Absolutely — let's take a **direct comparison between how “evil” is defined and portrayed in the *Star Wars* films and in the Book of Mormon.**
---
##
DEFINITION OF EVIL — **Book of Mormon vs. Star Wars**---
###
**Book of Mormon: Evil = Willful Rebellion + Corruption of Heart****Key verse:**
> *“And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked… shall be cast out into outer darkness… and this is the state of the souls of the wicked… yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state… as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.”* — **Alma 40:13**
Also:
> *“They that choose evil works, rather than good.”* — Alma 40:13
> *“Their hearts delight in bloodshed, and they love the reward of their iniquity.”* — Mormon 4:11
> *“The devil… stirreth them up to iniquity continually; he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord.”* — 2 Nephi 26:22
###
**BOM Summary:*** Evil is **intentional**—it’s a **willful choice** to rebel against God’s commandments.
* It is often tied to **corrupted desires**, such as loving violence or riches.
* Evil leads to **spiritual bondage**, **self-deception**, and eventually **eternal separation** from God (outer darkness).
* The devil plays a central role, **luring** people with half-truths and manipulation.
---
###
**Star Wars: Evil = Fear-Driven Power Seeking + Loss of Empathy****Key concept (Yoda):**
> *“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”* — *The Phantom Menace*
Also:
> *“The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural.”* — Palpatine
> *“Only a Sith deals in absolutes.”* — Obi-Wan Kenobi
> *“The Sith think inward, only about themselves. The Jedi are selfless.”* — Obi-Wan Kenobi
###
**Star Wars Summary:*** Evil comes from **inner weakness** (fear of loss, desire for control).
* It grows through a **moral decline**—fear → anger → hate → violence.
* Evil means putting **power over compassion**, **self over service**.
* There’s no cosmic devil figure, but the Dark Side of the Force plays a **corrupting role**, tempting the ambitious and fearful.
---
##
Side-by-Side Comparison| Concept | **Book of Mormon** | **Star Wars** |
|---|---|---|
| **Definition of Evil** | Choosing to rebel against God; loving sin; rejecting truth | Giving in to fear, anger, and desire for control |
| **Root Cause** | Pride, hardening of heart, love of sin, Satan’s deception | Fear of loss, trauma, insecurity, ego |
| **Pathway** | Temptation → Sin → Hardened heart → Separation from God | Fear → Anger → Hate → Suffering (Dark Side) |
| **Consequences** | Spiritual death, damnation, bondage, eternal separation | Loss of identity, corruption, tyranny, suffering |
| **Redemption?** | Yes, through Christ (faith, repentance, humility) | Yes, through compassion, self-sacrifice, return to light |
##
Spiritual Parallels* **Anakin Skywalker** mirrors the pattern in **Alma the Younger** and **Corianton**—initial rebellion, spiritual collapse, and (eventual) redemption.
* The **Jedi's emphasis on mindfulness and selflessness** echoes King Benjamin’s teaching:
> *“When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”* — Mosiah 2:17
* **Satan’s tactics in the Book of Mormon** ("pacifieth, flattereth… leadeth them carefully down to hell" — 2 Nephi 28:21–22) strongly resemble how the Dark Side seduces Anakin:
> *“I can save her… from death.”* — Palpatine
> *“I’m doing it for you, to protect you.”* — Anakin (justifying evil)
---
##
Final Thought:In both systems:
* Evil is a **slippery slope**, not a one-time decision.
* It’s deeply **personal**, growing from internal desires and fears.
* Redemption is **possible**, but only through **sacrifice**, **truth**, and **turning outward**—to God in the Book of Mormon, or to compassion and the Light in Star Wars.
---
I will also point you to a good book on the subject.
The Science of Evil: On Empathy and the Origins of Cruelty
by Simon Baron-Cohen
https://www.google.com/search?q=the+science+of+evil+book&num=10&client=firefox-b-1-lm&sca_esv=0c6b261fdab4471f&channel=entpr&biw=1280&bih=587&sxsrf=AE3TifP6-sRZHvUYsyvThnYlISptPcgSdQ%3A1751141530737&ei=mkxgaMLiLMTA0PEPsdrfwAU&gs_ssp=eJzj4tFP1zc0SsrLNU9LKzdg9JIoyUhVKE7OTM1LTlXIT1NILcvMUUjKz88GAAPVDVQ&oq=the+science+of+evil+&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiFHRoZSBzY2llbmNlIG9mIGV2aWwgKgIIATIKECMYgAQYJxiKBTIFEC4YgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQLhiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgoQABiABBgUGIcCMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyFBAuGIAEGJcFGNwEGN4EGOAE2AEBSL47UNEOWPIScAF4AZABAJgBgQGgAc0CqgEDMS4yuAEByAEA-AEBmAIFoALzEsICChAAGLADGNYEGEfCAgYQABgWGB7CAggQABiABBiiBJgDAIgGAZAGAroGBggBEAEYFJIHBzEuMy43LTGgB-wasgcDMC4zuAfaAsIHBTAuMS40yAcR&sclient=gws-wiz-serp
Read it to you here:
Begin the journey!