Satan - The Great Separator.....

A number of months ago I watched a documentary on the annual migration of antelope, elephants, wildebeests and other African animal species across miles of African terrain in search of food and water.  Each year millions of animals along with their young begin their long trek from Tanzania's Serengeti Plains to Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.

The animals travel a distance of approximately 1800 miles.  Every year an estimated 250,000 travelers do not survive this rigorous journey.  They are followed relentlessly by predators: Crocodiles lie in wait at the first river crossing to devour the weak and the young. Lions, hyenas, leopards and wild dogs constantly pursue the herds looking for opportunities to separate out an unsuspecting wanderer from the main herd.  As hungry predators begin their chase, their goal is to separate animals on the fringes and drive them further away from the safety of the group.  They pursuit relentlessly until targeted animals become too weak to outrun their pursuers and are taken down and devoured. Though this process may be heart wrenching to observe, life upon this earth in its telestial sphere is set up to operate in this manner.

There are many lessons to learn about spiritual realities from the structure of this earth.  Such comparisons can be made from the drama of the chase and hunt that plays out relentlessly on the plains of the Africa.  Satan is a predator in hot pursuit of our souls. He is the ravenous wolf who desires to enter in and devour the flock. His first efforts are bent towards separating us from the good shepherd and all he represents. His techniques are very similar to the hyenas seeking their prey.  He first pursues at a distance watching and waiting for the right moment to move. Then he seeks to separate his intended victim from the safety of fellow traveling companions who provide shelter and protection.  From then on it is a battle of endurance; Satan and his followers against the son or daughter of God he is intending to defeat.

The Adversary attempts to separate us from our scripture reading and from our prayers.  He desires to separate us from weekly attendance at church. He separates us from the temple under the guise that we are too busy to go, or blinds us to the blessings that attend temple worship for both ourselves and our children.  He separates us from strong relationships with our families.   He separates us from our leaders by offense or judgment of those who have been called and given the charge to watch over the flock.  He separates us from the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost through many distractions, temptations and diverse ways that keep us from hearing. He uses discouragement and depression and a myriad other difficulties in this life to divide us out from God or from the gatherings of God's people.

There is a reason the Savior organized a church when he was here on the earth and gave Peter the charge to feed his sheep.  Not only do the sheep need to be fed but they need to be protected.  They need the safety of the fold.  The most dangerous of wolves are those who are allowed to enter in to the fold in the disguise of sheeps' clothing and begin picking off the members of the flock  unsuspectingly from within. In 3rd Nephi the Savior gives a repeated warning that we must watch and pray always that we might not be led away captive by the enemy of our souls.  May we not allow Satan to separate us out from that which connects us to the Good Shepherd and his flock.

59 For what shepherd is there among you having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and devour his flock?  And behold, if a wolf enter his flock doth he not drive him out?  Yea, and at the last, if he can, he will destroy him.
60 And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed.

(Book of Mormon | Alma 5:59 - 60)