4 For behold, this is according to the captivity of the devil, and also according to the justice of God, upon all those who will work wickedness and abomination before him.
What I find interesting about this verse is the insight into how justice works. Verse 3 said the wicked dig a pit for themselves; they essentially design their own demise. In parenting that is called “natural consequences.” From a justice perspective, it’s the perfect solution to sin, or at least its punishment. After all, those who enjoy an eternal life in the Celestial Kingdom essentially decide their reward through their actions; it is only fair that those who break eternal laws decide their fate through their actions as well. This is also “according to the captivity of the devil . . .” Satan doesn’t care if we suffer for the temptations we give in to. Actually he does care. He wants us to suffer, so even if he could, he wouldn’t prevent us from suffering the natural consequences of our sins. Mormon 4:5 says that the wicked are punished by the wicked. Satan certainly qualifies as one of the wicked. He wants us to be miserable like he is. Look what he did, or rather didn’t do for Korihor. Once his usefulness ran out, Korihor was left to be “run upon and trodden down, even until he was dead.” Then we’re told that Satan doesn’t support “his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell.” And that’s the way Satan works. Drag you in, and then abandon you to your punishments. After all, that is according to the captivity of the devil.
- Alma 30:60
- Mormon 4:5
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