Lesson Highlights

• Korihor leads away the hearts of many in Zarahemla.
• Korihor is taken before Alma, who testifies of Christ's coming.
• Alma leads a mission to reclaim the apostate Zoramites.

Scripture references for study:  Alma 30–31
    Note: Underlined scripture references have been hyperlinked to the LDS Scriptures at LDS.org and will open in a new window.

Lesson 27 Handout (PDF format)

Alma 30

1. Introductory Comments:
• President Ezra Taft Benson: "The Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ. It confounds false doctrines and lays down contention. 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 philosophical concepts of our time." (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p56)
• Historical Background:
• The Anti-Nephi-Lehis left their homeland for safety among the Nephites and took up residence in the land of Jershon.
• They were called the people of Ammon.
• A great battle between the Lamanites and Nephites followed and thousands were killed.
• After this great battle a period of peace and righteousness spread throughout the land.
• Sometime later Korihor came into the land preaching against the prophecies of the coming of Christ.
• Brother LaMar Garrard wrote about the importance of this chapter: "As we compare the teachings of this man [Korihor] and the beliefs of those today who advocate the philosophy of naturalism, we see a striking similarity. I believe the Lord foresaw the adverse effects of naturalism on our modern world and therefore purposely directed Mormon to include the teachings of Korihor in his record. Those who read and accept the Book of Mormon are thereby warned against accepting the philosophical assumptions of naturalism. What one believes about the universe is important because it affects one's behavior, for 'as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he'." (Studies in Scripture, 8:2)
2. The Rise of Naturalism.
• Korihor was an advocate of a philosophy that is very similar to the modern philosophy of Naturalism.
• WHAT IS NATURALISM?
• We have discussed this philosophy in past lessons. Bertrand Russell, a renowned mathematician and philosopher, advocated this philosophy. Mr. Russell listed three key ingredients of this philosophy that were derived from the scientific method:
1. Statements of fact should be based on observation, not on unsupported authority.
2. The inanimate world is a self-acting, self-perpetuating system, in which all changes conform to natural laws.
3. The earth is not the center of the universe, and probably Man is not its purpose (if any); moreover, "purpose" is a concept which is scientifically useless.
3. Naturalistic Methods of Gaining Knowledge.
• Russell's statement: Statements of fact should be based on observation, not on unsupported authority.
• Science has been successful in predicting, controlling, and explaining many natural events.
• The scientific method = all conclusions must be based upon public, repeatable observations using the natural senses.
• The scientific method is useful in the progress of science, but:
• If we utilize this as the only means for obtaining knowledge, we automatically eliminate knowledge coming to us from God through the living prophets, the scriptures, or personal revelation.
• Korihor's naturalistic approach:
• READ ALMA 30:13-15.
• WHAT DID KORIHOR SAY THAT IS SIMILAR TO MODERN NATURALISM?
• "For no man can know of anything which is to come" (v13).
• The prophecies are "foolish traditions of your fathers" (v14).
• "Ye cannot know of things which ye cannot see" (v15).
• Korihor's philosophy:  One can only believe in that which can be observed.
• Therefore, he claimed that we cannot know that there is a God.
• "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." (Alma 30:28)
• Alma asked Korihor if he believed there was a God. Korihor responded by saying "Nay" (v37-38).
• Korihor then asked Alma for evidence: "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" (v43).
• Korihor was asking Alma for observable evidence.
• WHAT DID ALMA TEACH ABOUT THE SOURCE OF TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE?
• READ ALMA 30:40-46.
  • Alma told Korihor that he had put off the Spirit of God. (v42)
  • He had the testimony of his brethren. (v44)
  • The testimony of the holy prophets. (v44)
  • The testimony of the scriptures. (v44)
  • "...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" (v44).
4. The Nature of the Universe.
• Russell's statement:  The inanimate world is a self-acting, self-perpetuating system, in which all changes conform to natural laws.
• This philosophy eliminates the concept that God has any power to direct or control matter. This eliminates the belief that God is the author of all natural law.
• Alma testified that observation of the natural world is a testimony of God and his hand in the natural world. (v44) 
5. The Nature of Humanity.
• In Russell's second statement he advocated a universe that was inanimate.
• Such a philosophy would relegate man to control by natural law, leaving no room for a spirit within the physical body to interact with the body and influence its actions.
• In other words, NO AGENCY. Where did this concept begin?
• Korihor taught this false doctrine:
• He taught the people that there was nothing wrong with living in wickedness. Why? "...when a man was dead, that was the end thereof" (v18)
.
• According to this philosophy, one could feel free in committing sin because all existence ended with death. There was no spirit to continue on after the death of the body.
• In such a mechanical universe, as advocated by Korihor, there could be no place for such things as God's law given by holy prophets.
6. The Effects of Korihor's Naturalistic Doctrine.
• In such a naturalistic universe, where there were no laws of God to break, there would be no sin or spiritual death.
• Motivating influence in a naturalistic universe:
• Survival of the fittest, both physically and mentally.
• Motivation would not come from a fear and love of God.
• READ ALMA 30:16-18.
• Korihor states there is no need for an Atonement to provide remission for sins or to overcome the effects of the fall of Adam and Eve.
• Thus not needing an atonement he denies the necessity of Christ.
• "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-- And thus ye lead away this people after the foolish traditions of your fathers, and according to your own desires" (v26-27).
• Korihor taught that there "should be no Christ" (v12) and that the people are "bound down under a foolish and a vain hope" (v13).
7. Was Korihor An Anti-Christ?
• WHY WAS KORIHOR AN ANTI-CHRIST?
• He was denying the truth of those doctrines that teach the necessity of a redeemer..
• Christ is the God of this world. The naturalistic philosophy taught by Korihor denied the hand of God in the creation and continued operation of this world.
• Christ reveals his word to the prophets. Korihor says, "...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" (v16).
• Christ is the Savior or Redeemer. Korihor denied the necessity of a redeemer and thus denied Christ.
• Elder Bruce R. McConkie: "An antichrist is an opponent of Christ; he is one who is in opposition to the true gospel, the true Church, and the true plan of salvation. He is one who offers salvation to men on some other terms than those laid down by Christ. Sherem, Nehor, and Korihor were antichrists who spread their delusions among the Nephites." (Mormon Doctrine, p39)
• HOW CAN WE RECOGNIZE ANTI-CHRIST'S TODAY?
• HOW DID THE PEOPLE OF AMMON AND THE PEOPLE IN THE LAND OF GIDEON RESPOND TO KORIHOR'S FALSE TEACHINGS?
• See Alma 30:19-21.
• They would not tolerate his teachings and threw him out of town.
• HOW SHOULD WE COMBAT FALSE TEACHINGS TODAY?
• We cannot bind up such false teachers and throw them out of the land. Yet, is not the crime they commit as serious as one who takes another human life? Rather than kill the body, these false teachers seek to kill the soul and thus affect the eternity of their listeners.
• We can bear testimony to the truth.
• We must be diligent in our prayers and scripture study.
• Use the Book of Mormon: Consider President Benson's statement.
• WHAT WAS THE SOURCE OF KORIHOR'S PHILOSOPHY?
• READ ALMA 30:50-53. Korihor had asked for a sign of God's power and he was struck dumb.
  • It is interesting to note that it appears that Korihor did not necessarily believe these things to begin with, but taught them because they were pleasing to the "carnal mind." Eventually, Korihor began to accept these teachings as truth. This should be a solemn warning to avoid exposure to false teachings. They may be tantalizing at first, but eventually may lead us down the wrong path.
• If we accept the Book of Mormon as the word of God, the account of Korihor teaches us that the beliefs associated with the philosophy of naturalism are anti-Christ in nature.
• This does not make scientific methodology anti-Christ, as long as it is only applied to the things that can be observed through the natural senses.
• LaMar Garrard: "...if we seek and gain a confirmation through the power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true, we can use the contents of that book as a guide in detecting the beliefs of our modern generation that are anti-Christ in nature. It is our responsibility to not 'put off the Spirit of God' as did Korihor so that we may not 'be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils." (Studies in Scripture, 8:11)

Alma 31

1. After the episode with Korihor, Alma received word that the Zoramites were perverting the ways of the Lord.
• The Zoramites separated themselves from the Nephites and gathered to the land of Antionum under the leadership of a man named Zoram.
2. WHY DID ALMA MAKE A MISSION TO THE ZORAMITES?
   • To correct their false teachings.
   • There was fear that the Zoramites would begin correspondence with the Lamanites and create an alliance which would be detrimental to the defense of the Nephite nation.
3. READ ALMA 31:5.
• HOW CAN THE WORD OF GOD BE MORE POWERFUL "THAN THE SWORD, OR ANYTHING ELSE"?
• WHAT DOES THIS SUGGEST ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD STUDY AND TEACH?
  • Elder Boyd K. Packer: "True doctrine, understood changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior." (CR, October 1986, p20)
• HOW CAN THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST HELP US RESOLVE:
• PERSONAL CONFLICTS?
• WORLD CONFLICTS?
4. HOW HAD THE ZORAMITES PERVERTED THE WAYS OF THE LORD?
• See Alma 31:9-18.
• They did not observe the law of Moses (v9).
• They had forsaken daily prayer (v10).
• They perverted the ways of the Lord (v11).
• They built synagogues for the purpose of worshipping one day a week (v12).
• It would appear that this day was the only time they practiced their religion.
• They built a prayer stand from which they all offered the same prayer (v13-18).
• Brother Daniel Ludlow wrote this about the prayer stand: "The name of the holy stand of the apostate Zoramites, upon which they stood when they offered their weekly prayer, was the 'Rameumpton.' Although this name may look strange in English, it has appropriate Semitic roots recognizable to students of Semitic languages. The preface 'ram' is frequently used to indicate a high place. For example, later in the Book of Mormon we read of the hill Ramah. Also in modern Israel are the town of Ramallah (located in the tops of the Judean hills just north of Jerusalem) and Rameem (which literally means 'the heights' and is located on the top of the hills near the Lebanese border)." (Companion To Your Study of The Book of Mormon, p213)
• They believed God was and would always be a spirit (v15).
• They believed the fundamental beliefs of the Nephites were false (v16).
• They believed there would be no Christ (v16).
• They believed they were chosen to be the elect of God (v16-17).
5. HOW MIGHT PRIDE AND VANITY AFFECT OUR WORSHIP?
• HOW ARE PRIDE AND VANITY OBSTACLES TO SALVATION?
6. READ ALMA 31:26-35.
• WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE PRAYER THAT ALMA OFFERED AFTER SEEING THE WICKEDNESS OF THE ZORAMITES?
• He prayed for strength to heal his own soul, for their wickedness caused him pain.
• He prayed for patience to deal with these afflictions.
• He prayed for the success of this mission.
• "And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith."
(Alma 31:38)
• HOW HAVE YOUR AFFLICTIONS BEEN "SWALLOWED UP IN THE JOY OF CHRIST"?

Gospel Doctrine Notebook

1. Record your thoughts on discussion between Alma and Korihor. How does the Book of Mormon fortify you "against the evil designs, strategies, and doctrines of the devil"?

Resources Used In This Lesson

• Companion To Your Study of The Book of Mormon by Daniel H. Ludlow.
• Conference Reports (CR).
• Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie.
• Studies In Scripture, Volume 8, edited by Kent P. Jackson.
• Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson.

Next Lesson

Lesson 28:  Alma 32–35