Chapter 5

 
Chapter 5

1.  And it came to pass that when he was brought before Alma and the chief judge, he did go on in the same manner as he did in the land of Gideon, yea, he went on to blaspheme against their traditions, for the sake of a more universal truth. 2.  And I, Orel did witness the proceedings within the courts of Zarahemla, for I did take a keen interest in this man’s case and did implore unto King Anti-Lehi-Nephi that I might journey forth and serve as audience within the trials.  3. And it was upon this occasion that I received a writ by the King and a charge to enter into the courts as his liaison and witness of these proceedings.  4. And also I was informed of the privilege to accompany Ammon, who did intend to return unto Zarahemla and to serve as counsel unto Alma.   5. Nevertheless he was deterred in his preparations for a time because of the needs of the people; therefore I did journey alone and did enter the court, acting as scribe, writing all which I could hear and observe.    6.  And he, Korihor, did rise up in great indignation before Alma, and did revile against the doctrines of the priests and teachers, accusing them of leading away the people after the traditions of their greed and bigotry, for the sake of glutting on the labors of the people. 7. 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.  8. 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.  9. And now, if we do not receive anything for our labors in the church, what doth it profit us to labor in the church save it were to declare the truth, that we may have rejoicings in the joy of our brethren?  10. Then why sayest thou that we preach unto this people to get gain, when thou, of thyself, knowest that we receive no gain? And now, believest thou that we deceive this people, that causes such joy in their hearts? 11. And Korihor answered him, Yea. 12. And then Alma said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God? 13. And he answered, Before thou proceed to interrogate me with further inquiries, grant unto me the opportunity to answer thine previous question.  For thou hast inquired regarding doctrine that requires a careful answer, and now ye seek to move forward without hearing properly my answer.  Is this not fair, that we conduct ourselves in the manner of a respectful conversation?  14. And upon these words, Alma did agree and therefore Korihor, seeing that he was granted space for explanation, did continue: 15.  When I say that ye do glut yourselves upon the labors of the people, I did not imply that you do so as obnoxiously as a tyrant upon his throne.  For I do acknowledge that ye are more clever than the high kings who rely upon only the sword for their authority.  Verily, thy sharpest sword hath been wielded with words that ye might cut into the heart of man, to make them bleed, a wound which they cannot see as it drains their souls from within. 16. Ye do claim authority to have power over earth and heaven, to grant this people eternal life, and an eternal family to come beyond the grave;  And ye do claim that this sealing power shall be had only by the power of your authority, administered under the hands of your priests, conducted in their ordinances, even their ceremonies.  Do ye not claim to have this power? 17.  Now Alma would not answer this question, but all within the court knew that it was so.  For it was taught amongst them all.  Nevertheless, Korihor was granted additional time to speak, for with

each answer he did pronounce, his guilt of blasphemy might be further exposed unto the court, and they did seek evidence by which to convict him.  Therefore, Alma said nothing. 18.  But Korihor did continue:  What doth the Priests require of the people to receive the blessing of eternal life under their hands, that their wife and their children might be sealed unto them, even beyond the grave?  Behold I will tell you, they are to render perfect obedience unto thy priests.  And whatsoever the priests lay to their charge, they are to do, even if it so be that it grinds against their own conscience.  19.  And by this, the priests collect a tithe upon the people, a tithe which is greater than even the tax of a king.  What doeth thou with the tithe?  A portion unto the poor, but a majority unto the church. And it doth pay your wages as you sit upon the judgement-seat, judging the people not according to the law of judges which hath been established by the people.  Rather ye do sit in judgement against them, by the law of the priests, which is a law of thine own making, making thy priests greater than kings.  20.  More than this tithe is demanded of this people; for thy men are to labor with their hands, one day out of ten unto the building up of the kingdom of God.  They do build thy synagogues, and thy offices, thy courts and thy storehouses, they lay down thy roads and raise up thy bridges.  Their women are thine seamstress and tailors.  Their children are thine sowers and reapers. And all of them lay a bounty of food into thy storehouse that ye shall ever be fed sufficiently to appear as a bear before her slumber. 21. Behold the market place which thou hast built at the entrance of thine temple.  Was not this market’s origination by the tithe of thy people?  Thou didst slyly filter their coinage amongst the exchangers before proffering the funds for its erection.    22.  And thou didst so that ye may appear to make a plausible reason to deny the source. Nevertheless, the true source of thine economy hath always been from the tithes of thine people.  I say unto ye that should any such Savior as taught by thy Priests make Himself known unto thee in reality, behold I say, such a Savior would throw down your markets and cast out your money changers.    23.  But this is not all, for the men in their anxiety and earnestness to please thee, they do labor more than the required tenth and oft times are seen leaving precious children and wife behind to sweat and bleed for thy cause.  24. They do fight thine battles for thee.  And ye do send them out to proselyte among far lands, unto a people whom they never before have known, that ye may garner more subjects into thy kingdom.  25.  And how thank the Priests for the service of these men?  Thine priests do persuade their women into a perversion of thy doctrines, that a man may have more than one wife so long as the authority of God is invoked.  26.  Wherefore thy priests take their women and use them for a season, and upon thy servant’s return he is broken hearted by their perversions and left to choose to join your priests in their iniquity that he may regain his losses at the expense of his neighbor; or keep his integrity and be driven out, never to receive his family unto himself again.  27. They do call it an eternal life because it hath been ordained by ceremony.  And ye do hide this crime of these priests that it shall not diminish thine authority, and ye rewrite the histories that their folly may not be known.  Behold, despite their wickedness, you say that ye inherited authority under their hands.  And you say that whatsoever your God commands is right, thus you worship a God without morality.  28.  Nevertheless, thou dost charge me with whoredoms because I teach the people that they must not surrender their marriages unto thine perverse doctrines and I say they must not surrender their moral reasoning unto thy corrupt authority.