary’ world.
Their transgression was a necessary part of the ‘Plan of Progression’ designed for their (our) growth and experience. Satan, unknowingly helped bring about the Father’s plan by tempting Adam and Eve. John A. Widtsoe said that: “There was no other way!” After the reality of what they had done had set in, Heavenly Father provided the first couple with a plan to make their sojourn here as productive as possible. The earth was designed to supply all the necessary elements for our sustenance and happiness. He promised Adam and Eve, based on their obedience, that they could, one day, come again into His presence.
There are those who know only part of the story and a few of them have been sympathetic to Satan because of the punishment he was given. His justification for tempting Adam and Eve was that he was only doing what had been done before in other worlds. In truth, he thought he was foiling the Father’s plan but in reality he initiated the plan. The fall of Adam and Eve was necessary so,
“That man might be.” That experience may be the only time in man’s history where Satan’s tempting words had a positive outcome. Alexander Pope commented, “But Satan now is wiser than of yore, And tempts by making rich, not making poor.” How true as they were cast out of the garden, a beautiful celestial realm, into the world as we know it today.
A temptation is defined, generally, as an act or thing that looks attractive to an individual but has a negative connotation and as such, tends to cause an individual to regret their actions which are accompanied by guilt. Temptation is also an act of coaxing or inducing a person into committing an act by manipulation, curiosity, desire or fear of loss. It is an act of influencing by exciting hope or desire. It is an act of seduction. It is the desire to have or do something that you know you should avoid. That desire is almost always more readily given into during leisure time. W. N. Taylor Has put it this way, “Temptation rarely comes in working hours. It is in their leisure time that men are made or marred.”
The Apostle James refers to three primary temptations that Christ was subject to:
1) After fasting forty days, the devil said to him, “If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.” Christ’s response was, ‘It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’
2) Then from a high mountain, he showed him all the kingdoms of the world and said unto him, “All this power will I give thee and the glory of them…If thou wilt worship me, all shall be thine” Jesus answered, “Get thee behind me, Satan: For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord and him only shalt thou serve.”
3) In Jerusalem he put him on a high place on the temple and said, “If thou be the Son of God, Cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee…And Jesus answered him, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” ( James 4:1–4)
It is the natural desires of all men who, although they may be aware of the evil, still have a longing for the forbidden fruit. Those longings constitute the bases for all of Satan’s tempting overtures. The primary method of combating temptation has got to be the avoidance of people, places, and things that give rise to the tempta- tion. Unlike Mae West who stated, “I generally avoid temptation unless I can’t resist it.”
We have all wondered from time to time why it is that those who do evil are the most eager salesman in seeking converts to their way of living. While the missionary effort of religious organizations are minimal. In the book ‘Wisdom of Israel’ that question was asked and answered in this way “Why is it that the pious man seems less eager to persuade others to become virtuous than the impious man to gain companions in wickedness?” The reply: “The man of piety walks in light and is not afraid to walk alone, whereas the man of impiety walks in darkness and is anxious for company.”
However, temptation never comes boldly for it is offensive in strength, but it rather comes ever so slightly, like a shadow that follows along. Have you ever been on a diet? Can you remember being tempted to take “just one little bite?” What happened? If you’re like most people, that single bite simply stimulated your appetite and led to more bites. You begin with discipline, make one compromise, (the shadow is no threat) and before you know it you are stuffing yourself, while at the same time you are telling yourself that tomorrow you’ll start your diet anew. Satan tempts us (tests us) a little at a time, even up to and just a little above what we can bear. Most all wrongs that men do, begin as the above example.
Alma warns, “Watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear,” (Alma 13:28) The following serenity like prayer may be used to meet that criteria: ‘God grant us the strength to avoid the things in life that tempt us to behave contrary to thy will. Give us the courage to face those things with defiance that cannot be avoided.’