The law of Undulation...?

A favorite book of mine is the Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis. For those who are not acquainted with this book it is a compilation of letters written from an uncle (Screwtape) to a nephew (Wormwood). The uncle is an expert tempting devil and the nephew is a new or rookie tempting devil. Screwtape is giving advice and seemingly responding to letters that Wormwood has written about an individual to which Wormwood is assigned to tempt. 

I enjoy reading any portions or sections of this book as C.S. Lewis clearly lays out paths and methods that are employed to tempt and lead away any individuals (as the character Wormwood is tempting seems to go through many encompassing experiences). In any future reference of the book and it’s applications I will always try to utilize scriptural references and stories so that it can be adequately associated with revelation in the scriptures as it is prevalent, especially in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants.  

Screwtape writes an entire letter (chapter 8) to his nephew, Wormwood, about the high’s and low’s, “troughs and peaks”, that humans experience. He is attempting to teach Wormwood how our Father in Heaven uses the troughs and peaks and in turn how to tempt a human in both occasions. Screwtape states the obvious, “As long as he (a human) lives on earth periods of emotional and bodily richness and liveliness will alternate with periods of numbness and poverty.” Thus introducing the fact that we as humans go through ups and downs and it is simply an un-avoidable fact. He continues to explain to Wormwood this “law of Undulation, in hope of empowering Wormwood with understanding of how “the enemy” (Our Father in Heaven) wants to make use of the troughs and peaks and how to counteract Our Father in Heaven. Let us learn with Wormwood so we might perceive how our Father in Heaven wants to help us and how Satan would tempt and lead us away.

“He (our Father in Heaven) relies on the troughs even more than on the peaks. The reason is this. He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of himself-creatures whose life, on it’s miniature scale, will be qualitatively like His own, not because he has absorbed them, but because their wills freely conform to His. We (Satan and his followers) want cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally become sons. We (Satan and his followers) want to suck in, He (our Father in Heaven) wants to give out. We (Satan and his followers) are empty and would be filled; He (our Father in Heaven) is full and flows over. Our war aim is a world in which our Father Below has drawn all other beings into himself: The Enemy (our Father in Heaven) wants a world full of beings united to him, but still Distinct.”

The concepts that Wormwood is explaining are easily found in the scriptures as we read of the war in heaven and the plan that Lucifer presented. We find the ideas revealed furthermore in the book of Moses. God came to Moses and informed Moses that he had a plan for him and then showed him the world. After which he withdrew from Moses, “that his glory was not upon Moses.” Moses 1:9 Then Satan comes to tempt Moses after the glory of God has withdrawn. Moses tells Satan to leave. Moses is standing on the foundation of his testimony he gained from a great “peak”, which allows him strength to endure a tremendous trough as Satan himself openly approaches, tempts and attacks Moses. I find it beautiful that Moses casts Satan away and the Lord returns to reveal to Moses that “This is my work and my glory-to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Moses 1:39. This scriptural story reinforces what was just said and what is about to be said in the letter of Screwtape concerning God’s plan for us and how we can grow into great men and women of God through undulation.

“He (our Father in Heaven) leaves the creature to stand up on it’s own legs-to carry out from the will alone duties which have lost all relish. It is during such trough periods, much more than during the peak periods, that it (a human) is growing into the sort of creature He (our Father in Heaven) wants it to be. Hence the prayers offered in the state of dryness are those which please him best. He cannot ‘tempt’ to virtue as we do to vice. He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles. Our (Satan and his followers) cause is never more in danger than when a human, no longer desiring, but still intending, to do our Enemy’s (Father in Heaven’s) will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.”

Correlations abound in scripture beyond the beautiful story of Moses seeing our Lord on the mount. Nephi tells us “My God hath been my support; he has led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filed me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.” Joseph Smith cried from Liberty jail “O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?” Our Savior so lovingly returned words of comfort to Joseph Smith, and each of us, in saying “know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. Therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.” D&C 122:7,9

These highs and lows, troughs and peaks, are part of the plan of salvation. It is plain that we develop in our lows as much as our highs (if not more so). That Satan is there-always, to deceive, tempt, induce doubt and fear, or otherwise drag us to his hell. While our Father in Heaven is so lovingly helping us grow and learn through experience so we can one day return to him and become as he is. Our Father may let go of our hand to let us walk, stumble and even get up again, but he is there watching over us, always ready to encourage us on and even hold our hand to help us on our way.