Temptation & Sin

Behold Satan hath come among the children of men, and tempteth them to worship him; and men have become carnal, sensual, and devilish, and are shut out from the presence of God. (Moses 6:49)

The fall of Adam and Eve set Satan loose in the world and men became subject to his temptations. We came to this earth as mortal beings capable of committing sin. This is one of the most frustrating things about mortality, especially as one begins to learn the commandments and strive for perfection. If it isn’t one thing, it is another. We all, in one-way or another, sin on a daily basis. We lose patience with a child, we waste time, we don’t care for our physical body as we should, we do not complete a task to the best of our ability, we neglect to read the Book of Mormon as a prophet has commanded, we exceed the speed limit, or a host of other sins. None of these are major transgressions, but they are sins and stifle our progression. I get frustrated with myself when I give into temptation. And yet, though sin itself is negative, to be tempted, tested, and tried is necessary and positive in the eternal scheme of things.

I am reminded of training to run my first marathon (26.2 miles) in the spring of 1985. I trained throughout the fall, winter, and spring of 1984 and 1985. It was one of the most physically demanding times of my life.To be physically prepared to run the distance, there were certain things I needed to do on a regular basis. Most importantly, I needed to run regularly. As time progressed, I ran further and more frequently. I also needed to get sufficient sleep and rest, eat a reasonable diet, and keep a positive attitude. I also read running magazines to improve my attitude and to find out what it would take to complete the distance.

During those months of training I often was “tempted” to not run and sometimes did not. I was tired, it was too cold, it was raining (a frequent temptation here in the Northwest), or dinner smelled good. Sometimes I didn’t get enough rest or eat properly. I “sinned” against the rules for achieving the goal. At times I became so frustrated with my weaknesses, I felt like quitting.

How was it that these temptations were positive? I learned from the experience. If I did not run for a few days, I found that returning to running was difficult. I discovered the price I would pay if I didn’t get sufficient sleep. Over time, I increased my physical and mental discipline. I became a better person by learning to overcome the challenges I faced.

I struggled through that first marathon, but the growth I received through facing the challenges and adversity led me to become a better runner and a better person. The next time I ran a marathon, my training was more efficient and I ran a better marathon. By the time I did my fifth marathon, my training was down to a science. I learned by dealing with the challenges and mistakes.

If we are to achieve our eternal destiny, we must be faced with adversity and the chance to sin. By dealing with temptation and sin, we become stronger and better prepared to stand in our eternal place. Completing a marathon does not just happen. And becoming like our Heavenly Father does not just happen.