Korihor

I compiled an outline of Korihor's teachings, and Alma's last response

 If you have (vain) hope, you are bound down, carrying a yoke of foolish beliefs – implies that you  are heavy laden and weighed down if you believe in what he doesn’t

2.    Nobody can know of the future: meaning no such things as prophets, seers, or revelation, not even personal revelation.

3.    Prophecies from prophets are foolish traditions of our fathers

4.    You can’t know of a surety what you don’t see. If you can’t see Christ, you can’t know He will come.

5.    We shouldn’t look forward – no hope in the future

6.    There is no remission of sins, so Christ won’t atone for us; if you believe this you are a crazy person.

7.    If you believe it, you are deranged because of traditions that lead you away to things that are false.

8.    There can’t be an atonement

9.    Every man survives the next life according to how well he does – nothing to do with grace or forgiveness or any help from God or Christ.

10.  We take care of our own destiny because we are strong, genius.

11.  Nothing we do is wrong; there is no such thing as crime or sin. (notice how long he taught before he began to add this!

12.  There is no afterlife. Death is the end, so it doesn’t matter what you do now.

13.  Committing to covenants and participating in ordinances gives the leaders power over us, keeps us in ignorance, and we can’t lift up our heads but will be brought down

14.  People have given up their freedom, are in bondage because of their beliefs.

15.  Korihor testified that all this was true.

16.  The fall of Adam didn’t affect us. We have no sin because of our parents.

17.  The leaders are leading the people astray with foolish traditions according to their own desires, (not guidance from God)

18.  The leaders try to keep people down, in bondage to glut from their labors

19.  People don’t dare look up with boldness.

20.  People don’t dare enjoy their rights and privileges

21.  People don’t dare make use of what is theirs

22.  Priests yoke them according to their desires

23.  Leaders of the Church lead through traditions, dreams, whims and pretended mysteries.

24.  God is an unknown being who has never been seen or known, and will never be.

25.  Korihor reviled against God.

 

Alma: people are happy because of our beliefs! They make us happy and give us joy. Take that away and you are interrupting our joy.

Isaiah Saw Christ's Death

In reading Mosiah 14, Abinadi is quoting Isaiah's account in Isaiah 53 where he talks of Christ's life and death. Many prophets have quoted this chapter because it is such a moving account and wonderful explanation of what Christ did for us.

I was just thinking about how Isaiah must have felt to see Christ's life - born a baby in humble circumstances, how wonderful He would be through His life, that He would be the promised Messiah! I'm sure Isaiah knew of other prophesies of Jesus, and looked forward to the day that He would redeem all of us! He probably loved Jesus and looked forward to the time when He would reign on earth. I just wonder how he felt when he saw how Jesus was treated - how He wasn't believed, was scorned, and ultimately saw them cucify Him.

I was a leader at girls' camp a few years ago,  and got to see all that our stake did for the girls to strengthen their testimonies. Thursday night was always the Faith Walk, where the girls are led through the forest, from one station to another. At each station great events were depicted and great messages were given. Then the girls would be led quietly to the next station, using flashlights to find the way.

At the last station this particular year, Jaime Hansen was presenting about Jesus' crucifixion. He had a very real-looking cross lying on the ground. He had a huge hammer in one hand and a very large spike in the other. He talked about Jesus and how He willingly submitted to the soldiers to be put on the cross. He spoke of the love that Jesus had FOR US to allow them to nail Him to the cross. At that point, Jaime took the huge spike and hit it with the hammer into the cross. On the 3rd strike of the hammer, he broke down and cried as he spoke of this great sacrifice.

It was a very moving experience. Just to see the event a little more literally, was very impactful. It made me wonder how I might feel if I saw what Isaiah saw, especially since I live in a society that would never consider doing anything so brutally cruel to a human being. It would make me sick to my stomach to see that kind of hatred that would make men think they are justified in dong such a thing, and it breaks my heart to imagine the event in my mind. I don't think I could bear to be an eye witness.

How would Isaiah have felt?  He says, "He was wounded for our transgressions, for our iniquities." "And with His stripes we are healed." "For the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquities of us all." And, "All we like sheep have gone astray."

It must have broken Isaiah's heart to see all that Christ suffered in such a depraved way, and also see that we go about our lives like sheep running all over the place with no purpose.

My goal is to remember Isaiah's words whenever I partake of the Sacrament and covenant to not "go astray" like sheep.