Chapter 3

Chapter 3

1. And Korihor did teach these things unto them, with the hope of leading them to freedom, that they might lift up their minds and consider the reasonableness of their beliefs, whether these things which had been taught amongst them were truly doctrines according to mercy and justice, and according to the kindness of their natures, before their natures had been tainted by the corruption of priestly things.  2.  Nevertheless, many did not understand his teachings.  And some among the more dogmatic believers did misrepresent his words amongst those who could not listen directly to his voice.  3. They did say that he lead many women astray because he taught that a woman stood as tall as her husband and ought to participate fully in the officiations of their worship within the synagogues. 4. And they did say that he caused men and women to commit whoredoms - telling them that they did not need a priest's permission to marry in this life nor marry for the next life.  For the faithfulness of their hearts alone was sufficient to seal any marriage from this day unto death and beyond; so long as the husband was faithful to the wife and the wife was faithful to the husband, and so long as their union was bound by love and compassion. 5. He did go on saying that this was surely sufficient; and would be honored in the eternities.  Therefore

any ceremony offered or withheld by the priests could only be the priests attempt to gain authority and power over the hearts of the people and nothing more.  For this reason, they did say that he taught whoredoms, because he denied their authority and they taught that anything not delivered by their hand was an abomination unto God. 6. And he did teach them that every soul ought to be humble about their beliefs for there was no absolute certainty regarding the next life.  For every soul that did journey beyond the natural world but not unto the grave, did return with tales that conflicted one with another; to such a great extent that who could say with confidence which was correct?  Wherefore, it was most reasonable, that we spare one another with mercy and forbid sending even an enemy to the grave.  God forbid that any man should march in any Holy War nor battle for any Sacred Belief.  And so on he did teach. 7. He had taught many things, and for all such teachings, the people did respond with surprising vitriol.  They did condemn this man for his reasoning and for his words, changing the words to mean different things that they could beat down his words like straw; and they did this that perhaps he might be accused and driven out from among them.