Alma 30

In the seventeenth year, a man named Korihor came into the land of Zarahemla. He told the people that there would be no Christ. He said: No man can know the future. Why do you look for a Christ? These things you call prophecies are just foolish ideas.

You cannot know things you cannot see. You cannot know there will be a Christ. You say you can have forgiveness of your sins. This is crazy. Every person lives by his brains and muscles. Anything a person does is okay.

The high priest Giddonah said to him: Why do you say there will be no Christ? Why do you speak against all the prophecies of the holy prophets?

Korihor said to him: You say those old prophecies are true. I say you do not know they are true. You say that Christ will come. I say you do not know it.

Korihor also argued before Alma. Alma asked him: Do you believe there is a God? He answered: No.

Alma said: I know there is a God and that Christ will come. I know that you believe it, too.

Korihor said: If you will show me a sign that there is a God, I will believe the truth.

Alma said: You have had enough signs. You have the word of all your brothers and all the holy prophets. You have the scriptures. All things show there is a God. The earth and all things on it, and all the planets moving in regular form, show there is a God.

Korihor said: If you show me a sign, then I will admit there is a God. Alma said: I am sad that you fight against the spirit of truth and that your soul will be destroyed. But it is better that your soul is lost than you bring many souls down to destruction by your lying words. If you deny God again, he will take away your voice forever.

Then Korihor said: I do not believe there is a God. Alma said: I give you your sign. In the name of God, you cannot speak.

Then Korihor could no longer speak. Korihor wrote a note, saying: I know I cannot speak and I know only God’s power could do this to me. Yes, I always knew there was a God, but the devil tricked me.

Korihor asked Alma to ask God to take the curse away. But Alma said: I know if this curse is taken away you will try again to lead this people away from God.

So, the curse was not taken away. From that time on, Korihor lived by going house to house begging for food and then he died.