The War in Heaven and Satan’s Continuing Battle for Power Kevin M. Bulloch
Council in HeavenIn the Council in Heaven, Jesus offered to redeem us, saying, “Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever” (Moses 4:2). Robert T. Barrett, The Grand Council.
Many parents, as they have labored through the process of raising a teenager, may have wondered at times if Satan’s idea of destroying agency was such a bad idea. However, most parents have learned from experience that trying to control a child’s decisions, even in the right direction, can often result in the child’s rebellion. Very few, if any, like to be forced to do something, even if it is good. Having the right to live according to our personal desires and to exercise our agency, even if what we choose is not wise or good for us, is very precious to us. We prize our moral agency so highly that any attempt to undermine, circumvent, manipulate, control, or eliminate it often leads to conflict. These battles have spanned heaven and earth and have included both individuals and great assemblies.
The War in Heaven
In one of the most significant of such conflicts, Lucifer “became Satan” (Moses 4:4). When Satan “rebelled against [God], and sought to destroy the agency of man” (Moses 4:3), there was “war in heaven” (Revelation 12:7). That conflict led to Satan being “thrust down from the presence of God” (D&C 76:25), for God had given “unto man his agency” (Moses 7:32) and would not allow it to be destroyed. Sadly, Satan was able to amass a large following to his cause which resulted in the loss of “a third part of the hosts of heaven” (D&C 29:36; Revelation 12:4)[1], the first casualties of what has become an ongoing war.[1]
There was an ancient American Prophet named Alma who when faced with incredible evil in his time, decided to give up his judgment seat and teach his people instead.
“…And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had a more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.” Alma 31:5; The Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ: Scripture https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/31?lang=eng&id=p1-p2,p5#p1
I believe we need to teach the truth to every person on the Earth. And do it with wisdom, the teachings of God, and every good and true principle that exists.
For, if we follow the spirit of God, live by its pattern, and teach truths to others, it will prevail.
Protecting the environment is one of the greatest challenges we face as a society. While efforts are underway to develop renewable energy sources and promote sustainable practices, there are several often overlooked strategies that could make a significant positive impact if properly implemented.
Telecommuting and Remote Work One relatively simple way to reduce our environmental footprint is to embrace telecommuting and remote work wherever possible. When employees can work from home, it eliminates their need to commute, reducing vehicle emissions and road congestion. Tech companies have been leaders in this area, but the Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated that telecommuting is feasible for many types of jobs. Governments could incentivize this practice through tax breaks for companies that allow remote work and grants to upgrade residential internet infrastructure.
Exploring Thorium Nuclear Power Nuclear power is a controversial topic, but an often overlooked alternative is thorium-based nuclear reactors. Thorium is far more abundant in nature than uranium and theoretically produces less hazardous waste. Thorium reactors are also designed to be meltdown-proof with automatic shutdown mechanisms. While still nuclear, thorium could provide large-scale baseload power with a superior safety profile compared to conventional uranium reactors. More research and development of thorium reactors could be encouraged through public and private investment.
Thorium
Not Putting All Our Eggs in One Basket As we develop cutting-edge renewable energy solutions like solar, wind, and fusion power, we must be careful not to put all our eggs in one basket. Technologies like improving the electricity grid, capturing emissions from fossil fuel plants, and new nuclear technologies shouldn’t be considered static. We should continue advancing these established technologies in parallel rather than abandoning them entirely. An “all of the above” strategy diversifies our energy sources and puts us in the best position to dramatically reduce emissions as soon as possible without overcommitting to solutions that may encounter unexpected roadblocks.
Pursuing Multiple Fuel Technologies Part of a diversified strategy involves pursuing multiple fuel technologies beyond just petroleum and natural gas. Ethanol and other alcohol-based fuels allow existing vehicles to use plant-based sources through flex-fuel systems. Capturing methane from landfills, agricultural waste, and other sources allows us to use excess greenhouse gases as an energy source rather than letting them dissipate into the atmosphere. We should encourage investment in flex-fuel vehicles while also building out infrastructure to produce and distribute alternative fuel sources.
Mining Landfills and Waste-to-Energy Our existing landfills represent huge untapped resources that we should take advantage of. By using modern mining practices on current landfill sites, we can extract and recycle metals, plastics, and other reusable materials that were previously discarded. This reduces the need for resource extraction elsewhere. Additionally, the non-recyclable waste from landfills can be burned for waste-to-energy electricity generation, providing power while reducing landfill volume and hazards. Extending the lifetimes of landfills through mining and energy recapture allows us to get more value out of existing sites.
In summary, promoting telecommuting through incentives can reduce emissions from transportation. Developing meltdown-proof thorium nuclear reactors could provide safe baseload power. Continuing to improve existing technologies like the grid, emissions capture, and nuclear gives us a diversified strategy. Pursuing alternative fuel sources like ethanol and methane allows us to leverage current infrastructure. And mining landfills for resources to recycle or burn for energy maximizes our existing waste deposits. With creativity and commitment to a variety of solutions, we can make major strides in environmental protection.
Submitted by Michael Travler Short story science fiction writer
