1993
Korihor
July 1993


“Korihor,” Friend, July 1993, 20

Korihor

Korihor didn’t believe in Jesus

A man named Korihor came to Zarahemla. He did not believe in Jesus Christ and preached that what the prophets had said about the Savior was not true. Alma 30:6, 12–14

He taught the people not to believe

Korihor told the people that they were foolish to believe that Jesus would come and suffer for their sins. Alma 30:16–17

Many believed Korihor

He said that men would not be punished for their sins, because there was no life after death. Many people believed Korihor. They became wicked. Alma 30:18

The people of Ammon didn’t believe Korihor

Korihor also preached to the people of Ammon, but they were wise and bound him and took him to Ammon, who had him carried out of Jershon. Alma 30:19–20

He went to the land of Gideon

When Korihor went to the land of Gideon, the people there would not listen to him, either. The high priest and chief judge had him taken to Alma, in Zarahemla. Alma 30:21, 29

Korihor taken to Alma

Alma asked Korihor if he believed in God, and Korihor said no. Alma told him, “I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come.” Alma 30:37–39

Korihor wanted to see a miracle

Korihor wanted Alma to perform a miracle to prove that there is a God. Korihor said that if he saw a sign of God’s power, he would believe in Him. Alma 30:43

Alma said there are already many miracles to see

Alma told Korihor that he had already seen many signs of God’s power. He had the scriptures and the testimonies of all the prophets. Alma 30:44

The earth and everything are signs there is a God

Alma told Korihor that the earth and everything on it, and the movement of the planets in the sky, are all signs that there is a God. Alma 30:44

Korihor wicked

Korihor still refused to believe in God. Alma felt sorry about Korihor’s wickedness and warned him that his soul might be destroyed. Alma 30:45–46

Korihor still wanted a sign

Korihor still wanted a sign to prove that there is a God. Alma said that the sign from God would be that Korihor would be struck dumb. Alma 30:48–49

Korihor could not speak

After Alma had said this, Korihor could not speak. Alma 30:50

He asked Alma to remove the sign

Korihor wrote that he knew that this sign was from God and that he had always known that there was a God. He asked Alma to pray to remove the curse. Alma 30:52, 54

God would decide if the curse would be removed

Alma, knowing that Korihor would again lie to the people, said that the Lord would decide if Korihor would speak again. Alma 30:55

Korihor still could not speak

The Lord did not restore Korihor’s speech. He had to go from house to house, begging for food. Alma 30:56

Korihor died.  People told to repent

The chief judge sent word throughout the land of what had happened to Korihor. He told those who had believed Korihor to repent. Alma 30:57

Korihor killed

The people repented, and Korihor went to live with the Zoramites. As he went about begging, he was trampled upon and killed. Alma 30:58–59

Illustrated by Jerry Thompson