Throughout history there have been reports of physical influences that Satan has, not only on our bodies, but on our surroundings. I am sure that those possessed of devils in the scriptures felt ill (the young man who threw himself into the fire comes to mind). I’m sure that Joseph Smith did not feel well when the thick darkness gathered around him before the first vision. I feel confident in saying the Satan has a power to influence, but not control our physical bodies. Whether or not he can give us an infection, I am not sure.

Hope you are feeling better and are able to become Endowed soon.

I have no idea what the mechanism is, or if “the devil made me do it” (or not do it) is ever really true, but I do know that the most important things I’ve been involved with in my life have included the most opposition. I remember telling someone a few years ago, “I’m nervous that things are going so smoothly. With this particular project, things NEVER go smoothly.” He smiled and seemed quite unconcerned. Two months later he called me and reminded me of my words, then informed me that the entire project had gotten pulled. (We resurrected what we could.)
I never assume a significant project will go easily. I don’t automatically credit the devil with putting stones on the path, but nonetheless, the “bells of hell” seem to ring whenever we’re trying to do something that might change the world for the better.

Meems, I could hug you. My biggest worry about this whole thing is how it will affect my marriage. My husband isn’t LDS. He’s very supportive of me but there are some things he has reservations about. He won’t stop me from going but it’s still hard to do something that I know will cause him discomfort.

why would God allow Satan to intervene with Anyone?
for that matter, did God & Satan collaborate regarding Job?
I think the whole thought is rather silly.

Thoughts preceed actions.
I can understand when I have bad thoughts about others, why should I blame them on someone else?

“Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draws it. Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Joy follows a pure thought like a shadow that never leaves.” Buddah

since everything else has been said (i echo meems and not just because you want to hug her)… the wife of my former singles branch president would like to remind you that it’s endowment, singular, just one and that you RECEIVE something that sacred, you don’t just “get” it. i’ll leave her snotty tone out, though. she was so harsh in telling me that, almost a decade ago, that i kind of huffed internally and wanted to discard her tirade. years later, i am reminded of it frequently (most people say “get endowments” like i did) and, having received my endowment in the interim, understand why “get” rubbed her the wrong way.

separately, the night before our sealing, my (lds) mother-in-law (who’d always wanted to see any of her inactive kids go to the temple) threw a temper tantrum, caused a huuuuge fight, screamed and shouted, and tried to tell my husband he should be visiting a divorce attorney and not the temple. it makes me laugh when people talk about satan interrupting temple plans or the likes because, well, the description kind of fits, ha!

after only two hours of sleep and with ridiculously red puffy eyes, i kneeled at an altar with my husband. i’m sure his mother was thrilled that it would now take more that just an attorney to get rid of me.

[...] This spring I determined to take out my Endowments. Life promptly got complicated. As I may have mentioned elsewhere, my husband is Catholic. Also to the point, he has never been Mormon. The garments have never been a part of his life. I was proposing to make them so and I knew this would have to be handled with care. [...]