Conference tecrus::mormonism

149.0. "Two men who fought the Church" by CACHE::LEIGH () Tue Jul 26 1988 19:19

The Book of Mormon tells of two men who fought the Church.  These men were
Korihor and Zeezrom.


Korihor
-------

Korihor came into the land of Zarahemla and preached that the prophecies
of Christ were false, that Christ would not come.  He ridiculed the
people who believed in Christ, calling their beliefs foolish.

    O ye that are bound down under a foolish and a vain hope, why do
    ye yoke yourselves with such foolish things?  Why do ye look for
    a Christ?  For no man can know of anything which is to come.

    Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are
    handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions
    of your fathers.  (Alma 30:13-14)

Korihor used logic and reasoning in his arguments and said, in effect,
that the only knowledge that can be trusted was knowledge that comes from
things they can see.  That is, faith can not be trusted.

    How do ye know of their surety?  Behold, ye cannot know of things
    which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be
    a Christ.  (Alma 30:15)

He said the people were insane for believing the traditions of their
fathers.

    Ye look forward and say that ye see a remission of your sins.  But
    behold, it is the effect of a frenzied mind; and this derangement
    of your minds comes because of the traditions of your fathers, which
    lead you away into a belief of things which are not so.  (Alma 30:16)

Their forefathers, Korihor said, had taught these foolish traditions in
order to control the people and keep them in bondage.

    ...And Korihor said unto him: Because I do not teach the foolish
    traditions of your fathers, and because I do not teach this people
    to bind themselves down under the foolish ordinances and performances
    which are laid down by ancient priests, to usurp power and authority
    over them, to keep them in ignorance, that they may not lift their
    heads, but be brought down according to thy words.  (Alma 30:23)

    And thus ye lead away this people after the foolish traditions of
    your fathers, and according to your own desires; and ye keep them
    down, even as it were in bondage, that ye may glut yourselves with
    the labors of their hands, that they durst not look up with boldness,
    and that they durst not enjoy their rights and privileges.  (Alma 30:27)

Korihor was brought before Alma, the chief judge, and a debate ensued.


Zeezrom
-------

Zeezrom was a lawyer.  He earned his livelihood by causing disturbances
and wickedness and riotings among the people and then defending them when
they came to him for legal help.

    Now the object of these lawyers was to get gain; and they got gain
    according to their employ.  (Alma 10:32)

    Now, it was for the sole purpose to get gain, because they received
    their wages according to their employ, therefore, they did stir up the
    people to riotings, and all manner of disturbances and wickedness, that
    they might have more employ, that they might get money according to
    the suits which were brought before them; therefore they did stir up the
    people against Alma and Amulek.  (Alma 11:20)

Zeezrom was skilled in using language to twist and distort and was described
by Mormon as being "one of the most expert among them [the lawyers], having
much business to do among the people." (Alma 10:31)  Mormon went on to say
that this use of language was one of "the devices of the devil" (Alma 11:21).

He engaged in debate with Alma and Amulek.



Korihor's Debate
----------------

Alma asked Korihor if he believed there was a God.  Korihor said "Nay".

Alma testified that there was a God and that the world itself was a
testimony of God's existence.  Then Alma said that Korihor did believe in
God, and he accused Korihor of being under the power of the devil.

    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 told Alma that if he would show him a sign that God had power, then
he would be convinced that there was a God.  Alma said that he already had
signs in the form of testimonies of the prophets and the scriptures.  In
addition, he had the earth and planets as witnesses of a Supreme Creator.

Alma said that in spite of these witnesses of God, Korihor continued to
lead the people away from God.  Korihor said, "Yea, I will deny, except
ye shall show me a sign."  Alma responded by saying

    ...Behold, I am grieved because of the hardness of your heart, yea,
    that ye will still resist the spirit of the truth, that thy soul
    may be destroyed.  (Alma 30:46)



Zeezrom's Debate
----------------

Zeezrom began his debate by asking Amulek questions.

    And this Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying: Will ye answer
    me a few questions which I shall ask you?  Now Zeezrom was a man
    who was expert in the devices of the devil, that he might destroy 
    that which was good; therefore, he said unto Amulek: Will ye answer
    the questions which I shall put unto you?  (Alma 11:21)

Zeezrom's intent was to trick Amulek into contradicting himself.  He
asked, "Thou sayest there is a true and living God?"  Amulek responded
"Yea".

Zeezrom carefully guided Amulek down a course of reasoning in which
Amulek said there was but one God and also there was a Son of God (i.e.
more than one God).  Zeezrom triumphantly declared to the people

    Now Zeezrom said unto the people; See that ye remember these
    things; for he said there is but one God; yet he saith that the
    Son of God shall come, but he shall not save his people--as though
    he had authority to command God.  (Alma 11:35)
    

Characteristics of these men
----------------------------

As we review the lives of these two men, we realize they had some common
characteristics:

1.  Both Korihor and Zeezrom were skilled in using language as a tool in
    convincing the people.

2.  Both were hardened to the Spirit of God.

3.  Both were influenced by Satan and were following his dictates.


Result of Korihor's debate
--------------------------

After Korihor insisted on receiving a sign, Alma said

    Now Alma said unto him: This will I give unto thee for a sign, that
    thou shalt be struck dumb, according to my words; and I say, that
    in the name of God, ye shall be struck dumb, that ye shall no more
    have utterance.

    Now when Alma had said these words, Korihor was struck dumb, that he could
    not have utterance, according to the words of Alma.  (Alma 30:49-50)

Having received his sign and recognizing it was from God, Korihor wrote the
following:

    And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: I know that I am dumb,
    for I cannot speak; and I know that nothing save it were the power of
    God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always knew that there was a
    God.

    But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the
    form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they 
    have all gone astray after an unknown God.  And he said unto me: There is
    no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say.... (Alma 30:52-53)

Thus, we see that Korihor mistook the devil for an angel of light.  Because
he was hardened to the Spirit of God, he ignored the promptings of the Spirit
and instead followed the promptings of the devil.


Result of Zeezrom's debate
--------------------------

As the debate with Zeezrom progressed, a strange thing happened.  Zeezrom began
to realize that Alma and Amulek spoke the truth, and he began to tremble from
guilt.

    Now when Alma had spoken these words, Zeezrom began to tremble more
    exceedingly, for he was convinced more and more of the power of God;
    and he was also convinced that Alma and Amulek had a knowledge of him...
    (Alma 12:7)

As he realized that Alma and Amulek spoke the truth, Zeezrom had to make a
decision.  He had to decide if he would continue in his attempts to mislead
the people, or if he would accept the truth as taught by Alma and Amulek.

    And Zeezrom began to inquire of them diligently, that he might know 
    more concerning the kingdom of God....  (Alma 12:8)

Zeezrom chose to seek truth from the two missionaries and in so doing he
experienced such great guilt that he became sick nigh unto death.

    And it came to pass that Zeezrom was astonished at the words which
    had been spoken; and he also had knew concerning the blindness of the
    minds, which he had caused among the people by his lying words; and
    his soul began to be harrowed up under a consciousness of his own
    guilt; yea, he began to be encircled by the pains of hell.  (Alma 14:6)

    And also Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a burning fever, which was
    caused by the great tribulations of his mind on account of his wickedness,
    for he supposed that Alma and Amulek were no more; and he supposed that
    they had been slain [by mobs] because of his iniquity.  And this great
    sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his mind until it did 
    become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance; therefore he began to
    be scorched with a burning heat.  (Alma 15:3)


The End of the stories
----------------------

Korihor eventually acknowledged that he had been wrong, but not until
he had challenged God for a sign and had received the sign.  He went from door
to door begging for food and was eventually killed by the wicked Zoramites.

With Zeezrom, however, the story had a happier ending.  Even though he had been
misled by Satan and had followed him, Zeezrom had enough personal honesty to
admit to himself that he had been wrong and to change his ways and accept the
truth.  Zeezrom was eventually baptized and became a missionary for the Lord.