Elder Bruce R. McConkie offers these insights on understanding those who deny the Savior:
An antichrist is an opponent of Christ; he is one who is in opposition to the true gospel, the true Church, and the true plan of salvation. (1 John 2:19; 4:4–6.) He is one who offers salvation to men on some other terms than those laid down by Christ. Sherem (Jacob 7:1–23), Nehor (Alma 1:2–16), and Korihor (Alma 30:6–60) were antichrists who spread their delusions among the Nephites.
“Many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” (2 John 7.) “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?” John asked. “He is an antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” (1 John 2:22.) Though many modern day religionists profess to believe in Christ, the fact is they do not accept him as the literal Son of God and have not turned to him with the full knowledge and devotion necessary to gain salvation. “Whosoever receiveth my word receiveth me,” he said, “and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth those, the First Presidency, whom I have sent, whom I have made counselors for my name’s sake unto you.” (D. & C. 112:20.)
The saints in the meridian of time, knowing there would be a great apostasy between their day and the Second Coming of our Lord, referred to the great apostate church as the anti-christ. “Little children, it is the last time,” John said, “and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” (1 John 2:18.) “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (1 John 4:3.) This great antichrist which is to stand as the antagonist of Christ in the last days, and which is to be overthrown when he comes to cleanse the earth and usher in millennial righteousness, is the church of the devil (Revelation 13; 17), with the man of sin at its head. (2 Thess. 2:1–12.) (Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966], 39–40)
Memories: The Steed
Alma chapter 30 is not only a concise catalog of virtually every argument used to refute the existence of God, it is more importantly an inspired primer on how to respond to the atheist or agnostic by following the guidance of the Spirit of God. Korihor, the consummate anti-Christ, reviles against gospel truth with a barrage of worldly logic designed to elevate himself and dissipate the joy of the believers. But his campaign is short-lived. In my teaching activities, I like to discuss the “Korihor Syndrome” with my students by identifying specifically his prideful strategies, and then taking note of the simple but powerful way in which Alma responds. First, the agenda of the anti-Christ, together with its modern-day manifestations:
Under inspiration from the Almighty, Alma contends with this convoluted, deceitful campaign through a simple but effective strategy based upon the operation of the Spirit. It is easy to remember Alma’s approach by thinking of the letters of the acronym STEED.
S: Spirit First, Alma follows the Spirit in every step of his encounter with the anti-Christ. It is only through the strength of the Spirit that evil can be neutralized.
T: Testimony Next, Alma bears fervent personal testimony: “For behold, I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come” (Alma 30:39).
E: Evidence Following this, Alma cites the evidence from prophetic testimony and from the order and divinity of the creation: “ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets… .The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator” (Alma 30:44). Alma has already invited Korihor to present his own evidence to the contrary: “And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only” (Alma 30:40).
E: Experiment In the wider context, Alma will shortly appeal to his listeners among the Zoramites—those who may have been persuaded by the Korihors of the world—to try an experiment of faith in order to allow the word of God to take root in one’s heart: “But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words” (Alma 32:27).
D: Discernment Finally, Alma perceives the reality of the situation through the power of discernment, knowing at all times the true inner thoughts of the dissenter: “Behold, I know that thou believest, but thou are possessed with a lying spirit… .” (Alma 30:42). It is this spiritual insight that allows Alma to direct his response with overpowering effectiveness, for who can contend against the Spirit of God?
Following the Spirit, bearing sincere testimony, bringing forth the overwhelming evidence for the reality of Deity, inviting an experiment of faith, discerning with inspired insight—these are the chief strategies to use in standing up for truth in the face of the anti-Christs of the world. Against the eternal word of God—confirmed through the manifold testimonies of prophetic proclamation, reflected in the majesty of the starry heavens, and written in the hearts of humble truth-seekers by the illuminating inspiration of the Holy Ghost—the anti-Christ can only raise his puny word of doubt for a mere moment before it withers and collapses of its own nothingness. (Richard J. Allen)