children tempted by satan

[Guest mysticmorini]

we know that children are not held eternally accountable for their sins until the age of eight, however are children below the age of eight still tempted to do evil by satan?

[Traveler]

we know that children are not held eternally accountable for their sins until the age of eight, however are children below the age of eight still tempted to do evil by satan?

Jesus cast an unclean spirit out of a child that had been affected by the spirit since the child was an infant. (Mark 9:21) The English translation is not as clear but experts in ancient writing indicate that the reference to child in verse 21 is that of an infant.

The Traveler

[Justice]

Yes. To me this is one of the evidences of Satan's purely evil and selfish desires. He wants to addict people before they are even able to make intelligent choices, or before they are even accountable.

[Blackmarch]

we know that children are not held eternally accountable for their sins until the age of eight, however are children below the age of eight still tempted to do evil by satan?

no idea.

[marts1]

At a very young age we are all tempted to do wrong by the envirnment of a natural evil world to some extent, which has much to do with Satan.

[Traveler]

I thought I would add something I have found quite strange about unclean spirits. It appears to me that even small children can be infected by unclean spirits that are carried by others or left behind by others. What parents watch at night when children are sleeping or what may be sought for on personal computers seems to have corrupting influence in the home that affects much more than just the individual involved.

In relation to this idea of unclean spirit infestation I have experienced another strange thing – I noticed that often when I was traveling that many hotel rooms seemed to have an unusual proclivity for the TV to produce provocative programs when I was just looking for some news or sports. In a conversation to a friend about these seeming odd occurrences, my friend suggested that I use the priesthood to bless my hotel rooms upon arrival. This practice has completely eliminated the odd occurrences.

The Traveler

[Elphaba]

In relation to this idea of unclean spirit infestation I have experienced another strange thing – I noticed that often when I was traveling that many hotel rooms seemed to have an unusual proclivity for the TV to produce provocative programs when I was just looking for some news or sports. In a conversation to a friend about these seeming odd occurrences, my friend suggested that I use the priesthood to bless my hotel rooms upon arrival. This practice has completely eliminated the odd occurrences.

The Traveler

Every television in every hotel room in the nation has those provocative channels on them. You are not so special that the television chose them for you.

Elphaba

[Elphaba]

Children are not evil. They are not cognitively developed enough to know what evil is, and thus their actions cannot be defined as evil. Even if they do happen to do something heinous, which has happened, it's not because they planned to commit an evil act. It is most likely because they have been raised in an evil environment, i.e., child abuse, and when I use the word "evil" in this instance, I don't mean anything supernatural. I mean the very real child abuse that destroys so many children and causes them to lash out the only way they know how.

Children do not have unclean spirits because their parents watched a television program. They do not have unclean spirits because their parents watched something on the computer. They have ruined spirits because their parents neglect and/or abuse them.

Some of the responses to the OP are absurd. In fact, it's just a weird thread, period.

Elphaba

[marts1]

I thought I would add something I have found quite strange about unclean spirits. It appears to me that even small children can be infected by unclean spirits that are carried by others or left behind by others. What parents watch at night when children are sleeping or what may be sought for on personal computers seems to have corrupting influence in the home that affects much more than just the individual involved.

In relation to this idea of unclean spirit infestation I have experienced another strange thing – I noticed that often when I was traveling that many hotel rooms seemed to have an unusual proclivity for the TV to produce provocative programs when I was just looking for some news or sports. In a conversation to a friend about these seeming odd occurrences, my friend suggested that I use the priesthood to bless my hotel rooms upon arrival. This practice has completely eliminated the odd occurrences.

The Traveler

I have also used the priesthood power many times in the past when I have been confronted with the direct powers of evil. I have never seen it fail me...bty I'm not referring to children here

Edited March 3, 2010 by marts1

[Gwen]

i don't believe children are possessed with unclean spirits because of what the parents do. i do think what the parents do can effect the kids by way of effecting the spirit of the home.

i've found from personal experience (most being hindsight not an i see what i'm looking for thing but those moments when you finally put it all together and the light bulb goes off) my kids do not rest well on nights hubby and i have argued, even if we save the disagreement till after they are in bed so the kids won't be exposed to it. the kids will be restless and up and down all night. they don't sleep well when we watch shows about murder or other evils in the world. we don't watch "bad" shows, but i do find some effect the kids sleep more than others. some i've stopped watching because of it.

parents do decide the spirit of the home and that will effect the kids.

[HiJolly]

I had an encounter at the age of 7 where I was powerfully tempted beyond reason or inclination to commit suicide. At the time, I did not realize it was an attack from beyond the veil, indeed it took me many years of experience with the Spirit before I could understand what had happened. After the years, as I contemplated that experience and the experience of my baptism it all made sense to me.

HiJolly

[Seminarysnoozer]

Temptations have their effect through our bodies, as our bodies are part of this world and Satan has dominion over things of this world. The effect Satan has is only dependent on how much one listens to the influence of the body over the spirit regardless of age. I think eventually the body gains more and more influence with age unless we actively counteract that through living the gospel. So, I think the spirit is stronger than the body influences when we are young but the scales start to tip in the other direction with age.

[Justice]

I didn't think the OP had anything to do with unclean spirits possessing children. It seems it kinda morphed into something along those lines.

I was headed toward the fact that Satan will tempt to pleasure at as young of an age as possible hoping to develop habits in children that will lead them to evil actions as they get older.

[Snow]

we know that children are not held eternally accountable for their sins until the age of eight, however are children below the age of eight still tempted to do evil by satan?

I am usually a customer of the Sport Illustrated Swimsuit edition which some might see as a vice. I use to think that I just liked to look at attractive women in provocative poses in exotic and beautiful locals. What a relief it is to find out that what is really going on is that an invisible demonic deity is magically causing me to sin.

[Dravin]

I am usually a customer of the Sport Illustrated Swimsuit edition which some might see as a vice. I use to think that I just liked to look at attractive women in provocative poses in exotic and beautiful locals. What a relief it is to find out that what is really going on is that an invisible demonic deity is magically causing me to sin.

I'm sensing a best selling self-help book.

[Moksha]

Suppose you could always send a she bear to deal with unruly children.

At the risk of being asked if I am indeed a Mormon, how deeply are we Mormons into assigning all mistakes or wrongdoing to Satan?

.

[bytor2112]

I am usually a customer of the Sport Illustrated Swimsuit edition which some might see as a vice. I use to think that I just liked to look at attractive women in provocative poses in exotic and beautiful locals. What a relief it is to find out that what is really going on is that an invisible demonic deity is magically causing me to sin.

Oh my...me too....what a relief!!

[Snow]

At the risk of being asked if I am indeed a Mormon, how deeply are we Mormons into assigning all mistakes or wrongdoing to Satan?

.

Regardless of whether or not there exists an actual magical entity that personifies evil and has the ability to manipulate the physical world and magically put thoughts into your head - I say that it completely UN-useful to think so.

How bout this: Take responsibility for your own thoughts and actions. I works for me.

For those that do believe in such a magical creature... how do you think he works his magic?

Electromagnetism?

Power of the priesthood?

Biomechanics?

Voodoo?

[richardingram]

This is an interesting topic that took an odd turn. Age of accountability can be a sticky conversation in some complex situations, but generally considered 8 years old. However, as far as children sinning:

"They cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me" (see D&C 29:46–47).

Which lends itself to the sidebar conversation around all bad things/ actions being attributed to Satan. We all agree that little kids do "bad" things - but if Satan can't tempt them, what caused them?

[Gwen]

i think what causes the "bad things" kids do comes down to two things.

1 the natural man. not just the natural for self but the limitations on the body. example.... my almost 2 yr old is thirsty. she can't really communicate that. she sees mommy getting a drink. she thinks "that's what i want" so she starts grabbing the cup from mommy's hand and screaming. ok ok mom gets it you want some of my drink. so mom asks "are you thirsty" baby says "yes" so mom hands baby the drink. baby takes a sip and thinks, 'water yuck, i wanted chocolate milk'. well you can't put chocolate milk in a cup that's full of water. the logical answer is to dump the water out. so the baby dumps the water out on the floor and starts to protest again. is dumping a cup of water all over the floor and throwing a fit "bad"... you bet.

2. how do we define "bad things" that kids do? i think we typically define "bad" by the rules we set. temper tantrums are bad. throwing food at the table is bad. dumping water on the floor is bad. playing with glue in the car is bad. walking through the house with muddy feet on mom's carpet is bad. fighting with your sister for a toy is bad. leaving your clean clothes on the floor so they get dirty and never worn and end up back for mom to wash is bad. coloring on the wall with sharpie is bad. sneaking cookies 30 min before dinner is bad. refusing to eat your veggies is bad. climbing on the roof to get the ball you threw up there is bad. none of those are sins. none of those are "bad" by god's definition of things. they are simply evidence of the learning curve we experience in life. yes kids to things we've told them a million times not to do. doesn't make them "bad" kids. doesn't mean satan made them do it. doesn't mean satan even tempted them to do it.

[Prodigal_Son]

Children are not evil.

Of course they're not, and nobody's suggesting otherwise.

...It is most likely because they have been raised in an evil environment... I don't mean anything supernatural.

The 'evil environment' is precisely what Traveler was alluding to. On an LDS forum, however, your distinction between an 'evil environment' and the 'supernatural' is going to be a lone opinion. Evil equals Satan. Whether it's because he and his minions are present at the moment, or because they've been winning the war of attrition for years on people is beside the point.

Traveler's point, unless I am much mistaken, is that when we let the enemy (Satan, worldly ways and vices) inside the city walls (our home), our fortress is no longer secure - and all those within are imperiled as a result.

...what the parents do can effect the kids by way of effecting the spirit of the home.

Exactly. Any parent who would think otherwise is a fool. How can we possibly have The Spirit in our home if we're angry? Or if we revel in and titillate ourselves with sex, murder, hate, lies, etc???

Regardless of whether or not there exists an actual magical entity that personifies evil and has the ability to manipulate the physical world and magically put thoughts into your head - I say that it completely UN-useful to think so.

How bout this: Take responsibility for your own thoughts and actions.

Identifying the source of a problem is one of the crucial steps to remedying it. I can recognize that my car's not working right. And I can blame myself and make do... Or I can work to identify the source of the issue and work to resolve it - and potentialyl avoid replicating the problem later on.

NOBODY here is making excuses. Nobody here is claiming they're not to blame for their actions because "Satan made me do it!" They're just acknowledging that we are under a constant barrage from the Adversary and the guard was unwisely dropped for personal amusements or frustration or whatever...

Denying the constant threat that Satan is in our lives is playing right into his hands. Identifying his handy work, however, empowers us to make better decisions to thwart him in advance (like with the hotel rooms, or tarnishing the feel of the Spirit in our homes) - so as to better improve our time while in this life.

Which lends itself to the sidebar conversation around all bad things/ actions being attributed to Satan. We all agree that little kids do "bad" things - but if Satan can't tempt them, what caused them?

That's easy. Here's a subpar analogy, but I think it gets the point across. Imagine you, me and your mother or wife are standing together. I want to get at you, but I can't. I'm not allowed. Well, I still have several options. I can shove one of them into you without breaking the rule. I could cause harm to one you love - which will cause harm to you. I could bring grief and sorrow to them and still affect you.

A kid who is raised by good, faithful LDS parents is not on equal ground as a kid raised by, say, an irresponsible, drug addicted porn star.

Environment is HUGE.

[dorave]

we know that children are not held eternally accountable for their sins until the age of eight, however are children below the age of eight still tempted to do evil by satan?

Of course, some kids are almost born evil.

[Dravin]

Of course, some kids are almost born evil.

Such as?

[dorave]

Such as?

You aiint seen The Omen? have you

[Dravin]

You aiint seen The Omen? have you

No. Are you citing a fictional work as an example of "some kids are almost born evil"?