Sherem is the first of several anti-Christ figures included in the Book of Mormon. He is known for his skillful and proud orating during the tenure of the prophet Jacob. “And he [Sherem] was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil” (Jacob 7:4). His message is an explicit denial of the being and mission of Christ—“for no man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things to come …” (Jacob 7:7). Having drawn away many of the people of God into his perverted pathway, Sherem is called before Jacob, where he attempts to justify his untenable position. “But behold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my soul,” declares Jacob, “insomuch that I did confound him in all his words” (Jacob 7:8).
Sherem insists on a sign to substantiate the gospel position. By the intercession of the power of the Lord, he is rendered incapacitated for many days. He then arranges for the people to congregate to hear his confession of guilt and his witness about the verity of Christ and the power of the Holy Ghost—after which he dies in dire fear of having committed the unpardonable sin (see Jacob 7:20). Jacob feels relief at the conclusion of this ordeal: “And it came to pass that peace and the love of God was restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked man” (Jacob 7:23).