Journal of Discourses, 13:280; “It was revealed to me in the commencement of this Church, that the Church would spread, prosper, grow and extend, and that in proportion to the spread of the Gospel among the nations of the earth, so would the power of Satan rise.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, October 30, 1870
Acts 9:31; “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.”
Brigham’s words are horrifying!
I’ve done several studies on the growth of early Christianity and I’ve yet to find any indication the power of Satan grew when the early church did. Clearly, the Holy Spirit’s presence was present throughout Judea and Samaria and people for the first time in history knew the presence of the Lord wherever they went.
Satan’s power is everywhere because man is everywhere. This happened when Adam and Eve chose to disobey, everyone is born with a sin nature – Romans 5:12
While Christians have the HS with them it doesn’t preclude us from being completely sinless. Likewise, those who don’t know the Lord sin as well. Everyone is a sinner. The difference between believers and unbelievers is that believers tend to sin less as the HS guides their lives.
Evil is the result of pride and selfishness, but it certainly doesn’t spread because Christianity does! Evil spreads and grows because humans keep giving birth.
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