Satan, on the other hand, turned inward, desired to achieve his own selfish
interests, and wanted to usurp the glory of the Father for himself. The
rebellious declaration of the devil uses the words I or me six
times in a sentence of thirty-five words. The adversary’s desire was that we as
learners would only be acted upon.
. . .
Please remember that Lucifer did not present a plan that subsequently
was coted down by a majority of the participants in the premortal council. He
was not a sympathetic figure who lost a close election. He was a malcontent who
rebelled! Selfishness, pride, and arrogance motivated his revolt against the
Father’s plan.
The adversary’s intent was to negate agency. If agency were nullified,
then no sins or transgressions ever would have been committed by the sons and
daughters of God—no fall of Adam and no individual sins. If no sins or
transgressions were committed, then the law of justice would not be violated.
And if the law of justice were not violated, then there would be no need for a
redeeming sacrifice to meet the demands of the law. (David A. Bednar, Act in
Doctrine: Spiritual Patterns for Turning from Self to the Savior [Salt Lake
City: Deseret Book, 2012], 38-39)
