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Satan in the Logan Temple

I’m going to do something a little different. I am going to share two stories that I normally would not share about the forces of evil. Unlike everything else I talk about, I’m going to ask you not to chime in and share your experiences of the same things and I’m sure that some of you have had similar experiences to what I’m going to describe. If you want to share them send them to me in an email but do not please post them in the comments because to talk openly about Satan and evil is to invite him.

Therefore, I ask you not to invite him. I share these stories because well, it felt like the right thing to do. I ask you to listen, to respond if you like, but don’t discuss it beyond what I’m about to say.

You remember the Prophet Joseph was quite descriptive of his encounter with Satan in the sacred grove. Now, he is not the only one who has ever been so attacked. This is the first of two stories I will share tonight.

I heard this story a long time ago. I searched and searched and searched to find an authoritative source on this story.

In 1936, Elder Rudger Clawson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles related the following experience in an article in the church news of the Deseret News. He said:

“On one occasion, I heard the late Apostle Marriner W. Merrill, President of the Logan Temple relate this extraordinary incident. He was sitting in his office, Elder Clawson said when he noticed from the window a company of people coming up the hill to the temple. As they entered the temple grounds they presented a rather strange appearance, not only in dress but in their mode of travel. Some were riding on horses, others were in conveyances and still others were afoot. He wondered who they could be as they were not looking for a company of such size that particular morning. In fact, it says he wondered how they would accommodate all of them in the temple at first.”

Then Elder Clawson said, quoting Elder Merrill, “…they dismounted from their horses, stepped down from their conveyances, put their animals under the shade and walked about complacently as if they had a perfect right to be there. A little later, a person unknown to Brother Merrill entered the room.”

Brother Merrill said to him, “Who are you and who are these people who have come up and taken possession of the temple grounds unannounced?”

The individual answered and said, “I am Satan and these are my people.”

Brother Merrill then said, “What do you want, why have you come here?”

Satan replied, “I don’t like the work that is going on in this temple and feel that it should be discontinued. Will you stop it?”

Brother Merrill answered and said emphatically, “…No! we will not stop it. The work must go on.”

“Since you refused to stop it, I will tell you what I propose to do, ” the adversary said. I will take these people, my followers and distribute them throughout this temple district. And will instruct them to whisper in the ears of people persuading them not to go to the temple and thus bring about a cessation of your temple work.” Satan then withdrew.

President Merrill commenting on this strange interview with the evil one said, still quoting Elder Clawson:

“…that for quite a period of time, the spirit of indifference to temple work seemed to take possession of the people and very few came to the house of the Lord. The presumption was that Satan had carried out his threat which caused a temporary lull in the temple work. It is not to be wondered that Satan who is the enemy of all righteousness is displeased with temple work.”

Deseret News, December 12, 1936.