Helaman 6: 26-30

Lately as I have been studying my scriptures, I have made it a habit to pray before I begin my scripture study and ask the Lord to help find the things that I need to learn at this time. I have noticed a great difference in what I am learning as I have done this. When we go to the Lord with a willing heart, He in return will be more willing to help us as we strive to learn more in order to become like Him. Through this new pattern of scripture study, I was able to receive a new insight in Helaman 6.

This chapter is discussing the wickedness of the Gadianton robbers and the reasoning behind their wickedness. Verse 26 to 30 (below) clearly states that Satan is the cause of their wickedness.

26 Now behold, those secret oaths and covenants did not come forth unto Gadianton from the records which were delivered unto Helaman; but behold, they were put into the heart of Gadianton by that same being who did entice our first parents to partake of the forbidden fruit—

27 Yea, that same being who did plot with Cain, that if he would murder his brother Abel it should not be known unto the world. And he did plot with Cain and his followers from that time forth.

28 And also it is that same being who put it into the hearts of the people to build a tower sufficiently high that they might get to heaven. And it was that same being who led on the people who came from that tower into this land; who spread the works of darkness and abominations over all the face of the land, until he dragged the people down to an entire destruction, and to an everlasting hell.

29 Yea, it is that same being who put it into the heart of Gadianton to still carry on the work of darkness, and of secret murder; and he has brought it forth from the beginning of man even down to this time.

30 And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin. And behold, he doth carry on his works of darkness and secret murder, and doth hand down their plots, and their oaths, and their covenants, and their plans of awful wickedness, from generation to generation according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the children of men.

After reading these verses, I reflected upon the line "the author of all sin". I found the wording to be interesting and it caused me to think of the role of an author today. Authors are the individuals who come up with the ideas but nobody sees their ideas until they are published. Then it clicked. We are the publishers of sin. Satan causes unrighteous thoughts or feelings to come to our minds but we can make the choice to act on them or not. Satan can only get hold upon our hearts if we let him. Temptation is always going to be a part of our lives but we can choice whether or not to give in. At times I have worried of the power of Satan in my life and of those I love but then I remember we have an even more powerful God standing beside us through it all. Yes every single one of us does sin and we are not perfect but we can make the choice to repent and move forward in righteousness.

Then there is the reverse side of the spectrum. The Lord is the author of all righteousness and when we do what He asks us to, then we are publishers of righteousness.