Detecting and Rejecting the Doctrines of Korihor
Book of Mormon Notes - Thursday, September 21, 2023, Alma 30
In this post I would like to begin with the lesson that Mormon draws from Alma’s interactions with Korihor:
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. (Alma 30:60)
Why does Mormon include an abridgment of this story from Alma’s record, and why does he share these particular “thus we see” lessons? What is it about the story of Korihor and Alma that Mormon knew would be necessary and instructive for his latter-day audience? In what ways do Mormon’s abridgment of this story and his “thus we see” lessons align with the overarching purpose of the Book of Mormon to lead souls unto Christ and repentance?
There are obvious and blatant examples of anti-Christs in our time, but one thing that stands out to me as I read this chapter is that the spirit of Korihor has various and sometimes more subtle manifestations, particularly in the United States of America and even within the Church. If we take a closer look at the doctrine of Korihor, perhaps we can better discern how this doctrine, or portions of this doctrine, afflict people in our time, including members of the Church. President Benson taught that the Book of Mormon is one of our most valuable tools for discerning and rejecting the false philosophies of the world, and the story of Korihor is an especially acute warning:
The Book of Mormon brings men to Christ through two basic means. First, it tells in a plain manner of Christ and His gospel. It testifies of His divinity and of the necessity for a Redeemer and the need of our putting trust in Him. It bears witness of the Fall and the Atonement and the first principles of the gospel, including our need of a broken heart and a contrite spirit and a spiritual rebirth. It proclaims we must endure to the end in righteousness and live the moral life of a Saint.
Second, the Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. It confounds false doctrines and lays down contention. (See 2 Ne. 3:12.) It fortifies the humble followers of Christ against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil in our day. The type of apostates in the Book of Mormon are similar to the type we have today. God, with his infinite foreknowledge, so molded the Book of Mormon that we might see the error and know how to combat false educational, political, religious, and philosophical concepts of our time.
This chapter in the Book of Mormon brings men to Christ by these two basic means that President Benson mentions. The converted Anti-Nephi-Lehites, Giddonah, and especially Alma the Younger teach in a plain manner of Christ and his Gospel. They testify of His divinity and of the necessity for a Redeemer and the need of our putting trust in Him, and so forth. Then God, with His infinite foreknowledge, worked through Mormon and Alma the Younger to expose a particular enemy of Christ named Korihor and to confound the false doctrines that he taught. Mormon’s abridgment of Alma the Younger’s record fortifies us against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil in our day. Korihor is similar to the type of anti-Christs we have today. Let’s examine the errors of Korihor and consider how these errors are manifest in the false educational, political, religious, and philosophical concepts of our time in order to better combat them.
First of all, who was Korihor? Mormon informs us that Korihor came into the land of Zarahemla from somewhere else, and that he was anti-Christ.
What was the doctrine of Korihor?
He preached unto the people bagainst the prophecies which had been spoken by the prophets, concerning the coming of Christ
He preached that it was a afoolish and a vain hope to look for a Christ because no man can bknow of anything which is to come
He preached that the prophecies that were handed down by holy prophets were foolish traditions of the fathers
He challenged testimony, claiming that no one can know for certain things that are not seen, and therefore that no one can know for certain that there shall be a Christ
He ridiculed the hope for a remission of sins as the effect of a afrenzied mind, and as a derangement of the mind that was a result of the false traditions of the fathers
He taught that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men
He taught that every man afared in this life according to the management of the creature
He taught that every man prospered according to his genius
He taught that every man conquered according to his strength
He taught that bwhatsoever a man did was cno crime
He led away the hearts of many
He caused many to lift up their heads in their wickedness
He led away many women, and also men, to commit whoredoms—telling them that when a man was dead, that was the end thereof
Apparently Korihor had some success in Zarahemla, the main and capital city of the Nephites, but when he tried to preach his false doctrines among the people of Ammon, they immediately apprehended him and removed him from their community. This is significant because the converted Lamanites, the people of Ammon, were more discerning and alert than the majority of the Nephites. Ammon immediately sent Korihor away. The Gideonites - who, as we recall, were also among the more humble and converted members of the Church to whom Alma had preached the Gospel - also immediately rejected the doctrines of Korihor. The chief judge of Gideon, Giddonah, interrogated Korihor and thus provoked Korihor to reveal more of his false doctrines:
Korihor preached against Christ and the prophecies of the holy prophets because he claimed that such were foolish traditions that bound people down under foolish ordinances and performances from ancient priests
He preached that the prophets used these foolish ordinances and performances in order to usurp power and authority over the people
He preached that the prophets tried to keep the people in ignorance and submission
He preached that the people were not free, but in bondage
He preached that they did not know that the ancient prophecies were true
He preached against a proper understanding of the Fall
He preached against the testimony of Christ’s coming
He preached against the testimony of Christ’s death for the asins of the world—
He preached that the leaders of the Church used foolish traditions in order to keep people in bondage according to their own desires
He preached that the leaders of the Church did all of these things in order to glut themselves on the labors of others
He preached that the leaders of the Church did all of these things so that the people would not look up with boldness and enjoy their rights and privileges
He preached that the leaders of the Church used traditions and dreams and whims and visions and pretended mysteries in order to control the people
He preached that there was no God, or that God is an unknown being who anever has been seen or known, who bnever was nor ever will be
Giddonah and his fellow leaders sent Korihor away to Zarahemla, where he was brought before Alma. Alma continued the interrogation, which drew forth more of the false doctrines of Korihor:
Korihor claimed that the leaders of the Church deceived the people
Korihor denied that there is a God and a Christ
He demanded a sign
Korihor backtracked for a moment by claiming that he did not deny the existence of a God, only that Alma did not know that there is a God
Let’s pause for a moment to consider where we may have heard teachings similar to Korihor’s teachings. Elder Oaks has compared the doctrines of Korihor to modern moral relativism. Where do we hear people preach against the prophecies of the prophets? Where do we hear people preach against the coming of Christ or the existence of Christ? Where do we hear people preach that no one can know of anything in the future? Where do we hear people preach that the prophesies and testimonies of the prophets are foolish traditions? Where do we hear people preach that no one can know of things unseen? Where do we hear people mock religion and people of faith? Where do we see believers ridiculed and called crazy for their belief in God and in Jesus Christ and the Atonement? Where do we hear that people prosper only according to their genius and strength, and that people can do whatever they want because it is their right? Where do we hear people teach that death is the end of everything? Where do we hear people accuse leaders of the Church of usurping power and authority over the people? Where do we hear people claim that believers are not free, but in bondage to false traditions and ceremonies? Where do we hear preaching against a proper understanding of the Fall? Where do we observe those who reject testimony and claim that revelation and testimony are not real?
Of course we have all heard the false doctrines of Korihor in many different places. But sadly, I have even noticed the spirit of Korihor among certain members of the Church who attack and criticize Church leaders, accusing them of being false or fallen prophets, and maligning other members of the Church because of their traditions. Some of these same people also speak against the ordinances and specifically the ordinances of the Temple. Some also claim that leaders of the Church are guilty of glutting themselves on the labors of the people. Little do they realize that they have been deceived, and that they partake of a portion of the spirit of Korihor.
The spirit of Korihor is more recognizable amongst militant atheists or even people who profess faith in God but reject the Spirit of God and of revelation. There is also a spirit of social Darwinism that is rampant in our world, that is, the false notion that individuals, groups, and peoples are subject to the same Darwinian laws of natural selection as plants and animals. Extreme libertarianism, in my opinion, also partakes of the spirit of Korihor because it suggests that freedom means that a person can do whatever he or she wants because of his or her “rights”.
Korihor demanded a sign, was struck dumb, and confessed that he had been deceived by the devil. Korihor’s confession is a warning to each one of us about the nefarious, cunning, and crafty tactics of the adversary:
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 apower of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always bknew that there was a God.
But behold, the devil hath adeceived me; for he bappeared unto me in the cform 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 dno 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 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. (Alma 30:52-53)
Paul warned of a similar deception:
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2 Cor. 11:14)
And the Prophet Joseph Smith revealed the keys for distinguishing ministering angels:
There are two kinds of beings in aheaven, namely: bAngels, who are cresurrected personages, having dbodies of flesh and bones—
For instance, Jesus said: Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not aflesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Secondly: the aspirits of bjust men made cperfect, they who are not resurrected, but inherit the same glory.
When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you.
If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand.
If he be the spirit of a just man made perfect he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear—
Ask him to shake hands with you, but he will not move, because it is contrary to the aorder of heaven for a just man to bdeceive; but he will still deliver his message.
If it be the adevil as an angel of light, when you ask him to shake hands he will offer you his hand, and you will not bfeel anything; you may therefore detect him.
These are three grand akeys whereby you may know whether any administration is from God. (D&C 129:1-9)
Therefore, when someone comes to the Church with the goal to reclaim the people by rejecting the living prophets of God, at the very least we ought to be suspicious. If he or she claims that an angel appeared to him or her, then we need to make sure what kind of angel it was. Ideally, we will be as wise as the people of Ammon or the people of Gideon and reject the false doctrines of such deceivers.
Mormon recounts the end of Korihor: he was trampled to death among the Zoramites. Thus we return to Mormon’s poignant lesson:
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. (Alma 30:60)