LEAVING THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW

I have put a few folks on notice that, as I have the power to bless with the Priesthood keys and power that I have, I likewise have the ability to curse those who fight against the truth (in dealing with those within my stewardship).  This is all that was done in the Pre-Existence.  At some point, a line had been crossed and those who had rebelled were cursed (likely by Father or the Savior himself) and cast out and they lost a chance at the Second Estate.  I know, I have queried a few evil spirits in my mission days.  They are not happy campers.  They seethe with hatred for those of us who received a body and their sole design is to get us to abuse it and the Agency that we have.

Once we joined the fight, we left neutral ground.  Here is a great quote from Joseph:

Maxwell's phrase is very similar in meaning to an 1892 account by Daniel Tyler on Joseph Smith:

When the Prophet [Joseph Smith] had ended telling how he had been treated [by apostates], Brother Behunnin remarked: "If I should leave this Church I would not do as those men have done: I would go to some remote place where Mormonism had never been heard of[,] settle down, and no one would ever learn that I knew anything about it."

The great Seer immediately replied: "Brother Behunnin, you don’t know what you would do. No doubt these men once thought as you do. Before you joined this Church you stood on neutral ground. When the gospel was preached good and evil were set before you. You could choose either or neither. There were two opposite masters inviting you to serve them. When you joined this Church you enlisted to serve God. When you did that you left the neutral ground, and you never can get back on to it. Should you forsake the Master you enlisted to serve it will be by the instigation of the evil one, and you will follow his dictation and be his servant."