Degrees

Often times we wonder how things came about.  You wake up one morning and wonder how you found yourself in this situation. Most incidences or changes don't just happen. They happen in a matter of degrees.

Amalickiah wanted to be a king over the Lamanite people. When given the chance to be a leader over a large army he took advantage of the opportunity. He convinced Lehonti that if he would take his army and surround them Lehonti would be their chief commander and he would be second in command. Lehonti agrees and over takes Amalickiah's army.

"And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer posion by degrees to Lehonti, that he died...." Alma 47:18

Just as Amalickiah poisoned Lehonti by degrees Satan too posions us by degrees. We don't just one day wake up and decide to commit a serious crime or sin. It happens a little at a time. Satan first entices us, making us believe if we follow him we will have more, and that things will be better. We become subject to his will one decision at a time until we have no other choice to but to follow him. Or so he wants us to believe.

"Yielding to his [Satan's] temptations leads down a narrower and narrower range of choices until none remains and to addictions that leave us powerless to resist." -Elder D. Todd Christofferson

I've seen this in my life and in others around me and know that it is true. I also know we don't have to let or allow Satan to poison us. By choosing to be aware of things around us and choosing weather to act or not act can make all the difference.