Alma 30

The Nephite and Ammonite losses during the Lamanite war were so great that their numbers were never counted. In the 16 th year of elected judges, the Lamanites were driven from the land of Jershon, and the Ammonites became peacefully settled there.

The Ammonites strictly obeyed the law of Moses. According to the law, if a man committed murder, he received death. Laws were tailored to fit the crime, and people were punished for stealing, adultery, and other types of sinfulness; but there were no laws regarding people’s beliefs. People were free to believe or disbelieve whatever they wanted.

In the 17th year of elected judges, the Anti-Christ appeared to the Nephite people in the form of a man named Korihor. He freely preached against the prophecies and against the coming of Jesus Christ, as was allowed by the laws.

“You people labor under a foolish and vain hope in looking forward to Jesus Christ,” he said. “No one knows the future. These things you call prophecies from the past are just silly traditions that have been handed down to you. You say that Jesus Christ will come and there will be a remission of your sins. This is the effect of a frenzied mind and your inherited traditions that leads you to believe in things that aren’t true.”

Korihor preached that there could be no atonement for their sins. He said that people achieved things in life because of their knowledge and strength, and that whatever a man did was not a crime. Many were led into fornication by his words. He said that when people died, that was the end. When Korihor went among the Ammonites, he found that they were wiser than the Nephites. They tied him up and took him before Ammon, who was now a high priest in the land of Jershon. Ammon ordered that Korihor be exiled from the land of Jershon.

When Korihor went to preach in the land of Gideon, he was bound up again, and taken before their high priest and chief judge. “Why do you try to pervert the ways of God?” the high priest asked him. “Why do you teach that Jesus Christ will not come? Why do you speak out against the holy prophecies?”

“I say these things to free people from bondage to foolish traditions and priests who want to control them,” Korihor answered. “I say that these prophecies you purport to believe in are untrue. You teach that we are guilty and fallen people because of sins committed by a distant ancestor. I say this is nonsense. Is a child guilty for the crimes of its parents? You have no way of knowing that Jesus Christ will come and be slain for the sins of the world. You mislead your people with this foolishness and keep them down. You glut yourselves with the fruit of their efforts and deprive them of their rights and privileges. You make your people feel guilty before some imaginary God who has never been seen, and never will be.”

The high priest and chief judge saw Korihor’s harshness and had him handed over to Alma and the chief judge in Zarahemla. There he repeated his blasphemous words again.

“You know very well,” said Alma, “that we don’t live handsomely on the labors of others. I myself have worked hard to support myself since the time when my father Mosiah began the reign of judges. In addition, I have traveled throughout the land on missions to declare the word of God. None of us receives anything for our efforts on behalf of the church. The payment for judges is only what is due by law. The only profit in our labor for the church is the joy in bringing the truth to our people. Do you think we deceive our people and receive wealth from them in secret?”

“Yes,” Korihor answered.

“Do you believe there is a God?” Alma asked.

“No,” replied Korihor.

“I know that there is a God, and that Jesus Christ will come,” said Alma. “What evidence do you have, other than your word, that there is no God, or that Jesus Christ will not come? I know you believe the truth of what I say, but lie about it instead. You’ve cast off God and become a servant of the devil’s in your attempt to harm the children of God.”

“Show me one sign that demonstrates God’s power,” replied Korihor, “and I will be convinced.”

“You’ve had plenty of signs,” answered Alma. “Do you tempt God? Why ask for signs when you have the testimony of so many holy prophets? The scriptures are clear that God is the supreme creator of the earth and everything on it. Do you deny the truth of all these witnesses?”

“Unless you show me a sign,” Korihor said, “I deny it all.”

“I am saddened by your stubbornness,” said Alma. “Your resistance to the truth destroys your soul. But it is better that your soul should be lost than for you to continue injuring the church of God with your lies and flatteries. Therefore, may God strike you dumb, so your mouth will never again be opened to deceive others with your lies.”

“I do not deny the existence of a God,” Korihor replied, “but I do not believe there is a God; and neither do you know that there is a God. Unless you show me a sign, I will not believe.”

“In the name of God, you will be struck dumb,” declared Alma. “That will be your sign.”

And Korihor was instantly struck dumb. When the chief judge saw this, he wrote for Korihor, “Are you convinced of the power of God, now? Would you have asked God to afflict somebody else, to give the sign you asked for? Do you still dispute the truth?”

Korihor put forth his hand and wrote back: “I am now dumb. Nothing but the power of God could have done this to me. I always knew there was a God but the devil deceived me by appearing in the form of an angel, and said, ‘Go reclaim my people. They have been led astray by an unknown God. There is no God.’ His words were pleasing to the carnal-minded, and I was highly successful, so successful that I came to believe that the words I spoke were true. But now I have brought this curse upon myself. Will you pray for me so that this curse might be removed?”

“If your curse were lifted, you would resume your efforts to lead the people astray,” said Alma. “You will be treated according to God’s will.”

The curse was not removed, and Korihor was reduced to begging for food. An official declaration was sent out to advise those who had believed what Korihor had said. These people were told to repent immediately or else the same fate would soon fall upon them. Everyone became convinced of Korihor’s heresy and sinfulness, and all those who had been led astray returned again to God.

When Korihor went begging for food among the Zoramite people who had separated themselves from the Nephites, he was run down and killed by them. This example shows how God deals with people who oppose him. The devil cannot help them, and they are quickly dragged down to hell. [74 BC]