“Enemy-Occupied Territory”

Last updated on: March 11, 2020 at 1:38 pm by Dan Peterson

“Enemy-Occupied Territory” 2020-03-11T13:38:34-06:00 Dan Peterson

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In the Sacred Grove, near Palmyra, New York (LDS Media Library)

“Teachings and Testimony of the First Vision: Joseph Fielding McConkie Discusses the First Vision and Tolerance”: Part 14 of a Series Compiled by Dennis B. Horne

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My wife and I continue to read a passage every night from A Year with C. S. Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works. Here is a recent reading, from his famous book Mere Christianity:

One of the things that surprised me when I first read the New Testament seriously was that it talked so much about a Dark Power in the universe — a mighty evil spirit who was held to be the Power behind death and disease, and sin. The difference is that Christianity thinks this Dark Power was created by God, and was good when he was created, and went wrong. Christianity agrees with Dualism that this universe is at war. But it does not think this is a war between independent powers. It thinks it is a civil war, a rebellion, and that we are living in a part of the universe occupied by the rebel.

Enemy-occupied territory — that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage. When you go to church you are really listening-in to the secret wireless from our friends: that is why the enemy is so anxious to prevent us from going. He does it by playing on our conceit and laziness and intellectual snobbery. I know someone will ask me, ‘Do you really mean, at this time of day, to re-introduce our old friend the devil — hoofs and horns and all?’ Well, what the time of day has to do with it I do not know. And I am not particular about the hoofs and horns. But in other respects my answer is ‘Yes, I do.’ I do not claim to know anything about his personal appearance. If anybody really wants to know him better, I would say to that person, ‘Don’t worry. If you really want to, you will. Whether you’ll like it when you do is another question.’ (78)

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You may already be aware of this. But, just in case:

“How COVID-19 Will Impact the April 2020 General Conference: Sessions will be done virtually; members will not gather at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City or at stake centers or meetinghouses in areas where COVID-19 is active”

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