"Ye say that this people is a guilty and a fallen people, because of the transgression of a parent. Behold, I say that a child is not guilty because of its parents."
I had the hardest time finding which verse is my favorite today. That is because this chapter is so very rich with Alma dealing with Korihor, the anti-christ. I see so many parallels to our day, for our land is possessed with anti-christ's. This chapter also shows the signs that can lead a person that belongs to the church of God to fall away. So with that I selected this verse to ponder on because it is a snare towards that downward progression.
I have this in my notes on this scripture.
"Sometimes others claim that Latter-day Saints believe something that we don't believe. They claim that the false belief is false and then show that it is false. It has nothing to do with what we really believe but is an attempt to make us seem to be in error. Korihor did this to Giddonah: "This argument is called a straw man. That is, he attributed to Giddonah something that Giddonah does not believe - the idea that children inherit guilt through Adam's transgression. Korihor knows that he cannot fight truth fairly and come off victorious, so he attributes bad doctrine to Giddonah, a straw man to which he can give a good verbal licking."
(Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet, Sustaining and Defending the Faith [1985], 90)
I am so familiar with this tactic because I have a straw man that loves to come around and cause chaos. The only way to defeat them is to not respond to their invitation. This is exactly what we see happen in this chapter. After this and other lies are made by Korihor the high priest and chief judge do the right thing, "they would not make any reply to his words" (verse 29). Korihor is then bound and delivered to Alma, the chief judge. I find so many important steps in this. First, it shows the importance of knowing what true doctrine is, for if we do not, then the straw man could add confusion on what a person believes. Claiming your faith believes something when it doesn't, then you begin to open the door to doubts. The second is not to contend with such a person. Why? because the spirit will leave as false doctrine and lies are contentiously batted around you. It takes spiritual maturity to not jump in the midst of the fray. It is only pride that will make you think that you can win this battle. Leave such a person in the hands of the Lord, be it his judgment or those in authority, for this is what you are dealing with. For the anti-christ is hardly in a position to hear truth.
"Behold, I know that thou believest, but thou art possessed with a lying spirit, and ye have put off the Spirit of God that it may have no place in you; but the devil has power over you, and he doth carry you about, working devices that he may destroy the children of God."
(Alma 30:42)
Korihor then makes the grave mistake before Alma asking for a sign that there is a God (verse 48). I have two quotes on this verse about those that seek a sign. The first is by the Prophet Joseph Smith, "Whenever you see a man seeking after a sign, you may set it down that he is an adulterous man"
(History of the Church, 3:385)
The other I think is so pertinent to that slippery slope.
"President Joseph F. Smith (1838-1918) further explained the dangers of depending on miracles of our faith: "Show me Latter-day Saints who have to feed upon miracles, signs and visions in order to keep them steadfast in the Church, and I will show you members of the Church who are not in good standing before God, and who are walking in slippery paths"
(Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 7).
Had you ever thought of a person feeding on miracles, signs and visions being parallel to an anti-christ seeking a sign?
The last couple of days I have been somewhat obsessed with this news story involving people that claimed to be members of my faith. I was fascinated by this interview given by their friend, and that slippery slope that has lead this couple down to hell. A connecting thread was attending conferences and seminars that dwelt on the subject of the last days. They shared their personal revelations, dreams, and near death experiences. The weaker among them began to feed on the claims of others and take their "experiences" as new doctrine. I went back and read Elder M. Russell Ballard's, Oct 2017 General Conference talk "The Trek Continues!" and found all these warnings signs that applied to their situation. Now I see in this chapter and the quote by President Joseph F. Smith that there is true danger in feeding on the sensational, even if they are signs of your faith. The problem is thriving on them to keep your spirit going. In such a condition they have not entered into the rest of the Lord. They are open to becoming an anti-christ.
Day 1888
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