Anti-Christ: Alma 30

[ChrisTitus]

In Sunday school yesterday, the instructor provided a definition of an anti-Christ that I thought was overbroad. She said that an anti-Christ is anyone who says that there is a way to heaven other than the way taught by the LDS church. I think she is wrong. By her definition, everyone who believes in a life after death that involves some type of paradise would automatically be considered an anti-Christ unless they were LDS. It seems to me that Alma 30 was meant to show us that an anti-Christ is simply someone who teaches things that are diametrically opposed to the fundamental teachings of Christ and further that they are taught with the knowledge that Christ is real. Korihor admited to believing in Christ and still taught these things. That seems completely different than someone having a slightly different idea of who Christ is...

Am I wrong here?

[BenRaines]

I would say that your teacher was expressing their personal opinion. Anti is someone who is against. We have often heard from our church leaders that there are many and have been many great people who are and were followers of Christ. By your teachers definition they would be Anti-Christs. Prophets for years have said otherwise.

Ben Raines

[Islander]

In Sunday school yesterday, the instructor provided a definition of an anti-Christ that I thought was overbroad. She said that an anti-Christ is anyone who says that there is a way to heaven other than the way taught by the LDS church. I think she is wrong. By her definition, everyone who believes in a life after death that involves some type of paradise would automatically be considered an anti-Christ unless they were LDS. It seems to me that Alma 30 was meant to show us that an anti-Christ is simply someone who teaches things that are diametrically opposed to the fundamental teachings of Christ and further that they are taught with the knowledge that Christ is real. Korihor admited to believing in Christ and still taught these things. That seems completely different than someone having a slightly different idea of who Christ is...

Am I wrong here?

I would also consider the possibility that the instructor failed to express him/herself appropriately. Perhaps the failure lays in the fact that the definition was not explicit. We as Later day Saints, believe or have a Christ-centered doctrine of salvation. Such as it was revealed to us points to a clear path. Any other doctrine or teaching that is not in sync can not lead to salvation. In that sense, perhaps?

I was not there so it hard to say what she said or the meaning implied.

[PapilioMemnon]

In Sunday school yesterday, the instructor provided a definition of an anti-Christ that I thought was overbroad. She said that an anti-Christ is anyone who says that there is a way to heaven other than the way taught by the LDS church. I think she is wrong. By her definition, everyone who believes in a life after death that involves some type of paradise would automatically be considered an anti-Christ unless they were LDS. It seems to me that Alma 30 was meant to show us that an anti-Christ is simply someone who teaches things that are diametrically opposed to the fundamental teachings of Christ and further that they are taught with the knowledge that Christ is real. Korihor admited to believing in Christ and still taught these things. That seems completely different than someone having a slightly different idea of who Christ is...

Am I wrong here?

It's kind of hard to say whether or not she's wrong based on what you have expressed that she said or what she meant by saying this way.

I wondered something: Did you say anything in class? Did you ask for clarification or for her to explain her point further?

We had this class a few weeks ago at my ward, and by definition, an anti-christ is someone and/or something (entity) who sets themselves up as the way to salvation instead of Christ or who clearly denies/opposes Him; any type of teaching that denies/opposes Christ & His teachings.

We, member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, believe and know the only way to God is through Jesus Christ; there's no other path!

I think Islander gave a pretty good idea of what she might have meant.

Edited August 11, 2008 by PapilioMemnon

[PapilioMemnon]

In Sunday school yesterday, the instructor provided a definition of an anti-Christ that I thought was overbroad. She said that an anti-Christ is anyone who says that there is a way to heaven other than the way taught by the LDS church. I think she is wrong. By her definition, everyone who believes in a life after death that involves some type of paradise would automatically be considered an anti-Christ unless they were LDS. It seems to me that Alma 30 was meant to show us that an anti-Christ is simply someone who teaches things that are diametrically opposed to the fundamental teachings of Christ and further that they are taught with the knowledge that Christ is real. Korihor admited to believing in Christ and still taught these things. That seems completely different than someone having a slightly different idea of who Christ is...

Am I wrong here?

It's kind of hard to say whether or not she's wrong based on what you have expressed that she might have said or meant.

I wondered something: Did you say anything in class? Did you ask for clarification or for her to explain her point further?

We had this class a few weeks ago at my ward, and by definition, an anti-christ is someone and/or something (entity) who sets themselves up as the way to salvation oinstead of Christ or who clearly denies/opposes Him; any type of teaching that denies/opposes Christ & His teachings.

We, member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, believe and know the only way to God is through Jesus Christ; there's no other path!

[thejason]

An anti-Christ isn't simply anyone who opposes the LDS beliefs. Were that so we'd have 6 billion anti-Christs in the world. An anti-Christ is someone who opposes true doctrine and also tries to persuade others to follow them. Not only that, they actively seek to destroy the truth. Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah were considered anti-Christs at one time.

[pam]

According to the Bible dictionary...“anyone or anything that counterfeits the true gospel or plan of salvation and that openly or secretly is set up in opposition to Christ."

[Palerider]

When a teacher fails to say....in my opinion.....sometimes it causes concern....:)

[brother01]

In Sunday school yesterday, the instructor provided a definition of an anti-Christ that I thought was overbroad. She said that an anti-Christ is anyone who says that there is a way to heaven other than the way taught by the LDS church. I think she is wrong. By her definition, everyone who believes in a life after death that involves some type of paradise would automatically be considered an anti-Christ unless they were LDS. It seems to me that Alma 30 was meant to show us that an anti-Christ is simply someone who teaches things that are diametrically opposed to the fundamental teachings of Christ and further that they are taught with the knowledge that Christ is real. Korihor admited to believing in Christ and still taught these things. That seems completely different than someone having a slightly different idea of who Christ is...

Am I wrong here?

I think you're pretty much right. Jesus taught that to belong to Him we must will to do what He said to do and believe what He declared to be true. If we are in those things and have the will to do His will - even though we aren't perfect - so long as we abide in Him, He will abide with us.

The anti-Christ has no part with Jesus Christ.

As such, I doubt that would include any Church that wills to do His will and abides in the teachings of God the Father that He came to give and live and witness to.