One glaring problem in the Church News Report below is timing. You’ll want to notice the date this was written. It was 1992. Why are they using the phrase ‘electronic media’? In 1993 only 1% of the info available on computers was available to the public. A Pew Report stated that only 3% of American households had signed on to the internet by 1995.
While Mr. Asay busied himself with calling people deceitful, it’s odd he never applied the same terminology to himself.
LDS Church News, “’Anti-Christs’ Employ Similar Patterns of Deceit” “…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 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. This is dangerous. It could result in loss of faith; and, in a spiritual sense, it could put us out of existence.”
Elder Asay said that since the spring of 1820, Lucifer has led a relentless attack against the Latter-day Saints and their leaders. “A parade of anti-Christs, anti-Mormons, and apostate groups have appeared on the scene,” he noted. “Many are still among us and have released new floods of lies and false accusations. These faith-killers and testimony-thieves use personal contacts, the printed word, electronic media and other means of communication to sow doubts and to disturb the peace of true believers.”
Elder Asay suggested some ways to avoid the traps of the anti-Christs:
1. Avoid those who would tear down one’s faith.
2. Keep the commandments.
3. Follow the living prophets.
4. Do not contend or debate over points of doctrine.
5. Search the scriptures.
6. Do not be swayed or diverted from the mission of the Church.
7. Pray for one’s enemies.
8. Practice “pure religion.”
9. Remember that there may be many questions for which we have no answers and that some things have to be accepted simply on faith.” – Carlos Asay, February 22, 1992 [emp. added]
As of Jan. 9, 2021, we’ve not been able to access the link provided by the Church. We’re leaving it intact if you’d like to search for it. We originally posted this in 2014.
Acts 17:11 “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
Time and again we have the blessing of being reminded that studying all things to verify is encouraged! God would not have allowed this information in His word if He didn’t intend for us to utilize it as an example.
Mr. Asay’s words are poison.
When you read this entry by the Church you’ll find that they’ve quoted a talk Asay gave in 1981 and for all intents and purposes it looks as if they’ve updated their news release since then. It’s kind of like Moroni adding to the Jaredites’ text in Ether. Hmmm…
Another key issue in this statement is when they said that info from apostates ‘could result in loss of faith; and, in a spiritual sense, it could put us out of existence’.
How could this happen when Jesus told us He has overcome the world (John 16:33) and that He’ll never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). How could outside info result in putting them out of existence if they have the truth?
Lastly, there was no mention of a personal relationship with God or Jesus. Their message is that outsider info could kill the Church. It’s always about the Church and never about the Lord, or the individual person.
Pray for Jesus to intervene so these dear people will have a saving knowledge of Him!
With Love in Christ –
Michelle
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