ABC's of Science and Exmormonism: K is for...

K is for Korihor, that rascally pseudo-atheist and social-darwin bad guy that Alma bravely goes toe-to-toe with.

Our first issue with Korihor is his name. Turns out it's an English name by nature. Yup, his very existence in the Book of Mormon is an anachronism. Further he is an odd one because a land "Corihor" is mentioned in Ether, Chapter 14:28

In addition, Korihor's doctrine seems a touch out of place for 70-80 B.C. Although Nahor's teachings more closely resemble Universalism in the 1800's we find some similar ideas to Korihor as well. So his philosophies are also somewhat anachronistic, although it is easily argued that either the Devil decided to try to speed up man's thought process by teaching 1800's thinking to a man in 80 B.C. or that these thoughts could come about in any society.

But let's get really to what the story of Korihor says, and why this is so damaging for the Book of Mormon.

First, I'm just going to make a slight alteration to show how the story is basically propaganda. We're going to just replace "Joseph Smith" with Korihor, and "Alma" with the preacher "Alexander Campbell". I ask all believing members to consider if they would accept the exact same story as true if presented thusly:

In the year of our Lord, 1830 there came a man of New York, and he was Anti-Christ, for he began to preach unto the people against the prophecies which had been spoken by the prophets, that the ministers taught.

And this Anti-Christ, whose name was Joseph Smith, (and the law could have no hold upon him) began to preach unto the people that there should be he had seen Christ. And after this manner did he preach, saying:

Do you see the spin already at play in the story? How one-sided the tale is?

Now, what does this Korihor teach that is so ghastly, so amazingly bad that God will break all the "I don't interact with man so that they can have Faith" rules over this guy:

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.

Well, considering that teaching the name "Christ" is an anachronism, not even found in the bible, it might be understandable that people might doubt. I mean, King Benjamin mentioning Christ's name in Mosiah 3:8 is amazingly prophetic. So much so that even Joseph Smith himself didn't prophesy anything even close to as accurate. Imagine if Joseph had even forseen the events at his death well enough to choose a successor, there would have been no succession crisis. Or if any of the Prophets and Apostles had such clarity around Mark Hofmann so perhaps we should give some credit to people who were uncertain of an event that would be 100 years in their future, that they were unlikely to see.

We are also not given an alternative view. How many things had the prophets been wrong about recently? How many times had priests in the church been caught abusing their power?

Now this idea, "no man can know of anything which is to come" probably should have been countered with the prediction of star locations of which Mayans were famous for and even developed mathematics to explain, if this occurred in Guatemala.

Regardless, Korihor continues:

14 Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions of your fathers.

15 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.

And certainly, after letter J there is a reason to doubt there was a Christ. The guy seems to be unsure who he was, or when he lived. The evidence is scant that the New Testament portrays the activities accurately and the gospels aren't even contemporary documents allowing false memories or conflation of information. But yet remember, Mosiah knew his Mother's name, from another continent centuries before Jesus was born. The contradiction on God's interaction with data retention and clear messages to His followers is deafening with this story.

Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions of your fathers.

And yet; we have so many things that were quoted as doctrine today, that are now held as foolish traditions, one might be forgiven for siding with Korihor. Indeed Adam God, Race and the Priesthood, Secret councils, marrying polyandrously behind one's wife's back, the list goes on and on.

And the list of things Prophets cannot answer today could give one a few doubts as well. If Korihor's prophets were anything like ours, his doubting statements are sensible.

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.

An interesting note here, "the effect of a frenzied Mind" was spelled: "the effects of a phrensied mind" in the original translation of the book of Mormon

And many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men

We've discussed how bizarre the atonement is. Hit Jason Todd on the head again with a Crowbar, Alma, he hasn't died for the innocent Robins yet!

but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature

This is an interesting point of view. Clearly this does occur (Some people fair better than others, and a lot has to do with how people handle themselves) and yet the placing implies something fascinating. This idea, that people fair according to their own efforts, is directly after "No atonement"; ergo this implies that one would fair better in this life, with the atonement and Christ than without. It's part of the "prosperity gospel"!

therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime.

These three are interesting in juxtaposition, because even though one may prosper according to his own Genius. or strength, it does not in anyway follow that "What one does is no crime".

Maybe "is no sin" but Crime is definitely handled differently at the beginning of the chapter:

Now if a man desired to serve God, it was his privilege; or rather, if he believed in God it was his privilege to serve him; but if he did not believe in him there was no law to punish him.

This reeks of the idea that "if you take away God, you take away all morality" that has been soundly refuted.

And thus he did preach unto them, leading away the hearts of many, causing them to lift up their heads in their wickedness

This idea that the people had their heads bowed in righteousness, and lift it up to wickedness is... questionable. Again imagine that a Christian preature said:

The Mormons lifted their heads up to all manner of wickedness following Joseph Smith, for example they sang songs on the Sabbath

It's very basically offensive because what defines wickedness to one group is a permitted thing by another (Quakers forbade singing at all, and once Joseph asked Rachel Ivins (Heber J. Grant's mother) to sing on the Sabbath and she was shocked. Her relatives criticized that she would sing hymns now that she was a mormon)

yea, leading away many women, and also men, to commit whoredoms—telling them that when a man was dead, that was the end thereof.

This is often used to tie Korihor to Atheists, in very poor way making members feel equipped to go against the secular humanist or simple non-believer. And yet, the Book of Mormon does not actually convince the man Spoiler alert it strikes him down with divine might. And expecting that end doesn't help any conversation.

But behold they were more wise than many of the Nephites; for they took him, and bound him, and carried him before Ammon, who was a high priest over that people.

This line is bizarre. Previously it was stated that no one could be arrested for their beliefs. But here we have an unlawful arrest and it is praised as wise.

he was taken and bound and carried before the high priest, and also the chief judge over the land.

Imagine if religious preachers took and Bound Joseph Smith for teaching his doctrine, what would that be called? This is religious persecution for it was established this man committed no crime. Yet he, (Like Alma and Amulek will be in later verses) is bound simply for his belief.

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 up their heads, but be brought down according to thy words.

Foolish ordinances and performances indeed. Take a look at any religion you don't believe in and watch them do one of their most sacred rituals and one can't help but feel it's a "foolish performance". An interesting sidenote the concept that priests "Usurp power and authority" was in the footnotes in the New Testament in the 1820-1833 time period

Ye say that this people is a free people. Behold, I say they are in bondage. Ye say that those ancient prophecies are true. Behold, I say that ye do not know that they are true.

If people feel they must give their loyalty, their money and their time to an organization to reach god, are they free? Even if that religion is true; does it not require willful subserviance just by nature? Perhaps not slavery, but a type of indentured servitude?

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.

Again, the atonement idea and the confusing idea that "Because of Adam and Eve" we are all put into a mortal state where the natural man is an enemy of God

Now when the high priest and the chief judge saw the hardness of his heart, yea, when they saw that he would revile even against God, they would not make any reply to his words; but they caused that he should be bound; and they delivered him up into the hands of the officers, and sent him to the land of Zarahemla

More illegal abduction and incarceration. Yay, clearly these are the good guys!

Now Alma said unto him: Thou knowest that we do not glut ourselves upon the labors of this people; for behold I have labored even from the commencement of the reign of the judges until now, with mine own hands for my support, notwithstanding my many travels round about the land to declare the word of God unto my people.

I wonder if Alma had just built a Mall

And notwithstanding the many labors which I have performed in the church, I have never received so much as even one senine for my labor; neither has any of my brethren, save it were in the judgment-seat; and then we have received only according to law for our time.

It's kinda hard to believe you, Alma, when you've got an illegally held prison there. I mean, how financially transparent was Alma? How transparent was the church? How would Korihor know that he was upright and honest?

And on it goes until we get to this line:

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.

And here we have a real problem because instead of using real rational answers to explain things, the answer is that anyone questions how church funds are used, or if Christ is real must have a "lying spirit". The rational discussion is moved to the metaphysical.

If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.

Wait, what? If Alma will show him a... did he really talk like that? Or did he say "Can you give evidence of God and then I will believe" because asking for a reason to believe shouldn't be a crime. Remember, kids, insisting on evidence before belief is worth the "smite" button on God's computer.

ANd here is the evidence given:

• The testimony of his brethren

• Thes scriptures

• All things

• The Earth

• The Earth's motion

• And planets that move regularly

Hmmm... well with evidence like that, how did we end up with 200+ offshoots of Mormonism. I mean, it's clear as day.

Further, we've explained those things and needed no God to do so such as Gravity and origin of the earth.

that thou shalt become dumb, that thou shalt never open thy mouth any more, that thou shalt not deceive this people any more.

And here we have it. If you can't win the argument tell the other person to shut up. It's god's will, kiddos.

Also, I love that they have him write his confession. No way a written confession is ever forged to convince people. Never in history.

This story is littered with anachronism, bad thought, and in the end harms relationships. It's been a sticking point for people in and out of the church since the beginning and is a clear evidence of Propaganda