Satan and Own Personal Devils

This began as a question. Both Christ and Satan (then Lucifer) seem to have understood salavation and exaltation. Both seem to have complete knowledge. Both were in positions to be the savior. Yet one was exalted and the other exiled, and unlike Napoleon cannot return. It now seems there are many parts to this question, and I intend to explore them. This near stream of consciousness needs lots of editing, but these ideas are worth pursuing.

What is the distinguishing characteristic between Lucifer and Christ?

Notice that Lucifer has an actual name, whereas the Savior is really only known through titles. The only name He is ever given is the very personal Jesus, and that is only given (according to classical Christianity) after His birth. Even His name, Jesus, is in itself a statement of a Jewish belief (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus), specifically "the Lord Rescues." Why this name was chosen instead of Daniel (a godly judge), Samuel (God has heard), Ahron (exaulted), or any of thousands of other names is not clear.

Perhaps because there was really no other reason for Him to come. If we were not rescued from ourselves and our mistakes, if there was only Justice and no Mercy, then nothing else would have mattered.

But I digress, back to the original topic - Lucifer and Christ. Consider that Lucifer has no gaps in his memory. He is not out tempting souls because he cannot quite remember what the plan of salvation is. He knows full well what happens to souls that choose one or the other (and choose they do, for no man can be forced to follow either mammon or God). When speaking to Jacob, Lehi says Satan strives to make all people miserable like himself (2Ne 2:18) (this may be the origin of the phrase - misery loves company). But that does not make sense. There is not enough reason in that.

Sadly I know there is someone somewhere saying "Satan does not need a reason, he's Satan." Everything happens for a reason; there are no truly senseless or reasonless actions. Everyone wants something and we (including God, Christ, and Lucifer) will only act in ways that bring us what we want. Rather, it is more accurate to say we want somethings, and that plural is what causes us to act "irrationally", that interaction of the somethings. I want to lose weight, I want to eat, I want to exercise, I want to sit on my duff. All these schizophrenic desires lead me to the final decision of: eat too much.

So what is it that Satan wants? From scripture and modern revelation it is clear that he wants all men to be miserable. But why? What does that accomplish? What does he gain? He cannot gain more power, for how can anyone gain power over God? Part of what defines God is the power He wields.

He cannot buy his way back into good grace, he cannot deliver our souls to God, for they are not his to deliver. Even after the chains are wrapped around our heads, they are wrapped and unwrapped by our own choices.

If he cannot gain power over God, can he gain power over us? Scriptures say he cannot put himself over us, but we can put ourselves under him. But how does this help him? The only way to make sense of this is to understand the next life. The Celestial Kingdom is filled with the righteous who live with God and His Lamb forever, but only a portion of them get to do anything, or rather we are not told what the rest of humanity gets on the other side. There are gaps in our understanding of the next life, and even what we do know is fragmented and difficult to piece together.

When I get miserable, I do not seek to make others miserable too; I hide in a corner and drown out my misery the only way I can (given that I am not supposed to drink, gamble, womanize, and can not afford to go to Disneyland each weekend) I eat, and play computer games. And even those I should not do, but I suppose if I have to choose a guilty pleasure, there are worse ones to pick.

Back to the original point, the difference between Christ and Satan. Can the difference be seen in the names? Satan comes from Hebrew "accuser" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan). This would fit with LDS theology. Moses 4 gives an account of how Lucifer became Satan.

*moment of epiphany*
Pride is the greatest of all sins. Lucifer "Son of the Morning" was proud of his position as a son of the morning, and demanded to be revered by those beneath him. This can only make sense in LDS theology.

Modern revelation (and some cryptic ancient scriptures) teach that all humanity existed previous to this life. In fact not even God can create life, He can only help advance it. Our existence is independent of any action on God's part, our advancement to bodies (both spiritual and temporal) are tied to God, but our existence is ours. That is why neither God nor Lucifer can take our choices, our choices are part of our existence.

The title "Lucifer" must have significance. As a son of the morning (or perhaps THE son of the morning?) he seems to have been one of the first to recognize and follow God (whatever that means for the pre-earth life). Understanding that the end game of creation is the ability to become a creator (or, as many foolishly chose to phrase it - become a god, technically accurate, but only in the same way that Clinton did not have sex with that woman. It is obfuscation used by people who have not thought it out completely).

The end game of creation is the ability to create. [Writer's block here. I'm having trouble making this next leap. Intrisically I know this is the correct thought pattern, but cannot seem to make the logic work. Perhaps there is an error.]

How did pride lead to the fall of Lucifer? Lucifer suggests his plan (I will be thy son . . . will redeem all . . . yada yada yada . . . give me Thine honor) as though it could work. And many Latter-day Saints like to dismiss this as a plan that could not succeed, hence why it was rejected. However, this is not supported by Moses 4 (the creation of Satan). Lucifer's plan was not rejected because "it won't work" rather that it destroys agency (Moses 4:3). Lucifer was not cast out for suggesting a bad plan (good thing too, because I hate to wonder about the plan I suggested. Details are sketchy, but I remember something about pickles and ice cream) but for "[seeking] to destroy ageny. In other words, he was cast out not for the idea but for the attempt to follow through on the idea; Lucifer was seditious and was cast out (as a person must sometimes amputate to save the body, so God "amputated" Lucifer to protect the rest). Remember, we (including Lucifer) exist independant of God, and so cannot be destroyed. The worst thing that can happen to us is be cast out (or perhaps to be stripped of our bodies and left merely to exist, remember, the body belongs to God, the existance belongs to us).

End game being creation. Somehow the power /glory /honor of God allows Him to create. Lucifer wanted the power of God (Moses 4:3). Lucifer wanted to create. Did he equate creation with additional power? Does the act of creation yield additional power? Why did he seek the power of God? He must have known that through God's plan, he would not succeed. Obviously patience was not a concern. What is time to immortal beings? He wanted power, but knew he could not succeed through the Father's plan and so sought another way.

But what was gained by being cast out? Satan is not shown to be a foolish imp, blowing in the winds of fancy and fads. Rather he is depicted as cool, methodical, and patient. If power is what he desired, why follow a course that leads to exile? Surely he did not think a mutiny against God would succeed. Something is missing from revelation. Either a mutiny against God is possible, or there are other avenues to power. Knowing God (not to say that I know much) it does not seem likely that Lucifer was surprised at exile. Lucifer knew his actions would lead to exile, and so either mutiny in heaven is possible or exile can lead to power. Or Lucifer did not fully understand the consequences of his actions.

But God's purpose would have been ruined if Lucifer was exiled while not knowing the consequences of his actions. We can reasonably surmise that Lucifer fully understood his actions and the consequences.

And this brings us back to the original question. Satan's purpose is to gain power (Moses 4:3). We do not know why he wanted power, only that he wanted it. Christ's motivation is less understood. "Thy will be done" (Moses 4:2) and His will is to "bring . . . immortality and eternal life to man." I do not know why God wants this. I can only surmise that it brings Him happiness to advance the state of lower beings. Why this brings happiness I do not know. And if happiness is the end goal of existance, then perhaps we understand Satan. Somehow, his happiness is tied to our misery (but not necessarily Lucifer's happiness).

Somehow the act of creation brings happiness. Or rather the end result of creation is happiness (creation itself appears to be a rather messy affair involving lots of pain and inconvenience on the woman's part and lots of pointless anxiety on the man's part).