Question
Dear Gramps,
I’ve always loved your site and hope you can answer a question my husband and I have been puzzling over!
Background: My husband and I have struggled greatly in the last year of our marriage. Many times while in the temple I have received the prompting that divorce is what I am supposed to do.
I’ve talked to my husband about it each time and we are both confused how I received this prompting when the Lord is so against divorce! (And so am I!)
Taylor
Answer
Dear Taylor,
I have many questions that I would ask you if we had the opportunity to discuss this in person. Since that is not an option, I’ll limit myself to one. When you contemplate divorce, do you feel peace?
My guess is no, or you wouldn’t be writing to me for advice. If you felt peace, you would boldly go forward with your decision knowing in your heart that it is the right one. “Do you feel peace” is also an important question because Satan sometimes tries to confuse and mislead us by imitating gifts of the Spirit. Elder Faust called him “The Great Imitator”. He said:
Who has not heard and felt the enticings of the devil? His voice often sounds so reasonable and his message so easy to justify. It is an enticing, intriguing voice with dulcet tones. It is neither hard nor discordant. No one would listen to Satan’s voice if it sounded harsh or mean. If the devil’s voice were unpleasant, it would not entice people to listen to it. (The Great Imitator)
Also consider:
Satan can imitate the gifts of tongues, prophecy, visions, healings, and other miracles. Moses had to complete with Satan’s imitations in Pharaoh’s court (See Exodus 7:8-22).
Satan wants us to believe in his false prophets, false healers, and false miracle workers. They may appear to be so real to us that the only way to know is to ask God for the gift of discernment. The devil himself can appear as an angel of light (see 2 Nephi 9:9).
Gospel Principles Manual Chapter 22: The Gifts of the Spirit
Taylor, Satan cannot imitate peace. I counsel you to ask the Lord if you should continue to work on your marriage and wait and see if that brings you some peace. Don’t accept an answer regarding your marriage until you do feel peace.
In some circumstances, abuse or adultery may be reason for divorce, but even then it can differ on a case by case basis. Prayer and waiting for an answer that brings you peace, would still be the best choice.
Gramps
