Today's Favorite Verse: Moses 1:19

Today's Favorite Verse: Moses 1:19

"And now, when Moses had said these words, Satan cried with a loud voice, and ranted upon the earth, and commanded, saying: I am the Only Begotten, worship me."

I am in the Pearl of Great Price which is a small selection of choice materials that were translated and produced by the Prophet Joseph Smith. They were published in the Church periodicals of his day. They cover significant aspects of the faith and doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are considered part of our scriptures called the Standard Works, which include the Holy Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. The "Selections from the Book of Moses" is an extract from the book of Genesis in Joseph Smith's translation of the Bible. Members of the LDS Church still read the Kings James version of the Holy Bible. In the footnotes of the LDS edition of the King James Bible are minor translation changes by Joseph Smith. In the back of the Bible are larger sections. The parts in the Pearl of Great Price run into chapters. Joseph Smith was martyred before he could finish the translation of the bible. Someday I would love to read the Joseph Smith translated version of the bible that the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (RLDS) printed. It would just be interesting to read the bible put together like that. I don't believe they sell that edition anymore. 

As I was reading this chapter there were so many verses I pondered on. I thought they are all very precious. Then of course the naming of this set of scripture the Pearl of Great Price enforced its meaning. 

In this verse I pondered on how Satan shows in just a few words his character. He is foremost a liar, saying he is the Only Begotten, who is Jesus Christ. So he projects one thing on the outside but inside he is totally something else. So he is a deceiver. He desires to take Christ's glory from him. Something he never earned a right to. He is a thief. He seeks glory and the worshiping by others of himself. So he is self-absorbed and prideful. He would have to be the ultimate narcissist. In doing all this he cries with a loud voice and rants, and then commands others. He seeks power and control. It just made me think of people that align themselves with exactly these same traits. Indeed these qualities would make you a follower of Satan. The sad thing is if your self-absorbed you have no idea how others see you. In fact in this chapter Moses knew immediately that Satan did not have the glory of God upon him. The only way Moses knew this is because he knew the glory of God. So to be able to discern Satan and his characteristics in others you would need to know God first. Not only that you would need the spirit to always be with you so you could discern him and his tactics, that continually lay in wait to deceive. 

Day 560