A Healthy Respect

It is important to maintain a healthy respect for the evil one, while of course always remembering that God is all-powerful, even more powerful than the devil and all his mighty whirlwinds. Remember that although we (the saints of God) are imperfect, though we may stumble and bumble and perhaps falter and fail, yet still we are the covenant children of Christ, and we have the capacity to do great good in the world every single day, and that makes us a prime target for Satan and his many hosts of devil-subjects. Remember that he will stir up forces to oppose every righteous desire we have, every Christ-like act we intend or try to do. He will try to nullify our righteousness, marginalize the good we are capable of doing, and most of all try with all his might to turn us from our righteousness. Ever has it been. So it will ever be.

Zerahemnah, the wicked Lamanite king, reflects many of the characteristics of Satan. He came out in open attack on the Nephites. Here is some of the stuff he did:

6 And now, as the Amalekites were of a more wicked and murderous disposition than the Lamanites were, in and of themselves, therefore, Zerahemnah appointed chief captains over the Lamanites, and they were all Amalekites and Zoramites.
7 Now this he did that he might preserve their hatred towards the Nephites, that he might bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of his designs.
8 For behold, his designs were to stir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into bondage.

The adversary will never stop in his quest to destroy us, sometimes physically, as in this case, but always spiritually. Therefore, protect yourself. Watch yourself. Check yourself. Humble yourself. Pray always, that you may come off conqueror. Trust in God. Do good continually. Judge righteously (Alma 43).