“Lesson 88: Alma 30,” 2017 Book of Mormon Seminary Teacher Manual (2017)
“Lesson 88,” 2017 BoM Seminary Teacher Manual
Lesson 88
Alma 30
Introduction
Following a great battle between the Nephites and the Lamanites, peace settled over the land. About two years later, a man named Korihor began to preach that God did not exist, that there would be no Christ, and that there was no sin. He reviled the leaders of the Church, claiming they were teaching foolish traditions. His false teachings led many people to commit serious sins. Korihor was brought before Alma, who testified of Jesus Christ and taught that all things testify of a Supreme Creator. Eventually Korihor was struck dumb by the power of God and was convinced of the truth. However, when he asked to have his voice restored to him, Alma denied his request, saying that he would teach false doctrine again if he regained his voice. Korihor spent the rest of his life begging for food until he was trampled to death by a group of Nephite dissenters called the Zoramites.
Suggestions for Teaching
Alma 30:1–18
Korihor, an anti-Christ, ridicules the doctrine of Christ
Before class begins, poke a small hole in the bottom of a soda can and allow the contents to drain out. Show the can to the class without revealing that it is empty. Ask who wants it and how much they would be willing to pay for it. Have a student step forward, examine the can, and tell the class what is inside. (Instead of a soda can, you could also use any empty box, a bag, or a wrapper that normally contains something students would like.)
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How are false teachings like this soda can? (They are often enticing on the outside but empty on the inside.)
Explain that in today’s lesson, students will learn about a man named Korihor. As they study Alma 30, encourage them to consider how Korihor’s teachings left him and others spiritually empty.
Tell students that after a time of war against the Lamanites, the people of Ammon (the Anti-Nephi-Lehies) and the Nephites entered into a period of peace. Then Korihor interrupted their peace. Ask students to read Alma 30:6, 12, looking for a word that describes this man. (The word is Anti-Christ. Explain that one definition of this word is “anyone or anything that counterfeits the true gospel plan of salvation and that openly or secretly opposes Christ” [Guide to the Scriptures, “Antichrist,” scriptures.lds.org].)
(To help introduce Korihor and his teachings to students, you may want to show a segment of the video “All Things Denote There Is a God” [time codes 0:00–1:14]. This video portrays the events recorded in Alma 30 and is available on LDS.org. As students watch the video, invite them to listen for what Korihor taught that was anti-Christ. Then have students do the following activity.)
Prepare the following exercise on a handout or on the board before class. If you put it on the board, ask students to copy it in their notebooks or study journals. It will help them see how Satan and those who serve him use false doctrines to entice us to commit sin.
False Teachings of Korihor the Anti-Christ
Book of Mormon Seminary Teacher Manual—Lesson 88
Scripture Reference |
False Teaching |
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a. You cannot know something is true unless you see it. Therefore, you cannot know that there will be a Christ. | |
2. Alma 30:15 |
b. There is no such thing as sin. There is no universal standard of what is right or wrong. |
3. Alma 30:16 |
c. People prosper by their own efforts alone. There is no such thing as an atonement. |
4. Alma 30:17 |
d. It is impossible to know about things that will happen in the future, so you should not believe in Christ or follow the words of people who say they are prophets. |
5. Alma 30:17 (beginning with “whatsoever a man did …”) |
e. Forgiveness of sin is a crazy idea that comes from false traditions. |
6. Alma 30:18 |
f. There is no life after death, so there is no need to worry about a judgment after this life. |
© 2017 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Divide students into pairs. Ask them to read Alma 30:12–18 together. Instruct them to match the scripture references, which are on the left side of the chart, with the false teachings these verses contain, which are on the right side. (Answers: 1–d, 2–a, 3–e, 4–c, 5–b, 6–f.)
To help students analyze Korihor’s teachings, ask the following questions:
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According to Alma 30:18, what did Korihor’s teachings lead the people to do?
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Why do you think these teachings lead people to give in to temptation?
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What can we learn from these verses about the dangers of false doctrines? (Help students identify the following principle: Satan uses false doctrines to entice us to commit sin. Write this truth on the board, and invite students to consider writing it in their scriptures.)
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What teachings have you been exposed to that are similar to Korihor’s teachings?
Alma 30:19–60
Korihor demands a sign from Alma and is struck dumb by the power of God
Summarize Alma 30:19–30 by explaining that Korihor taught false doctrines in three different Nephite cities. Eventually, he was brought before the chief judge of the land and before Alma, who was the leader of the Church. You may want to point out that one of Korihor’s major arguments was that Church leaders held people in bondage—that their religion took freedom away from people. He also accused Church leaders of seeking personal gain from the labor of the people.
(Instead of summarizing Alma 30:19–30, you may want to show another segment of “All Things Denote There Is a God” [time codes 1:14–5:22]. Ask students to listen for the reasons Korihor gave for teaching these things to the people.)
Ask students to read Alma 30:31 silently, looking for accusations Korihor made against Alma and other leaders of the Church. Invite students to report what they find.
Invite a student to read Alma 30:32–35 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for how Alma responded to Korihor.
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How have you seen the truthfulness of Alma’s response in the lives of Church leaders?
Invite two students to come to the front of the class. Ask them to read Alma 30:37–45 aloud, with one reading the words of Alma and the other reading the words of Korihor. Invite the rest of the class to look for what Alma presented as evidence of God’s existence. After the students have finished reading, thank them and invite them to be seated.
(Instead of inviting two students to read Alma 30:37–45 in front of the class, you may want to show another segment of “All Things Denote There Is a God” [time codes 5:23–7:30]. Invite the class to look for what Alma presented as evidence of God’s existence.)
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What evidences did Alma give for the existence of God? (As students respond, you may want to write their answers on the board. As part of this discussion, emphasize that all things testify of God. Invite students to consider marking the words in verse 44 that teach this truth.)
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How does Alma’s response discredit the false teachings of Korihor?
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Of the evidences Alma listed, which are especially powerful to you? Why?
Give students a few minutes to write in their class notebooks or study journals any evidences they have seen that “denote there is a God” (Alma 30:44). Invite several students to share their lists with the class.
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How do these evidences influence you? In what ways might they strengthen your faith and testimony?
Summarize Alma 30:46–50 by explaining that Korihor, still not accepting the signs he had been given, demanded that Alma show him a sign of God’s existence. In response, Korihor was struck dumb by the power of God.
(Instead of summarizing Alma 30:46–50, you may want to show another segment of “All Things Denote There Is a God” [time codes 7:31–9:37]. Ask students to look for Korihor’s choice and what happened as a result.)
Invite a student to read aloud Korihor’s explanation in Alma 30:51–53. Ask students to look for what Korihor wrote about why he had been preaching against God the Father and Jesus Christ.
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Why did Korihor teach these things?
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What do you think Korihor meant when he said that he taught things that were “pleasing unto the carnal mind”? (You may need to explain that Korihor’s teachings appealed to people’s unrighteous physical desires rather than their righteous spiritual desires.)
Summarize Alma 30:54 by explaining that Korihor asked Alma to pray so the curse could be removed from him.
Invite a student to read Alma 30:55 aloud. Ask the class to follow along, looking for how Alma responded.
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Why was the curse not removed from Korihor? (Make sure students understand that Alma discerned that if Korihor received the ability to speak, he would again teach false doctrine to the people. Korihor was regretful because he was beginning to experience some of the consequences of his poor choices, but his heart had not changed. Nevertheless, Alma left Korihor’s request in the hands of the Lord.)
Summarize Alma 30:56–59 by explaining that Korihor was cast out and went from house to house, begging for food. Eventually he went to the Zoramites, who had separated from the Nephites, and was trampled to death.
(Instead of summarizing Alma 30:56–59, you could show the video “All Things Denote There Is a God” [time codes 9:38–11:17]. Ask students to look for what ultimately happened to Korihor.)
Ask students to read Alma 30:60 silently, looking for the principle Mormon taught.
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What principle did Mormon teach? (Students should identify the following principle: The devil will not support his followers at the last day. Invite students to consider marking this principle in their scriptures.)
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How is this different from the way Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ care for us? (As students discuss this question, you may want to invite them to read Alma 36:3.)
Testify of the truths that you and the students have discussed in this lesson. Encourage students to act on any promptings they may have received today.