Jana Riess: The LDS Satan just ain’t what he used to be

Religion News Service columnist Jana Riess says Latter-day Saint leaders have shifted in how they talk about Satan.

The diminished devil has become that voice of chronic self-doubt in your head, telling you that you’re not good enough, and, hey, you really ought to eat that second brownie.The Mormon Satan used to command worlds and control a third of the host of heaven. Latter-day Saint theology, both official and unofficial, credited him with havingNow he’s become that voice of chronic self-doubt in your head, telling you that you’re not good enough, and, hey, you really ought to eat that second brownie.

That shift in language reflects a larger move in theological focus. Recent emphases from leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints show Satan as the great and terrible spoiler of … self-improvement projects. Here is a sampling of some General Conference talks within the past decade or so that give us hints as to Satan’s evolving job description:perpetuate a very real sense of panicIn fact, he will tailor-make such adversity for each person.

“Heavenly Father allows Satan and Satan’s followers to tempt us as part of our experience in mortality. Because Satan ‘seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself,’ he and his followers try to lead us away from righteousness. He directs his most strenuous opposition at the most important aspects of Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness.

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