Alma 30

(All of my own thoughts are in red type 7/20 Green 5/21 orange 7/22 Brown 8/23.)

Chapter 30

Korihor, the anti-Christ, ridicules Christ, the Atonement, and the spirit of prophecy—He teaches that there is no God, no fall of man, no penalty for sin, and no Christ—Alma testifies that Christ will come and that all things denote there is a God—Korihor demands a sign and is struck dumb—The devil had appeared to Korihor as an angel and taught him what to say—Korihor is trodden down and dies. About 76–74 B.C.

  1 Behold, now it came to pass that after the ^apeople of Ammon were established in the land of Jershon, yea, and also after the Lamanites were ^bdriven out of the land, and their dead were buried by the people of the land—
  2 Now their dead were not numbered because of the greatness of their numbers; neither were the dead of the Nephites numbered—but it came to pass after they had buried their dead, and also after the days of ^afasting, and ^bmourning, and prayer, (and it was in the sixteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi) there began to be continual peace throughout all the land.
  3 Yea, and the people did observe to keep the commandments of the Lord; and they were strict in observing the ^aordinances of God, according to the law of Moses; for they were taught to ^bkeep the law of Moses until it should be fulfilled. Did this include animal sacrifice? 
  4 And thus the people did have no disturbance Clearly obedience to God's law brings peace and happiness. in all the sixteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
  5 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the seventeenth year of the reign of the judges, there was continual peace.
  6 But it came to pass in the latter end of the seventeenth year, there came a man into the land of Zarahemla, and he was ^aAnti-Christ, for he began to preach unto the people ^bagainst the prophecies which had been spoken by the prophets, concerning the coming of Christ. This seems to be part of the definition of an Anti-Christ - they have to preach against the prophecies about Christ.
  7 Now there was no law against a ^aman’s ^bbelief; We are going to see more laws that will make it unlawful to believe certain things... for it was strictly contrary to the commands of God that there should be a law which should bring men on to unequal grounds. This is interesting - that making laws against a person's belief put them on unequal ground?
  8 For thus saith the scripture: ^aChoose ye this day, whom ye will serve. You can choose God or Satan. You get to choose...
  9 Now if a man desired to serve God, it was his privilege; or rather, if he believed in God it was his privilege to serve him; but if he did not believe in him there was no law to punish him.
 10 But if he ^amurdered he was punished unto ^bdeath; and if he ^crobbed he was also punished; and if he stole he was also punished; and if he committed ^dadultery he was also punished; yea, for all this wickedness they were punished. Interesting that the law punished for adultery. Our law doesn't punish for that, but does punish for murder, robbery and stealing (What's the difference?)
 11 For there was a law that men should be judged according to their crimes. Nevertheless, there was no law against a man’s belief; therefore, a man was punished only for the crimes which he had done; therefore all men were on ^aequal grounds. Here's his explanation. Everyone was treated fairly according to the law, but there was no force in beliefs. All were equally free to believe in God or not. No coincidence that the laws for which they were punished were also commandments of God. They all agree that murder, robbing, and adultery were bad things that should be punished. But you were not forced to believe they were bad because God said so. 
 12 And this ^aAnti-Christ, whose name was Korihor, (and the law could have no hold upon him) began to preach unto the people that there should be ^bno Christ. And after this manner did he preach, saying:
 13 O ye that are bound down under a ^afoolish and a vain hope, why do ye yoke yourselves with such foolish things? Why do ye look for a Christ? For no man can ^bknow of anything which is to come.
 14 Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are 
foolish traditions of your fathers.
 15 How do ye know of their surety? Behold,
ye cannot know of things which ye do not ^asee; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ.
 16 Ye look forward and say that ye see a remission of your sins. Is this looking forward to a remission of sins because of the future Atonement of Jesus Christ? Or is it looking forward to a baptism by fire?  I think it is the latter. They lived as though Christ had already come. But behold,
it is the effect of a ^afrenzied mind;
and this derangement of your minds comes because of the traditions of your fathers, which lead you away into a belief of things which are not so.
 17 And many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but
every man ^afared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore
every man prospered according to his genius, and that
every man conquered according to his strength; and
^bwhatsoever a man did was ^cno crime.
 18 And thus he did preach unto them, leading away the hearts of many, causing them to lift up their heads in their wickedness, yea, leading away many women, and also men, to commit whoredoms—telling them that
 when a man was dead, that was the end thereof.
 19 Now this man went over to the land of ^aJershon also, to preach these things among the people of Ammon, who were once the people of the Lamanites.
 20 But behold they were more wise than many of the Nephites; for they took him, and bound him, and carried him before Ammon, Sounds like their "wisdom" was to not let him preach there without putting up a resistance We have similar things being preached today, but we aren’t putting up a resistance within the church. There are many Christians who are putting up great resistance, but we feel restrained in our churches because the “brethren” aren’t leading the resistance and are actually telling us to follow the mandates of those we are resisting, so we are accused of not “sustaining the brethren” if we resist in our wards/stakes who was a ^ahigh priest over that people.
 21 And it came to pass that he caused that he should be carried out of the land. How were they able to do this if there was no law against a man's belief? And he came over into the land of Gideon, and began to preach unto them also; and here he did not have much success, for he was taken and bound and carried before the high priest, and also the chief judge over the land.
 22 And it came to pass that the high priest said unto him: Why do ye go about perverting the ways of the Lord? Why do ye teach this people that there shall be no Christ, to interrupt their rejoicings? They are happy. Why try to change that... Why do ye speak against all the prophecies of the holy prophets?
 23 Now the high priest’s name was Giddonah. And Korihor said unto him: Because I do not teach the foolish traditions of your fathers, and because I do not teach this people to bind themselves down under the foolish ordinances and performances which are laid down by ancient priests, to usurp power and authority over them, to keep them in ignorance, that they may not lift up their heads, but be brought down according to thy words.
 24 Ye say that this people is a free people. Behold, I say they are in bondage. Ye say that those ancient prophecies are true. Behold, I say that ye do not know that they are true.
 25 Ye say that this people is a guilty and a fallen people, because of the transgression of a parent. Behold, I say that a child is not guilty because of its parents.
 26 And ye also say that Christ shall come. But behold, I say that ye do not know that there shall be a Christ. And ye say also that he shall be slain for the ^asins of the world—
 27 And thus ye lead away this people after the foolish traditions of your fathers, and according to your own desires; and ye keep them down, even as it were in bondage, that ye may glut yourselves with the labors of their hands, that they durst not look up with boldness, and that they durst not enjoy their rights and privileges.
 28 Yea, they durst not make use of that which is their own lest they should offend their priests, who do yoke them according to their desires, and have brought them to believe, by their traditions and their dreams and their whims and their visions and their pretended mysteries, that they should, if they did not do according to their words, offend some unknown being, who they say is God—a being who ^anever has been seen or known, who ^bnever was nor ever will be.
 29 Now when the high priest and the ^achief judge saw the hardness of his heart, yea, when they saw that he would ^brevile even against God, they would not make any reply to his words; Lesson: Don't try to argue with those who are hard hearted but they caused that he should be bound; and they delivered him up into the hands of the officers, and sent him to the land of Zarahemla, that he might be brought before Alma, and the chief judge who was governor over all the land.
 30 And it came to pass that when he was brought before Alma and the chief judge, he did go on in the same manner as he did in the land of Gideon; yea, he went on to ^ablaspheme.
 31 And he did rise up in great ^aswelling words before Alma, and did revile against the ^bpriests and teachers, accusing them of leading away the people after the silly traditions of their fathers, for the sake of glutting on the labors of the people.
 32 Now Alma said unto him: Thou knowest that we do not glut ourselves upon the labors of this people; for behold I have ^alabored even from the commencement of the reign of the judges until now, with mine ^bown hands for my support, notwithstanding my many travels round about the land to declare the word of God unto my people. 
 33 And notwithstanding the many labors which I have performed in the church, I have never received so much as even one ^asenine for my labor; neither has any of my brethren, save it were in the judgment-seat; and then we have received only according to law for our time.
 34 And now, if we do not receive anything for our labors in the church, what doth it profit us to labor in the church save it were to declare the truth, that we may have rejoicings in the ^ajoy of our brethren? This is a great point in a church where we all serve in volunteer positions. This feels condemnatory towards the leadership of our church that DO receive money because they ‘labor’ for the church. They are receiving more than a ‘living wage’ and probably because of their earlier work careers and retirement benefits don’t need any assistance at all from the church. Why do they accept anything from the tithes of the people? Pres. Trump didn’t accept his wages for being President because he didn’t need it. I think he donated it to some charity. 
 35 Then why sayest thou that we preach unto this people to get gain, when thou, of thyself, knowest that we receive no gain? And now, believest thou that we deceive this people, that ^acauses such joy in their hearts? If we are lying then why are people so happy and at peace? By their fruits...
 36 And Korihor answered him, Yea.
 37 And then Alma said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?
 38 And he answered, Nay.
 39 Now Alma said unto him: Will ye deny again that there is a God, and also deny the Christ? For behold, I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come.
 40 And now what evidence have ye that there is no ^aGod, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only. Love this. You want me to prove there is a God, but you can't prove there isn't a God.
 41 But, behold, I have all things as a ^atestimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? Believest thou that these things are true?
 42 Behold, I know that thou ^abelievest, but thou art possessed with a ^blying spirit, and ye have put ^coff the Spirit of God that it may have no place in you; but the devil has power over you, and he doth carry you about, working devices that he may destroy the children of God. This is a beautiful perspective. People can be possessed with evil spirits when we give place for them and then they have power over us to do their evil bidding. There is some unbelief today about “possession by spirits”. We don’t believe there is anything beyond temptation. But this teaches that there are different kinds of spirits (this one is a lying spirit) and that we can be possessed by them as we cast off the Spirit of God. If the Spirit of God is not “in” us, then we have made room for an evil spirit to be “in” us. Possession alludes to the idea that they have power over you and control you. What is the meaning of Satan's "devices" and how does he "work" them? 
 43 And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a ^asign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.
 44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of ^aall 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 ^bearth, and ^call things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its ^dmotion, yea, and also all the ^eplanets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.
 45 And yet do ye go about, leading away the hearts of this people, testifying unto them there is no God? And yet will ye deny against all these ^awitnesses? And he said: Yea, I will deny, except ye shall show me a sign.
 46 And now it came to pass that Alma said unto him: Behold, I am grieved because of the hardness of your heart, yea, that ye will still resist the spirit of the truth, that thy soul may be destroyed. Alma knows about hard hearts. Surely his own father had tried to have conversations with him when he was destroying the church in like manner. He knows if he had not repented his soul would have been destroyed.
 47 But behold, it is ^abetter that thy soul should be ^blost than that thou shouldst be the means of bringing many souls down to destruction, by thy lying and by thy flattering words; therefore if thou shalt deny again, behold God shall smite thee, that thou shalt become dumb, that thou shalt never open thy mouth any more, that thou shalt not deceive this people any more.
 48 Now Korihor said unto him: I do not deny the existence of a God, but I do not believe that there is a God; Did he frame this so he was exempt from the law because of his belief? and I say also, that ye do not know that there is a God; and except ye show me a sign, I will not believe. He is acknowledging here that we all have the freedom to believe or not.
 49 Now Alma said unto him: This will I give unto thee for a sign, that thou shalt be ^astruck dumb, according to my words; and I say, that in the name of God, ye shall be struck dumb, that ye shall no more have utterance. Sounds like a good natural consequence... I’m noticing he does it “in the name of God” so he is invoking his priesthood authority to call down such a curse.
 50 Now when Alma had said these words, Korihor was struck dumb, that he could not have utterance, according to the words of Alma.
 51 And now when the chief judge saw this, he put forth his hand and wrote unto Korihor, why did he write it? Korihor wasn't deaf. saying: Art thou convinced of the power of God? In whom did ye desire that Alma should show forth his sign? Would ye that he should afflict others, to show unto thee a sign? Behold, he has showed unto you a sign; and now will ye dispute more?
 52 And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: Must have been his way to show Korihor he wanted him to write the answer? I know that I am dumb, for I cannot speak; and I know that nothing save it were the ^apower of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always ^bknew that there was a God. What?
 53 But behold, the devil hath ^adeceived me; for he ^bappeared unto me in the ^cform of an angel, of light? and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is ^dno God; but I am an angel? yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the ^ecarnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great ^fcurse upon me. How many conversations did he have with this 'angel'? Sounds like he wasn't sure at first, but the more he heard himself talk, the more he believed his own words... Did he ever tell people that he “knew” these things by the voice of an angel, that they hadn’t seen and could accuse him of the same thing he was preaching against? Could they say, “we haven’t seen this ‘angel’ that you speak of so we don’t know what you are saying is true either. You say you’ve seen and angel and the prophets say they have seen God. Why should we believe you over them?” Such hypocrisy. 
 54 Now when he had said this, he besought that Alma should pray unto God, that the ^acurse might be taken from him. I'm noticing a difference here between Alma and Korihor. Alma prayed to God to have mercy on himself. Korihor asks Alma to pray to God for him.
 55 But Alma said unto him: If this curse should be taken from thee thou wouldst again lead away the hearts of this people; He seems certain that Korihor hasn't really repented or been converted. He certainly didn't experience the full force of his sins like Alma did. Alma seemed to know it wouldn't hold therefore, it shall be unto thee even as the Lord will.
 56 And it came to pass that the curse was not taken off of Korihor; Justice for Korihor, not mercy... but he was ^acast out, and went about from house to house begging for his food.
 57 Now the knowledge of what had happened unto Korihor was immediately published throughout all the land; yea, the proclamation was sent forth by the chief judge to all the people in the land, declaring unto those who had believed in the words of Korihor that they must speedily repent, ^alest the same judgments would come unto them. Really? They would all go dumb? Or just that they would be cursed somehow...
 58 And it came to pass that they were all convinced of the wickedness of Korihor; therefore they were all converted again unto the Lord; and this put an end to the iniquity after the manner of Korihor. This is some of the wisdom of God not healing Korihor. It may have been to convince those who'd been deceived by him. And Korihor did go about from house to house, begging food for his support.
 59 And it came to pass that as he went forth among the people, yea, among a people who had separated themselves from the Nephites and called themselves ^aZoramites, being led by a man whose name was Zoram—and as he went forth amongst them, behold, he was run upon and trodden down, even until he was ^bdead. Not sure what this is really saying...Did the Zoramites kill him? Was it like a car accident...? Why didn't he stay among the Nephites repenting of what he did while asking for food? Did the Nephites cast him out? Why go to anit-Nephites?
 60 And thus we see the end of him who ^aperverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not ^bsupport his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to ^chell. I repeat this a lot! The devil will not support his followers He has no loyalty or love for those who do his bidding. And those who follow the devil will not support you either!