What is an Anti-Christ? Chapter 30 in the Book of Alma gives us this answer - using the example of a man named Korihor. In verse 6, it reads:
But it came to pass in the latter end of the seventeenth year,
there came a man into the land of Zarahemla, and he was Anti-Christ, for he began
to preach unto the people against the prophecies which had been spoken by
the prophets, concerning the coming of Christ.
On my mission, I
was able to meet and talk with several people who were what you could consider an
“Anti-Christ”, like Korihor. They spoke pleasing words and were very smooth in
the way that they presented themselves. Others were not so subtle. My
companions and I met some men that would yell at us all of the false doctrines
they believed about our church. Some would calmly lure us into talking to them,
seeming normal at first, and would begin to say things that didn’t seem quite
right with our beliefs and were sometimes a little odd. Something that I
learned on my mission was to be able to look into people’s eyes and determine
if I could trust them. Usually, their eyes were dark, and had no light in them.
For some, it looked like there was a visible shade covering their eyes. I feel
that Heavenly Father was able to bless me with the Spirit of Discernment, and I
learned what the evils of the world looked like. The Book of Mormon helped me a
lot when it came to praying for this gift. I read a lot from the account of
Alma, when Ammon is able to discern the king’s thoughts, and testify of the
truthfulness of the gospel. Both Ammon and Alma were prompted to ask questions,
and were able to determine the evils of man in that way. Prophets throughout
this book teach us how it is that we can expose the enemies of Christ.
I was able to talk with my Father last night about Korihor, and the Anti-Christ's in our world. We read together from Chapter 30 in Alma. As we read and discussed, he shared with me some interesting insights. The first being that this chapter exposes 6 teachings of an Anti-Christ, and solutions to those modern day Korihors in our life. Here are the first 6:
6 Teachings of an Anti-Christ
1.) Verse 12, there shall be no Christ.
2.) Verse 13, For no man can know of anything which is to come.
3.) Verse 16, Ye look forward and say that ye see a remission of your sins. But
behold, it is the effect of a frenzied mind; and this derangement of your minds comes from the traditions of your fathers....
4.) Verse 17, therefore every man prospered according to his genius,
and that according to his strength....
5.) Verse 17, and whatsoever a man did was no crime.
6.) Verse 18, telling them that when a man was dead, that was the end thereof.
How to Deal w/ Modern-day Korihor's
1.) Verse 20, Be wise.
2.) Verse 34, Declare/know the truth.
3.) Verse 39, Testify.
4.) Verse 42, Seek the guidance of the Spirit/ the Spirit of Discernment.
5.) Verse 44, Teach the truth from the scriptures and prophets.
I know that as we strive to stay close to our Savior, and use the tools and patterns that he has given us through the Book of Mormon - and by other means that he has given us - that we will be blessed and protected from those Modern-day Korihors. I have seen this in my own life and in the lives of many others. I testify that God lives and that He loves each and every single one of His children. He is so mindful of us, and the struggles of our everyday lives.
Stay strong. Stay close to the Savior. He loves you.
~Perfectly Imperfect Girl
P.I.G.
