THE CONDITION OF THE LAMANITES--SHEREM, THE FIRST ANTI-CHRIST--HIS
RECANTATION AND DREADFUL END.
(JACOB, CHAP. 3 TO 7.)
Whilst the early Nephites were polygamists, and, unfortunately for
them, unrighteous ones, the Lamanites were monogamists, which form of
marriage they appear to have ever after retained.
One phase of Lamanite character, originating, doubtless, in their
Israelitish ancestry, is worthy of our praise. It was the great
strength of their domestic affections, their love for their wives
and their kindness to their families. As we shall have to refer so
often to their vices, we must, in justice to them, here insert the
description of their virtues given by Jacob, the son of Lehi. He says,
"Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their wives love their
husbands; and their husbands and wives love their children; and their
unbelief and their hatred towards you, is because of the iniquity of
their fathers." Nor is there anything in this incompatible with the
ferocity of their character or their blood-thirstiness in war. In the
earlier ages of the Lamanite nationality, rigid chastity was observed
by the men as well as by the women. Indeed, it may be said that while
they manifested most of the prominent vices of semi-barbarous people,
they also possessed the virtues that such races, uncorrupted by a more
luxurious mode of life, generally show. Nor would it be consistent,
nor historically true, to give one general description and apply it to
the whole Lamanite race, for as their numbers increased the state of
society amongst them grew more complex, and we read of different grades
of civilization in their midst.
It must not be forgotten that the Lamanites occupied a much wider
extent of country than did the Nephites. In this vast area were found
people who dwelt in cities and cultivated the arts to the extent
generally found amongst races of the same grade and characteristics.
Whilst others, degraded in life and habits, roamed in the wilderness,
building no houses, forming no permanent abiding places, but wandering
from place to place, and depending for food and clothing upon the
animals they caught in the chase, the fishes that abounded in the
waters, and whatever they could steal from the hated Nephites, or
indeed of their somewhat more highly civilized fellow-countrymen.
It was in the days of Jacob that the first Nephite Anti-Christ
appeared. His name was Sherem. He openly and unblushingly taught
that there would be no Christ and that there was no necessity for an
atonement. He was a type of many who came after, and a well fitted
instrument for his evil work. Bland in manners, fluent of speech, much
given to flattery, and withal, well versed in the learning of the
Nephites, he, by his sophistries, led many astray. His success fired
his zeal and filled him with conceit. He actually sought to convert
to his views Jacob, the prophet and presiding priest of the church, a
man rich in wisdom, and the recipient of many divine revelations; one
indeed who had oft-times seen angels and heard the voice of the Lord.
In the interview that occurred between these two widely differing men,
Sherem charged that Jacob had changed the law of Moses, which was the
right way, into the worship of a being whom Jacob said should come many
hundred years hence. He added, "Now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto
you, that this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of these things; for he
cannot tell of things to come." Thus he denied prophecy, styled good
evil, and exalted error in the place of truth.
Jacob, being filled with the Spirit of God, confounded his arguments,
brought forward the testimony of the scriptures, and proved that the
very law of Moses, on which he lay so much stress, was from beginning
to end but the type and foreshadowing of the more perfect law of the
Christ who should come.
Beaten in his arguments, Sherem fell back upon that almost universal
refuge of the false teacher. He defiantly called for a sign. A sign was
given him. The power of God came upon him and he fell stricken to the
ground. For many days he was nourished, but ineffectually. He himself
perceived that death was approaching, and with this perception gathered
in his soul all the fears and horrors of an apostate's doom. But before
his death he called the people to him and confessed his iniquity. He
denied the things he had taught, he "confessed the Christ and the power
of the Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels." He avowed that he
had been deceived by the power of the devil, and bitterly bewailed his
condition; as the fear that he had committed the unpardonable sin, in
denying the Savior, weighed his soul down to hell. Having made these
small amends for his past iniquities, he could say no more, and gave up
the ghost.
When the people who had gathered to hear his last words, witnessed the
terrors of his death, they were softened in their hearts, the power of
God rested upon them, and they fell to the earth. The corrupt weeds he
had sown in their hearts had withered, the truth had been vindicated,
the cause of the Savior extolled, and peace and the love of God were
restored again among the people. Thus was this apostasy eradicated, and
God glorified; the Nephites of that generation from that time searching
the scriptures and cleaving unto the truth.
When Jacob grew old he gave the sacred records to the keeping of his
son Enos.