More 0n Korihor

This morning we read the first part of Alma Chapter 30 as a part of our family scripture discussion. Sondra made a germaine point that I, for some funky reason, had always interpretted differently. In verse 19-20 Korihor preaches to the Anti-Nephi-Lehites or as the Nephites called them, the People of Ammon, who were converted Lamanites. The narrative observes:

verse 19 states: "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."

I always figured the commentator was observing that the wisdom was evidenced by how they handled the problem of Korihor, because of the conjunction "for", and I had never really made the connection that they as a people might be collectively more "wise". Certainly both ways of looking at the verse are fine. They were wise to cast him out. Sondra delved deeper into "why" the people as a whole were considered wise. She stated that the reason the Lamanites were not fooled or enticed by Korihor was that they had lived the lifestyle he espoused. The preaching of Korihor would most likely have horrified them, and as a result they were wise because of the life they had left behind. They had actual wisdom due to their life experience (which more correctly fits the traditional definition of wisdom).

This is a strong statement as to the benefit of true conversion and change from a life void of light to one filled with the light of the Gospel. There really is a wisdom bestowed upon folks as to how to handle things like the destructive beliefs of those who espouse differing philosophies. They were those "who had been there and done that."

They didn't take for granted their gift or blessed state. They had actually used the atonement of Christ in miraculous terms, and cherished just how rare and precious it was. They actually sacrificed for it. Knew of Christ's power to change their life, and as a result they could not be deceived by the seductive chant of a man who espoused what the world might view as a pragmatist's philosophy of Occam's Razor.

Oh that I might likewise have such wisdom, rather than returning again and again to seductive notions that usurp faith for doubt and supplant testimony for acrimony.

It is also interesting to me, also, how this chapter sets up the dillemma of Korihor, by noting (in verses 7-12) at some great length, that all people were upon equal ground because they afforded their people the freedom of belief. Because they believed in the free exchange of ideas, they were vulnerable to freedom's exploits. Therefore, the consequence to freedom of belief is a Korihor, A man who claims to fervently believe what he believes--that there is no God, that one cannot believe in God, that all God-like testimony is really the result of what Scrooge (in the Christmas Carol, by Dickens) blamed on indigestion.

I often read the sequence of events in the Book of Mormon in principle/consequence or happenstance/consequence pairs. There are a lot of unstated sermons in observing simple statements and the consequence of those statements.

For example, when the King of the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's dies and names his son King is when the Amulonites and Amalekites make their move for power and stir up the other Lamanites to war. Over and over again, though the Book of Mormon really never states it outright, it consistently tells of how when one leader changes to another, there is a cycle of contention.

Another interesting consequence is this one of freedom of belief, leading eventually to King Men, leading eventually to the Title of Liberty, leading to the quashing of the King Men rebellion, leading to Pahoran's children fighting for the throne and Paanchi's execution, leading eventually to the secret combinations of Kishkumen, leading to the entire destruction of the government. Though the cycle takes generations to complete, it appears to run hand in hand, and make strong commentary about the corrupting nature of power and the importance of righteous leadership.

These are unstated sermons that are nevertheless fascinating to me. When I think of how contentious the last election was, I can't help but think that again the Book of Mormon teaches us directly applicable lessons for today.

--Ray