The Anti-plan

Reading: Alma 30-31

This reading concerns a man named Korihor, who begins to introduce beliefs that are in opposition to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is great to know the truths in life, but it's also good to know the opposition so that we may "taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good" (Moses 6:55). Korihor, in the end, says that he was deceived by the devil who appeared to him as an angel (Alma 30:53):

 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.

I find this and other things the devil taught Korihor to teach, so interesting, ironic and clever.  Essentially, the devil uses truthful doctrines so that they still sound like truth, but twists them just enough to appeal to human rational reasoning.  Here are some of the things that Satan, via Korihor, teaches:

13 Why do ye look for a Christ? For no man can know 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.

In a few sentences, he knocks down the belief in Christ, hope for better things to come and prophecies made by holy prophets, naming the beliefs as traditions only.

 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.
 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. 

In his line of thinking, since there is no Christ, there is no atonement, so there is no accountability and therefore no sins.  Also since there is no Christ, there wouldn't be a resurrection either so everything you do in this life is not answerable at any other time.

Following this line of thinking, Korihor attacks the performances and ordinances of the gospel at that time, saying that if there is no Christ, there is no need for ordinances or performances, so the priests must be requiring these things as an act of power and reign and to free ride off the works of the people:

 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.
 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.

But, Alma responds well with proof that these things are not true.  The priests actually labor with their own hands for their own support:

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.
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.
 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?

The stinger for Korihor's line of thinking is that last verse, essentially saying, if the priests don't receive any temporal benefit, then they must be doing it because they just want to help people, because that's what Christ teaches!

Then Alma testifies and challenges Korihor:

 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 God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only.

Korihor responds by requesting a sign indicating to him that there is a God, to which Alma replies:

 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.

In a previous lesson, one of the BYU roundtable discussions mentioned that the Lord doesn't work in signs, he works by sending witnesses (most of the time).  But, because Korihor wanted a sign, he was given a very personal one - he was struck deaf and dumb and at that point realized he had been deceived by the devil.  He tried to correct his actions, but was driven out of the city and killed in another city.  Unfortunately, his teachings made enough of an impression that some of the people of Zarahemla took to the notion of worshipping their own made up Gods and doing it inconsistently and without much spiritual depth, if any at all.  In fact their construed "observances and performances" led to a class system where the poor people were despised and cast out and riches were valued above all and whatever it took to get them acceptable.

This chapter is an important one for our time because we hear often either that there is no God, or people have their own type of God, or that God's name is used so frequently and in such a flippant manner as to render his existence unimportant.  Interestingly enough, this question: "Is there a God?" is one question where the searcher must make a personal discovery.  As Alma said, "all things denote there is a God."  That is true, if you believe there is a God to take credit for it.  But if you do not believe in God, all things exist anyway, so what makes the difference in knowing there is a God?  A few thoughts - there are many more of course, you can start with the Bible Dictionary definition of "faith"

Acknowledging God brings stability to life (which we all need):
James 1:6-8

 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

You can have stability because God is unchangeable:
Moroni 8:18

18 For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.

It may be difficult to believe in something you can't see, but that is the essence of faith based on Jesus Christ which breed hope for a better world:

Alma 32:21:

 21 And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

Ether 12:4:

4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

When God is acknowledged and faith established, blessings come, because He is the giver of all blessings:

Hebrews 11:6

 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.