"They shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks -- nation shall not lift up
sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." 12:4
A man may not have any concubines, and no more than one wife. 2:27
Use your wealth to help the poor and less fortunate. 2:19
"No man knoweth such things."
Sherem, the first freethought martyr in the Book of Mormon [see the story of Korihor for another
(Alma 30)], tells Jacob he is misleading the people in by telling
them (ca. 500 BCE) that Christ will be coming "many hundred years hence." 7:1-7
"There is no Christ, neither has been, nor ever will be."
Sherem denies the existence of "Christ" more than 500 years before his supposed existence.
7:9
"Show me a sign."
Sherem asks for a sign from God about his intention of sending a Christ 500+ years in the future.
7:13
Mosiah
It is good to be humble, patient, and full of love. 3:19
"Now there was no law against against a man's belief." 30:7
There was no law to enforce a particular religious belief. Everyone was free to believe, or not believe,
whatever he or she liked. 30:9
There were laws to punish those who commited crimes, but there was no law against a person's belief.
30:11
"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.--Korihor 30:16
"When a man was dead, that was the end thereof." -- Korihor 30:18
Korihor warns against believing foolish traditions that were laid down by ancient priests in order to
control people and keep them in ingnorance. 30:23
"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." -- Korihor
30:24
"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." -- Korihor
30:25
Korihor says that the Nephites don't know that Christ will come, or that he will be killed for the
sins of the world. The leaders only teach these things to enslave the people and prevent them from living full, bold,
and free lives. 30:26-27
The priests teach these dreams, whims, visions, and pretended mysteries to ensure their own power so as
not to "offend some unknown being, who they say is God -- a being who never has been seen or known, who never was
nor ever will be." 30:28
Korihor accused the priests and teachers of leading the people astray after silly traditions while enriching
themselves. 30:31
Korihor is asked if he believes there is a God, "and he answered, Nay." 30:37-38
Korihor tells Alma that if he can just show him a sign to convince him that God exists, he will believe.
30:43
The Zoramites wisely rejected the childish traditions of their fathers. 31:16