“There are three independent principles — the spirit of God, the spirit of man, and the spirit of the devil. All men receive their thoughts and are inspiration from one of these sources. Each person, as an agent unto himself, has power to resist the devil.They who have tabernacles have power over those who have not.” Joseph Smith (May 16, 1841, Williams Clayton’s Private Book)
We can get “promptings” from the adversary. By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. The devil has power to suggest things to our minds, invitations to entertain that which is contrary to the will of God. The most subtle temptations come in an individual way, as personal prompting to do wrong.
Imps are lesser demons, small in size, of various shapes, created by Satan, and trained by his demons. They are vicious, manipulative, and love to tempt those that are greedy, foolish, and gullible. They seem to have one purpose and that is all they do. They are very good at it.
Other Imps cause irritation, short tempers, and all manner of negative emotions. They will try to get us to do things that aren’t right or could cause us problems. When a small child gets one on them, it can cause hyper-activity. They are not created with much intelligence, but are very effective at what they do.
Satan will send Imps out into a new situation, in the world, first to see what happens to them. If they are destroyed, it isn’t any concern.
They are more than Imps that are sent to destroy us. All classes and variety are trained by Satan and his leaders ot cause us problems. They are very powerful and extremely competen at what they are assigned to do to us. If they fail at their assignment, they are taken back to hell and tortured. There are many of these evil entities named in the scriptures:
- False spirits (D&C 50:2)
- Lying spirit (Alma 30:42)
- Spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7)
- Spirit of whoredoms (Hosea 4:12)
- Contentions (Mosia 2:32, 3 Nephi 11:29)
- Spirit of jealousy (Numbers 5:14)
- and many others
If the prompting is good and holy, it is from a divine source; it is harmful and against righteous principles, it is quite assuredly an evil spirit sent from Satan. A good example is when we feel like w aren’t worthy to pray or we shouldn’t pray. “…for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.” (2 Nephi 32:8). When encountered or felt, it is best to dipose of them immediately.
The scriptures give several descriptions of the strategies used by the devil to implement his cunning plan.
- He executes his plan carefully (2 Nephi 28:;21)
- He urges all to abuse their agency that he may come and take “away light and trith, through disobedience” D&C 93:39
- He will fulfill, at least in some measure and for some period of time, his promise of easy happiness in sin 3 Nephi 27″11, Alma 30:60
- He leads at a pace calculated to pacify and lull into carnal security by whispering that “all is well” 2 Nephi 28:21
- He emboldens with false and vain and foolish doctrines 2 Nephi 28:9
- He urges all to contend with one another over truth, according to their own learning 2 Nephi 28:4
- He denies the justice of God and teaches that mercy will overcome justice 2 Nephi 28:22
- He whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains 2 Nephi 28″22
