Helaman 6

This is an interesting chapter because there is a lot of information about Satan in it. It gives us a great deal of information on Satan's plan and how he tries to mislead us. Although Satan would probably do anything to turn us away from God, there are some basic patterns that he finds the most success with. This chapter deals specifically with secret combinations but we can apply it to ourselves even if we do not have any temptations or opportunities to join one.

Helaman 6:27

Yea, that same being (Satan) who did plot with Cain, that if he would murder his brother Abel it should not be known unto the world. And he did plot with Cain and his followers from that time forth.

Helaman 6:21

But behold, Satan did stir up the hearts of the more part of the Nephites, insomuch that they did unite with those bands of robbers, and did enter into their covenants and their oaths... that they should not suffer for their murders and their plunderings, and their stealings.

We learn from these two scriptures that one of the ways that Satan gets people to join secret combinations is by telling them that they will not get caught, that no one will know, that they will not have to suffer the consequences for their actions. This is a lie that he tells nearly everyone else as well.

Helaman 6:28

And it is that same being who put it into the hearts of the people to build a tower sufficiently high that they might get to heaven...

Here we see that Satan was telling these people that they could get to heaven on their own. That they did not need the Savior and that they did not need to keep the commandments of God. 2nd Nephi 28 gives tells us some more lies Satan uses.

2nd Nephi 28:21-22

And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well-and thus the devil cheateth their souls and leadeth them carefully down to hell. And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is o hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil for there is none-and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.

Both of these lies are intended to create a false sense of security. That we don't need to change. All of these lies fall in with Satan's plan from the beginning, they are elements of his first great lie. If you remember Satan's plan:

Moses 4:1

And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying- Behold here am I, send me, and I will be thy son and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.

I will redeem all mankind, that not one soul shall be lost. Really? There aren't any specifics here of how Satan was going to accomplish his plan, in the church we often say that he was going to force us to keep the commandments, (I couldn't find where this idea comes from, if anyone knows, leave it in a comment) but I think a simpler explanation is that he was going to take away our ability to chose by taking away the choices. If there is no wickedness, we cannot choose righteousness.

This is still Satan's plan today. To convince us that there is no law, that we will not suffer consequences for our sins, that there is no hell, that we will not suffer for our murders, and plunderings, and stealings. He tells us that we do not need to get to keep the commandments to get to heaven (how about all those people who believe we are "saved" just by saying we accept Christ). He tells us that all is well. In essence Satan tells us that we do not need to repent. He tells us that we do not need to exercise our agency to change and to chose to become more like Christ.

Maybe Satan's plan could have worked and we could have all been saved, but none of us would have been exalted. For that we need to become like Christ by choosing to repent of all our ungodliness.