Promised Blessings from Scriptures and Prophets to Help You Resist Temptation
January 2022
Digital Only
Promised Blessings from Scriptures and Prophets to Help You Resist Temptation
By Emma Benson
Church Magazines
We will all face temptation. Remembering promised blessings from the scriptures and from prophets and apostles can help us resist it with the Lord’s help.
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young woman sitting outside and reading
Trials and temptations are an essential part of God’s plan for us to learn and grow. The Lord explained to Joseph Smith that “it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet” (Doctrine and Covenants 29:39).
So, naturally, each of us will be tempted in our mortal experience. Even Jesus Christ Himself, who was sinless and perfect, was tempted by the devil. The scriptures are full of ordinary people whom God helped do extraordinary things. And yet, like us, they all faced trials and temptations. For instance, Joseph in Egypt was tempted by Potiphar’s wife, who began making inappropriate advances toward Joseph and encouraged him to sin. But Joseph resisted, saying, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).
Because Joseph remained strong in the face of temptation, he was blessed by the Lord in time. We can do the same. The Lord has promised to help us. Here are just a few of the invitations He has given us through ancient scripture and modern prophets with the promise of receiving protection against temptation.
“Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:15).
Have Faith
“Tak[e] the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:17).
Pay Attention to Your Spiritual Self
“But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not” (Mosiah 4:30).
Study the Scriptures Daily
“Whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction” (1 Nephi 15:24).
Serve the Lord and Others
“But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage” (Mosiah 7:33).
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Pray Always
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41).
As we strive to live the gospel of Jesus Christ and resist the temptations around us, we will be blessed by promises in the scriptures and from Church leaders.