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Alma 30
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| 30:1 Behold, now it came to pass that after the people of Ammon were established in the
land of Jershon, yea, and also after the Lamanites were driven out of the land, and their dead were buried by the people
of the land -- |
 And it came to pass
(30:1, 2, 5, 6, 21, 22, 30, 46, 56, 58, 59)
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| 30:2 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 fasting, and
mourning, 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. |
So many died in the religious war that the dead bodies couldn't be counted.
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| 30:3 Yea, and the people did observe to keep the commandments of the Lord; and they were strict in observing
the ordinances of God, according to the law of Moses; for they were taught to keep the law of Moses until it should be
fulfilled. |
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| 30:4 And thus the people did have no disturbance in all the sixteenth year of the reign of the judges over
the people of Nephi. |
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| 30:5 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the seventeenth year of the
reign of the judges, there was continual peace. |
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| 30:6 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 Anti-Christ, for he began to preach unto the people against the prophecies which had been
spoken by the prophets, concerning the coming of Christ. |
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| 30:7 Now there was no law against a man's belief; for it was strictly contrary to
the commands of God that there should be a law which should bring men on to unequal grounds. |
"Now there was no law against against a man's belief."
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| 30:8 For thus saith the scripture: Choose ye this day, whom ye will serve. |
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| 30:9 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.
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There was no law to enforce a particular religious belief. Everyone was free to believe, or not believe,
whatever he or she liked.
Was everyone free to believe or disbelieve?
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| 30:10 But if he murdered he was punished unto death; and if he robbed he was also punished; and if he stole
he was also punished; and if he committed adultery he was also punished; yea, for all this wickedness they were
punished.
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| 30:11 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 equal grounds. |
There were laws to punish those who commited crimes, but there was no law against a person's belief.
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| 30:12 And this Anti-Christ, whose name was Korihor, (and the law could have no hold upon him)
began to
preach unto the people that there should be no Christ. And after this manner did he preach, saying: |
Korihor (who spoke the plain and simple truth) was the Anti-Christ.
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| 30:13 O ye that are bound down under a foolish and a vain hope, why do ye yoke yourselves with such foolish
things? Why do ye look for a Christ? For no man can know of anything which is to come.
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| 30:14 Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold,
they are foolish traditions of your fathers. |
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| 30:15 How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore
ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ. |
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| 30:16 Ye look forward and say that ye see a remission of your sins. But behold,
it is the effect
of a frenzied 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. |
"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
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| 30:17 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 fared 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 whatsoever a
man did was no crime. |
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| 30:18 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. |
"When a man was dead, that was the end
thereof." -- Korihor
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| 30:19 Now this man went over to the land of Jershon also, to preach these things among the people of
Ammon, who were once the people of the Lamanites. |
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| 30:20 But behold they were more wise than many of the Nephites; for they took him, and bound him, and
carried him before Ammon, who was a high priest over that people. |
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| 30:21 And it came to pass that he caused that he should be carried out of the
land. 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. |
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| 30:22 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? Why do ye speak against all the prophecies of the holy prophets? |
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| 30:23 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. |
"The foolish traditions of your fathers"
Korihor warns against believing foolish traditions that were laid down by ancient priests in order to
control people and keep them in ignorance.
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| 30:24 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. |
"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
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| 30:25 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. |
"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
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| 30:26 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 sins of the world -- |
"Ye do not know that there shall be a
Christ."
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.
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| 30:27 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. |
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| 30:28 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 never has been seen or known, who never was
nor ever will be. |
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."
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| 30:29 Now when the high priest and the chief judge saw the hardness of his heart, yea, when they saw
that he would revile even against God, they would not make any reply to his words; 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. |
Korihor is arrested for expressing his disbelief.
Was everyone free to believe or disbelieve?
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| 30:30 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 blaspheme. |
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| 30:31 And he did rise up in great swelling words before Alma, and did revile
against the priests 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. |
"The silly traditions
of their fathers"
Korihor accused the priests and teachers of leading the people astray after silly traditions while enriching
themselves.
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| 30:32 Now Alma said unto him: Thou knowest that we do not glut ourselves upon the labors of this
people; for behold I have labored even from the commencement of the reign of the judges until now, with mine
own hands for my support, notwithstanding my many travels round about the land to declare the word of God unto
my people. |
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| 30:33 And notwithstanding the many labors which I have performed in the church, I have never received
so much as even one senine 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. |
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| 30:34 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 joy of our brethren? |
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| 30:35 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 causes such joy in their
hearts? |
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| 30:36 And Korihor answered him, Yea. |
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| 30:37 And then Alma said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God? |
Korihor is asked if he believes there is a God, "and he answered, Nay."
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| 30:38 And he answered, Nay. |
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| 30:39 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. |
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| 30:40 And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that
ye have none, save it be your word only. |
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| 30:41 But, behold, I have all things as a testimony 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? |
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| 30:42 Behold, I know that thou believest, but thou art possessed with a lying spirit, and ye have put
off 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. |
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| 30:43 And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt
show me a sign,
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. |
"Show me a sign."
Korihor tells Alma that if he can just show him a sign to convince him that God exists, he will believe.
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| 30:44 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 all 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 earth, and all
things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their
regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator. |
"Thou hast had signs enough."
Alma refuses, saying that Korihor has signs enough. Others believe in God, so he should too.
There is the bible, and the earth and its motions, and the planets. (Of course none of this is evidence for the existence of a
God.)
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| 30:45 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 witnesses? And he said: Yea, I will deny, except ye shall show
me a sign. |
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| 30:46 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. |
Being grieved for the hardness of their hearts -- Mark 3:5
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| 30:47 But behold, it is better that thy soul should be lost 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. |
"God shall smite thee, that thou shalt become dumb."
Since Alma can't refute Korihor's arguments, he says he'll have God smite him so that he can no longer
speak. It's better, he says, that Korihor's soul be lost than that he convince others that there is no God.
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| 30:48 Now Korihor said unto him: I do not deny the existence of a God, but I do not believe that
there is a God; 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. |
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| 30:49 Now Alma said unto him: This will I give unto thee for a sign, that thou shalt be struck
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. |
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| 30:50 Now when Alma had said these words, Korihor was struck dumb,
that he could not have utterance, according to the words of Alma. |
"Korihor was struck dumb ... according to the words of Alma."
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| 30:51 And now when the chief judge saw this, he put forth his hand
and wrote unto Korihor, 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? |
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| 30:52 And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: I know that I am dumb, for I cannot speak; and
I know that nothing save it were the power of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always knew that there was
a God. |
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| 30:53 But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, 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 no God; 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 carnal 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 curse upon me. |
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| 30:54 Now when he had said this, he besought that Alma should pray unto God, that the curse might be
taken from him. |
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| 30:55 But Alma said unto him: If this curse should be taken from thee thou wouldst again lead away the
hearts of this people; therefore, it shall be unto thee even as the Lord will. |
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| 30:56 And it came to pass that the curse was
not taken off of Korihor; but he was cast out, and went about from house to house begging for his food. |
"The curse was not taken off of Korihor; but he was cast out, and went about from house to house
begging for his food."
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| 30:57 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, lest the same judgments
would come unto them. |
"Lest the same judgments would come unto them."
The chief judge warned everyone not to believe Korihor or they will also be struck dumb and be forced to
beg for their food.
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| 30:58 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. And Korihor did go about from house to house, begging food for his support. |
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| 30:59 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 Zoramites, 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 dead. |
"He was run upon and trodden down, even until
he was dead."
Korihor was trampled upon by the Nephites until he was dead.
God's death toll in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Quran
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| 30:60 And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the
devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell. |
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