Satan will advocate that it is cool to doubt spiritual gifts and

Dieter F. Uchtdorf warns with clarity and conviction that Satan seeks to sow doubt in the hearts of mankind, especially regarding spiritual gifts and the teachings of true prophets. His words echo down through the ages, reminding us that doubt is not a passive state; it is an active force, working tirelessly to undermine faith, to blur the truth, and to strip away the very foundation of divine knowledge. The challenge we face in this world is not only that doubt will arise, but that it will be cloaked in the guise of coolness—a lure for the restless and the curious, promising liberation but leading instead to destruction.

In the ancient days, the wisdom of the prophets was revered, their words treated with the highest regard, as they held the keys to divine insight. Spiritual gifts, whether the power to heal, to inspire, or to guide, were seen as sacred, not as something to be doubted or cast aside. Yet today, as Uchtdorf reflects, the world has become enamored with the notion that it is somehow fashionable to question that which is holy, to devalue the teachings that have been passed down through the generations by true messengers of God. Doubt, once regarded with caution, is now elevated to a place of honor, and many who once held firm to their faith are swayed by this false wisdom.

A story from the distant past reveals the true nature of doubt and the deceptive power it holds. In the days of King Solomon, the wisest of kings, the land was prosperous, and the people lived in peace, guided by the king’s counsel, which was divinely inspired. Yet, in his later years, Solomon became enamored with foreign gods and practices, leading to his downfall. Doubt crept into his heart, disguised as curiosity and intellectual exploration. This slow erosion of faith, unchecked, led him to make choices that ultimately fractured the unity of his kingdom. The lesson here is clear: doubt, if not guarded against, can take root in the heart of even the most revered and wise, leading them to places of spiritual desolation.

What Uchtdorf’s words emphasize is that Satan's influence works subtly, almost imperceptibly, drawing people away from spiritual gifts and the prophetic teachings that are meant to guide them through life's tumultuous journey. He does not appear in frightening forms, but in whispers, in trends, in movements that appear harmless and even alluring. He invites individuals to question, to scoff, to mock that which has been divinely revealed. In doing so, he weakens the very foundation upon which faith is built. This is the strategy of deception, the tactic of the adversary: to make doubt appear not as a threat, but as something to be embraced.

Real wisdom, however, calls us to hold fast to what is true, to cling to the spiritual gifts that God has endowed us with. In the lives of countless saints, there exists the testimony of those who have not given in to doubt but who have walked by faith, who have believed without seeing, and who have found strength in the prophetic counsel given to them. Joseph Smith, the prophet of the Restoration, faced tremendous opposition, doubt, and ridicule, yet he stood firm in his conviction. His faith, tested in the fires of doubt, became an unshakable pillar of strength. Through his life, we learn that spiritual gifts—like the gift of prophecy, of healing, of knowing the mind and will of God—are not to be doubted, but to be cherished, nurtured, and used for the building of God's kingdom on earth.

The lesson to be drawn from Uchtdorf’s words is this: Doubt is not merely an intellectual exercise—it is a tool of the adversary, meant to lead us astray. The wise will guard against it, recognizing its subtle nature and rejecting it with all their might. Those who wish to remain on the path of righteousness must understand that to doubt the divine is to weaken their spiritual armor and open themselves to the influence of darker forces. The action that each of us must take is clear: strengthen our faith, cherish the gifts of the Spirit, and honor the teachings of true prophets. In doing so, we can stand firm, resolute in our knowledge of the truth, and reject the whisperings that would lead us astray.

Let us, then, embrace the truth with boldness, rejecting the coolness of doubt and holding tight to the light of truth. Just as Noah built his ark in the face of scorn and ridicule, so must we construct our spiritual foundations, fortified by faith and free from the corrosion of skepticism. In this way, we will be able to withstand the storms of life and stand as witnesses of the truth, unshaken by the waves of doubt that seek to pull us under.