Book of Mormon Anti-Christ Pattern

[zil2]

Yesterday I was reading Alma 31, where the Zoramites are first encountered and their "prayers" (don't know if you've ever noticed, but their descriptions of "God" match Satan to a T), and I noticed something that I realized was a pattern among all those who were Anti-Christ:

Zoramites:

Quote

Alma 31:22 ... thanking their God that they were chosen of him, and that he did not lead them away after the tradition of their brethren, and that their hearts were not stolen away to believe in things to come, which they knew nothing about.

Nehors:

Quote

Alma 21:8 ... We do not believe that thou knowest of things to come, neither do we believe that thy fathers and also that our fathers did know concerning the things which they spake, of that which is to come.

Sherem:

Quote

Jacob 7:7 ... And now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things to come.

Korihor:

Quote

Alma 30:13 O ye that are bound down under a foolish and a vain hope, why do ye yoke yourselves with such foolish things? Why do ye look for a Christ? For no man can know of anything which is to come.

All of them deny the possibility of knowing things to come - prophecy.  Now, it's obvious that Satan would want this in order to deny Jesus Christ and prevent people from believing in him.  But Korihor gives us further insight: "a foolish and a vain hope".  Satan wants to take away hope, to focus people's thoughts on the present (both its problems and its pleasures), to keep one from having any reason for improvement or long-term effort.

Anyone else have other thoughts or recognize other patterns shown by the various Anti-Christ groups / individuals in the Book of Mormon (interestingly, I cannot think of other scripture that explicitly demonstrates actual individuals and groups who are Anti-Christ...).

[mikbone]

2 Ne 28: 7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.
8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

[laronius]

44 minutes ago, zil2 said:

Yesterday I was reading Alma 31, where the Zoramites are first encountered and their "prayers" (don't know if you've ever noticed, but their descriptions of "God" match Satan to a T), and I noticed something that I realized was a pattern among all those who were Anti-Christ:

Zoramites:

Nehors:

Sherem:

Korihor:

All of them deny the possibility of knowing things to come - prophecy.  Now, it's obvious that Satan would want this in order to deny Jesus Christ and prevent people from believing in him.  But Korihor gives us further insight: "a foolish and a vain hope".  Satan wants to take away hope, to focus people's thoughts on the present (both its problems and its pleasures), to keep one from having any reason for improvement or long-term effort.

Anyone else have other thoughts or recognize other patterns shown by the various Anti-Christ groups / individuals in the Book of Mormon (interestingly, I cannot think of other scripture that explicitly demonstrates actual individuals and groups who are Anti-Christ...).

That's a good catch and makes perfect sense in light of the fact that as John the Revelator pointed out "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 

[zil2]

7 minutes ago, mikbone said:

2 Ne 28: 7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.
8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

Yes, this is the philosophy of the Nehors. 

[CV75]

2 hours ago, laronius said:

That's a good catch and makes perfect sense in light of the fact that as John the Revelator pointed out "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 

... and to extrapolate, the anti-testimony of Jesus is the spirit of persecution. D&C 123 reviews persecution. The Book of Mormon anti-Christ pattern focuses on belief and accusation but does not get into physical violence, though there are plenty of examples of persecution and violence in the Book of Mormon (Nehor killed Gideon).

Edited April 30, 2023 by CV75

[CV75]

Sherem the Anti-Christ | Religious Studies Center (byu.edu). It includes a large and very thorough section, 'Portrait of an Anti-Christ"

[zil2]

16 minutes ago, CV75 said:

... and to extrapolate, the anti-testimony of Jesus is the spirit of persecution. D&C 123 reviews persecution. The Book of Mormon anti-Christ pattern focuses on belief and accusation but does not get into physical violence, though there are plenty of examples of persecution and violence in the Book of Mormon (Nehor killed Gideon).

I find it interesting that the Anti-Christ Zoramites trampled to death the Anti-Christ Korihor.  And the Nehors among the Lamanites (specifically the Amalekites and Amulonites) are willing to get all riled up and murder the converted Lamanites who refuse to defend themselves.  So I'd say there's some violence associated, and certainly persecution (again by the Nehors, who are really the only Anti-Christ group (as opposed to individual) covered - unless you want to count the Lamanites and/or secret combinations).

 

17 minutes ago, CV75 said:

Sherem the Anti-Christ | Religious Studies Center (byu.edu). It includes a large and very thorough section, 'Portrait of an Anti-Christ"

Thank you!

[CV75]

3 hours ago, zil2 said:

I find it interesting that the Anti-Christ Zoramites trampled to death the Anti-Christ Korihor.  And the Nehors among the Lamanites (specifically the Amalekites and Amulonites) are willing to get all riled up and murder the converted Lamanites who refuse to defend themselves.  So I'd say there's some violence associated, and certainly persecution (again by the Nehors, who are really the only Anti-Christ group (as opposed to individual) covered - unless you want to count the Lamanites and/or secret combinations).

 

Thank you!

Here we begin to differentiate between apostate groups (Zoramites, who are dissenters); non-Jehovian/non-Christian cultural groups of all kinds who become opposed to the believing Nephites: rebellious as with the original Lamanites (2 Nephi 5), traditional as in their descendants (Mosiah 10:11-17), and political dissenters as with the king-men, Amalickiah, etc.; the specific Anti-Christ groups (Nehors); and the secret combinations. 

A rose by any other name!

[Traveler]

On 4/30/2023 at 8:29 AM, zil2 said:

 

Anyone else have other thoughts or recognize other patterns shown by the various Anti-Christ groups / individuals in the Book of Mormon (interestingly, I cannot think of other scripture that explicitly demonstrates actual individuals and groups who are Anti-Christ...).

Excellent thread you have started.   One of the best examples of anti-Christ verses the Christ, I believe, is given to us in scripture in the exchanges between the Scribes and Pharisees and Christ himself.  It seems to me that the arguments of these exchanges are best expressed in the Gospel of John in the New Testament.   What is interesting to me is that over the history of religion the arguments have remained so much the same that we can in essence quote scripture (the words of Jesus) to thwart the anti-Christ pattern.

For example, let’s look at John chapter 10 beginning with verse 24.  The Jews wanted to know of Jesus was the Christ.  There is somewhat discussion in Christian circles concerning being “one” with G-d.   Jesus pointed out that he was one with the Father (verse 30).  Because of this the Jews were going to stone Jesus.  – Note the question that Jesus responds with in verse 32 implying that G-d and those that are one with G-d have “good works”.  The antichrist argued that works were not as important as doctrine in verse 33.  In particular they were upset that Jesus taught that a man could become a G-d. 

There is a lot of discussion in the annals of religion about men becoming G-d and for whatever reason the Anti-Christ really do not like this doctrine.  In response Jesus does not say that they misunderstood his doctrine – rather he validates the doctrine in verse 34.

One of the strongest signs (to me) is that the Anti-Christ are vehemently opposed of man becoming like G-d.  For some reason something about G-d is not worthy of emulation.  I believe that emulation is the highest form of true worship of the one true and living G-d and the one and true living kingdom (religious organization) that G-d has established.

 

The Traveler

[zil2]

44 minutes ago, Traveler said:

One of the strongest signs (to me) is that the Anti-Christ are vehemently opposed of man becoming like G-d.  For some reason something about G-d is not worthy of emulation.

Chapter 2 of Jesus the Christ really does a good job of pointing out Satan's plans.  It seemed more than clear from E. Talmage's writing and the scriptures he cites that Satan wanted to:

1. Replace God (not just gain what God had and be equal with God, but replace him, take away from God what God already had).

2. Keep all of God's children in submission to himself (Satan).  No progress or learning or glory for them, slavery was the plan.

I think he must have been an exceptional salesman, but I really do believe the above two things are what he wanted.  And so, of course he's opposed to anyone (other than himself) becoming like God.