Helaman 7:16. "how could you have given way to the enticing of him who is seeking to hurl away your souls down to everlasting misery"

There are real forces enticing us for good and for evil in this world.  And there are sources of these forces.  God's plan is for us to become like Him, and receive a fullness of joy.  Satan seeks to destroy us and make us 'miserable like unto himself' (2 Nephi 2:25-27).  There are commandments that help us know how to respond to these forces and progress toward joy.  One of Satan's powerful tools is to entice us to forget that these forces are real and that the authors of these forces work tirelessly to accomplish their objectives.

What a passionate, beautiful, and true speech Nephi gives to the Nephites in Helaman chapter 7.  Nephi helps me see and remember more clearly what my objective is on earth, and how hard Satan tries to destroy me.  If I can only maintain this vision at all times!  When I am tempted to be prideful or selfish or lazy, I must remember that this is the cunning enticing of the evil one, who seeks to hurl my soul to hell.  His intent is to destroy me!  He does not support his followers.  There is only temporary satisfaction or pleasure in following him.  But each time I follow him he attaches a cord to my heart, making it more difficult for me to desire the things that help me progress toward my real goal.  Fortunately, Christ is more powerful and will break these cords as I exercise faith in Him and repent.  As I have studied the Book of Mormon this year, and tried to apply its teachings, I have felt Christ loosening some of these cords that the evil one has attached to my heart.  The teachings in this book truly lead me to Christ and teach me how to exercise faith in Him.