3 Nephi 2 ...and delights to own and bless you..

3 nephi 2:2 and thus did Satan get possession of the hearts of the people again, insomuch that he did blind their eyes and lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was a foolish and a vain thing.

There is that word hearts again- let's replace it with "thoughts." Possession of the thoughts of the people. interesting...

same chapter- verse 3: Satan did go about, leading away the hearts of the people, tempting them and causing them that they should do great wickedness in the land.

There it is again... "leading away the thoughts of the people..."

I'd like to see the flip side. So- instead of Satan taking possession of the thoughts of the people-

Mosiah 5:7 "your hearts (thoughts) are changed through faith on his name; therefore ye are born of him and have become his sons and daughters."

Again, the possession, or determining whose party you belong to, comes through thoughts.

Alma 34:35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

Alma- 34:35- re-mix- For behold, if ye have not procrastinated the day of your repentance , behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the Lord, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the devil hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and this is the final state of the righteous.

Alma 40:13 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil—for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house—

These verses are all denoting some possession or ownership. This is not to be mistaken for a lack of agency. The way I am understanding it, especially looking at Alma 40:13 and 3 nephi 2:2, we choose good works, or or evil works, and to the degree to which we do so, there is a part or portion of the Spirit of the Lord or the spirit of the devil that enters into us, and takes possession of our thoughts. The phrase "evil works" sounds so harsh, like something illegal or horrible- but I think the devil is more subtle than that. I would suggest that "evil works" could be as simple as making a poor choice with our television watching, or even more of a situation of omission, such as not praying and actively studying the scriptures. Again, it is just a part or portion, perhaps a small part or portion.

I love the hymn, "Dearest Children, God is near you, watching 'or you day and night, and delights to own and bless you, if your strive to do what's right. He will bless you, he will bless you, if you put your trust in him."

I think this gives me another idea how to get the Spirit of the Lord in my life in greater abundance- good works.

Art by students of the Creative Art Space for Kids Foundation.