The works of God, like the fruits good trees bring forth, are good. Only good comes from the Maker and Creator of all. More properly we might say: "All good comes from Him."
As for the devil, the opposite is true, "that which is evil cometh from" him. From the very first, when after the great Council in Heaven, Lucifer, who became the devil, was cast out from His presence, he became an enemy of God, and thereafter without stoppage has fought truth and also the righteousness which is in God. He lures astray, the weak and unwary into paths of wickedness and in rebellion against the Counsels of Heaven. With promises of great reward to those who follow him, he puts into their mouths every pretext and excuse human nature can devise or evil power achieve to apologize for their actions. To thwart the plans of the Almighty, and destroy life, is the devil's aim.
"But behold," Mormon says, "that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good..." Nephi, after whom the Nephites took their name, and shortly after leaving Jerusalem with his father and a few others, enumerated some of the transgressions which are of the devil. He warned the doers thereof that because of "these things" they "shall perish,....None of these iniquities come of the Lord; for He doeth that which is good among the children of men; and He doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and He inviteth them all to come and partake of His goodness; and He denieth none that come unto Him...."(II Nephi 26:33)
Too many to be numbered, are the works of God, how manifold are His blessings. The Earth is filled with His bounties. The Psalmist in meditating on His wonderful providences, praised God for His great and gracious works. With a "pen of iron, and the point of a diamond," he caused these words to be written, and they remain with us a tribute in words to Him Who is Most Holy:
"Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
"Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
"Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
"Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
"Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
"Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
"At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
"They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast rounded for them.
"Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
"He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.
"They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.
"By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
"He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
"He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
"And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
"The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
"Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. "The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. "He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
"Thou makest darkness and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
"The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
"The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
"Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
"O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
"So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
"There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
"These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
"That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
"Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
"Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
"The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works. "He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
"I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
"My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.
"Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord." (Psalm 104)
"Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
"The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. "His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
"He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
"He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
"He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
"The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. "They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
"He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." (Psalm 111)
In the lives of the most humble, those who put their trust in Him, His marvelous works transcend the greatest of human achievements. Lehi, the scholarly ancestor of both the Nephites and the Lamanites, when shown in vision the wonderful purposes of God in bringing about the Salvation of His children, exclaimed in ecstasy: "Great and marvelous are Thy works, O Lord God ALMIGHTY! Thy throne is high in the Heavens, and Thy power and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the Earth, and because Thou art merciful, Thou wilt not suffer those who come unto Thee that they shall perish!" (I Nephi 1:14) The power, goodness, and mercy, of God, are shown in His great and marvelous works.
May we in humility offer this Hebrew prayer; the words thereof express not only ours but the thoughts of the Elders of the Jews: "O Lord and God of our fathers, Thou art exalted above all human understanding; no tongue can tell Thy goodness and Thy mercy. Yet the countless tokens of Thy love, the innumerable signs of Thine unfailing providence and of Thy loving care for all Thy creatures, tell of Thee. Our eyes are opened to the wonders of this world, wherein Thy presence reveals itself in every star in heaven and in every flower of the field. The Heavens declare Thy glory, O God, and the firmament showeth Thy handiwork."
Lehi had learned to listen to that still small voice which is heard by the faithful, and which is of God; that comes to lead, and to direct, and to warn the hearer thereof, of things to come. To hear and recognize that voice is a gift of God, and in it is told the wonderful works of the Lord for the preservation of His Own. Not so with the adversary; his design is to preserve evil, and destroy that which is good. When the temptations of the devil that confront us are strongest-which connotes weakness on our part-he himself becomes stronger. Being an opportunist, he seizes this time as fit for our undoing, and leads us along his way until we are bound tightly by forces which we can neither see nor hear, and of which we have lost control. The result is: we do evil continually. "Wherefore," the Sacred Record says: "Every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good...is inspired of God," and "that which is evil cometh of the devil."