Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (deceased) wrote in his book “Finding Peace in Our Lives:”
When Jesus was weak after his forty-day fast, Satan saw an opportunity to tempt him to gratify his hunger through an unworthy use of his divine powers. Satan unprincipled and shrewd, suggested that Jesus transform stones into food. The suggestion sheathed a twofold evil: That of demeaning Jesus’ divine power for personal gratification, and, in so doing, that of demonstrating that he was indeed the son of God.
What Jesus said to rebuke Satan constitutes a dependable guide for each of us. He declared without reservation, “Man is not to live by bread alone, but by every word that issues from the mouth of God.” To Satan’s enticements Jesus gave an emphatic “No!” The reason for his response must be obvious to anyone who has truly pondered life’s challenges and purposes. Bread will not and cannot feed people’s souls. To accomplish this, obedience to every word of God is what we need. This alone will strengthen the soul and endow it with the power to develop godlike attributes. This is surely wisdom for each of us to consider.
With rejection by Jesus of his apparently irresistible appeal, Satan did not retreat or concede defeat. Evil is tenacious above all the forces and influences known to man. Satan persisted and in his second attempt he employed that appeal which, next to man’s insatiable physical appetites, overwhelms most all other appeals: the appeal to exercise power. The brilliant Lord Acton said, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Human beings are prone to dominate. It is a heady intoxicant. They exercise excessive power over their children, their spouses, and their neighbors. They seek power to rule, to command, to dictate. They seek power to determine the destiny of nations and the utilization of the earth’s resources. They crave power to control nearly everything except themselves.
So diabolical is this urge that in a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, God issued a special warning: do not exercise arbitrary and tyrannical power. Heed these eloquent words from the Doctrine and Covenants: “No power or influence can or ought to be obtained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness and by love unfeigned.’ (Doctrine and Covenants 121:41.)
. . . . Jesus was prepared in the solitude of the wilderness and had made up his mind far in advance of the critical moment when temptation presented its deceitful ploys.
In this regard, there is only one hope for any of us and that is to steel our minds and hearts against temptation, against enticements of the devil, before temptation arises. This we can best do through pondering in solitude, when we can clearly see, understand and listen to the promptings of our conscience and the still small voice. This practice is extremely valuable if we are to resist and conquer evil.
Prepared for any temptation, Jesus merely retorted, “You should not tempt the Lord your God.’ In other words, ” Satan, don’t you remember —it also says not to put the Lord your God to such a foolish test.” I sincerely hope that none of us do this either. ~Joseph B. Wirhtlin, Finding Peace in Our Lives (Salt Lake City, Deseret Book, 1995), 34-35
