Unit 02
Lesson 06
I'm ashamed to admit that I got suckered into buying a beauty product... at a booth in the mall of all places! In my defense, it was a stressful day running aimlessly around the mall trying to find the perfect birthday gift for my little sister... when I was stopped by a man in a tight fest, slicked black hair and alligator shoes. To be honest, I couldn't really understand what he was saying because he was talking so fast but before I knew it, his little assistant was rubbing something on my arm and whipping it off to show all of the dirt it was taking off. Tight vest man, "You see! This product gives you just beautiful skin." one thing led to another and I bought the product, only to find that my skin feels no different and I get no refund.
Have you ever been tricked by "false promises" or believed something that you probably should've known wasn't true. My mom would always tell me, "if it sounds too good to be true... it is!" Thinking of this experience I had in the mall, I feel as though the world we live in today, there are so many people that are promising us; happiness, joy, fulfillment, peace... in things that are false.
I have always been interested in learning more about the anti-christ's in the Book of Mormon because I believe that they have a lot of the same characteristics that these smooth talkers in our day have.
Jacob 7:1-3 speaks of a man named, Sherem, "And now it came to pass after some years had passed away, there came a man among the people of Nephi, whose name was Sherem. And it came to pass that he began to preach among the people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ. And he preached many things which were flattering unto the people; and this he did that he might overthrow the doctrine of Christ. And he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people..."
I find it interesting that Sherem used flattering words and that he was a hard worker.
Alma 1:2-4 speaks of Nehor, "and it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of Alma in the judgment-seat, there was a man brought before him to be judged, a man who was large, and was noted for his much strength. And he had gone about among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against the church; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people. And he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their head and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life."
This type of teaching is known as Priestcraft Alma says later, "were priestcraft to be enforced among this people it would prove their entire destruction." Wow! The things that Nehor taught could have destroyed the Nephites completely.
Alma 30:12-16 speaks of Korihor (which is personally my favorite), "And this Anti-Christ, whose name was Korihor, (and the law could have no hold upon him) began to preach unto the people that there should be no Christ. And after this manner did he preach, saying: O ye that are bound down under foolish and a vain hope, why do ye yoke yourselves with such foolish things? why do ye look fo a Christ? For no man can know of anything which is to come. Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions of your fathers. How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ. 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 you minds comes because of the traditions of your fathers, which lead you away into a belief of things which are not so."
All three of these Anti-Christ's teach different things and they present themselves differently to the people, but as my mom says, "if it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck... it's a duck."
In the New Testament, Peter describes these false teachers as well, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that brought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." (2 Peter 2:1)
I don't know about you, but sometimes it can be hard to discern between truth and error. Sometimes these Anti-Christ's aren't as evident as they are in the book of mormon and new testament. In those days the Anti-Christ's really emphasized "Christ won't come" and "priests should be paid" but it's not that obvious in our day what they are teaching. I came across a talk not too long ago from Sister Beck and she taught, "anything Anti-Family is Anti-Christ" (teaching the doctrine of the family, 2009) I love that thought! It makes it clearer to discern what is coming from God and what is false. In the family: a proclamation to the world, God teaches us the true meaning of a family, and their purpose on earth. When we compare the worlds teachings to this document, it becomes increasingly easier to discern between truth and error. I want to mention just three and then encourage you to read through it and find things yourself.
1. Homosexual Marriage
The world: it is their right to get married because they love each other.
Our Heavenly Father: "The family is ordained of God. Marriage between a man and a women is essential to his eternal plan."
2. Sexual Intimacy before marriage:
The world: It's okay to live with each other without being married! This way you will know if you truly are a good fit for each other.
Our Heavenly Father: "Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity."
3. Yolo: You only live once:
The world: What ever we do in this life, doesn't really matter. We need to live it up as much as we can because we won't get a second chance.
Our Heavenly Father: "In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted his plan by which his children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress towards perfection and ultimately their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life."
No comments:
Post a Comment