All things Denote There is a God Alma

All things Denote There is a God Alma 30 -31

First half of the Book of Alma What was Mormon teaching us here? Alma 5 -16 Alma’s missionary work Alma 17 -28 Ammon’s missionary work Alma 29 Oh, that I were an angel… Alma 30 Alma 31 Korihor, the The Anti-Christ Zoramites THE ADVERSARIES: The Enemies of Christ Alma 32 -35 Alma’s missionary work

Alma 30: 6, 12 How would you define “anti-Christ”? The word antichrist is the Bible term for the false teachers in the Church who taught a false Christ instead of a true Christ. the Greek preposition anti, roughly translated, means instead of. It also carries the meaning of "face to face" or mirror image. The image in the mirror, looking back at you, is face to face with you. It looks like you. Yet it has no substance. It is a counterfeit of you, in a sense. It only appears to be you.

One who will oppose Christ and substitute himself in Christ's place n Jacob 7: 5 Jacob contends with Sherem

As we read about faith shakers… "The Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. It confounds false doctrines and lays down contention. It fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil in our day. The type of apostates in the Book of Mormon are similar to the type we have today. God, with his infinite foreknowledge, so molded the Book of Mormon that we might see the error and know how to combat philosophical concepts of our time. "

n n n to protect or strengthen against attack; surround or It fortifies the humble provide with defensive military works. followers of Christ against to furnish with a means of resisting force or standing strain or wear the evil designs, to make strong; impart strength or vigor to strategies, and doctrines to increase the effectiveness of, as by additional of the devil in our day. ingredients to strengthen mentally or morally to confirm or corroborate

We’ve got to look a little closer… When we read about the anti-Christs of former days, we marvel at how perverted their thinking became and we marvel at how successful they were in deceiving men and women

We’ve got to look a little closer… We also wonder why some of the people were so gullible—so easily misled. And with all this marveling and wondering, we tend to niche the anti-Christs in some corner of ancient history and go about our unguarded ways.

We’ve got to look a little closer… This is dangerous. It could result in loss of faith; and, in a spiritual sense, it could put us out of existence.

We’ve got to look a little closer… Many are still among us and have released new floods of lies and false accusations. These faithkillers and testimonythieves use personal contacts, the printed word, electronic media, and other means of communication to sow doubts and to disturb the peace of true believers.

We’ve got to look a little closer… Belief in modern prophets and continuous revelation is absent in the lives of many apostate or anti-Christ. Carlos E. Asay, “Opposition to the Work of God, ” Ensign, Nov. 1981, 67

Vs Teachings of Korihor 12 There will be no Christ 13 No man can know of anything which is to come 14 Prophecies are foolish traditions of the fathers 15 Ye cannot know of things which ye do not see 16 Belief in the Atonement “is the effect of a frenzied mind” 17 Every man prospers according to his genius, and…every man conquers according to his strength 17 Whatsoever a man does is not crime 18 When a man is dead, that is the end thereof 23 Living the commandments is “bondage”

Do we hear Korihor teachings today? Quote in a magazine a few years ago: "Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers. It tells people to go out and stick their noses in other people's business. "

Bondage One of Satan’s most frequently used deceptions is the notion that the commandments of God are meant to restrict freedom and limit happiness. Young people especially sometimes feel that the standards of the Lord are like fences and chains, blocking them from those activities that seem most enjoyable in life. But exactly the opposite is true… The gospel principles are the steps and guidelines which will help us find true happiness and joy. Ezra Taft Benson, Teachings, 357

Some Christians carry their religion on their backs. It is a packet of beliefs and practices they must bear. At times it grows heavy and they would be willing to lay it down, but that would mean a break with old traditions, so they shoulder it again.

Real Christians do not carry their religion, their religion carries them. It is not weight, it is wings. It lifts them up. It sees them over hard places. It makes the universe seem friendly, life purposeful, hope real, sacrifice worth while. Its sets them free form fear, futility, discouragement and sin… The great enslavers of men’s souls. You can know a real Christian when you see him by his buoyancy. Harry Emerson Fosdick, quoted by James E Faust, To Reach Even Unto You, 118

Alma 30: 18: Zarahemla How did Korihor’s teaching affect the people? n Lift up their heads in their wickedness

Dealing with modern-day Korihors 19 -21 Be wise 31, 34 Obey the prophets, Know the truth 39 Bear personal testimony 42 Seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost 44 Teach the truth from the prophets and the scriptures

Alma 30: 53 Korihor explains why… § § “The devil hath deceived me” “I taught [these things] because they were pleasing to the carnal mind. ” “I had much success. . . Because of my success, “I verily believed that they were true. . . ” For this cause I withstood the truth. . . ”

Alma 30: 54 -56, 58 -59 What was Korihor’s fate?

Alma 30: 60 Support? n The devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell

Which path? A criminal defense lawyer can sometimes win a case by leading jurors to suspect that any number of people – indeed, anyone but the accused – committed the crime in question. Similarly, the adversary succeeds when we choose any path but the strait and narrow path that leads to life. These alternate routes may lead in opposite directions from each other; but they fulfill Satan’s purpose as long as they lead us away from God. Robert Eaton, Digging Deeper, 124

Two types of Anti-Christ Non-Religious: Korihor Religious: Zoramites

Alma 31: 15 -18 The Zoramite Prayer/Alma’s Prayer

Alma and the Zoramites Prayer requires……. ? Zoramite Prayer Alma 31: 15 -18 Alma’s Prayer Alma 31: 26 -35

Were they really that different? Korihor Zoramites foolish traditions of your fathers I say ‘this people’ are in bondage every man prospered according to his genius caused them ‘to lift up their heads in their wickedness, ’ childishness of their fathers “Thou hast elected us to be thy holy children; ” every man prospered according to his election they did pervert the ways of the Lord

The Rameumptom, Alma 31 13 For they had a place built up in the center of their synagogue, a place for standing, which was high above the head; and the top thereof would only admit one person. 14 Therefore, whosoever desired to worship must go forth and stand upon the top thereof, and stretch forth his hands towards heaven

None of these arguments is intended to appeal to everyone. Clearly, the adversary crafts different arguments for different groups of people. If we are naturally lazy, he may lobby us to spend more time watching TV; if we are naturally ambitious, he pushes us to spend more time at the office.

If we are slow to recognize our mistakes (or have become numb to the Spirit), he will tell us we’ve done nothing wrong and have no need to repent. But if we begin to experience sorrow that leads to repentance he may try to convince us our sin is so great that repentance isn’t possible.

He can prey on lack of selfesteem as well as pride, selfrighteousness as well as atheism, theology of grace as well as an exclusive emphasis on works. In sum, Satan’s spin-masters are nothing if not nimble in tailoring their campaign speeches to different constituencies. Robert Eaton, Digging Deeper, 125