Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles told a story about his young sons being warned to avoid skunks while playing on an uncle’s property. They later said they didn’t see any skunks—“but we did see a black kitty cat with a white stripe on its back!”
This amusing case of mistaken identity reminds us of something important. Satan is eager to trick us into thinking that harmful things are harmless and that good things are bad. It’s what he does.
So how can we avoid being deceived? “The way is simple,” Elder Stevenson said. “Obedience to commandments given to our prophet is a key not only in avoiding the influence of the deceiver but also in experiencing lasting joy and happiness.”
Gary E. Stevenson, “How to Avoid Deception,” New Era, Aug. 2020, 48.