Chapter 7
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And after few of days had passed, the guards did take Korihor into the
court again. And I beheld that his
visage had been overcome by a color of paleness; even the frame of his body had
diminished. The strength of his form was
no more. About the glands of his neck
there was a deep purple that swelled exceedingly. And also his jaw was wrapped in cloth and
bound; bearing stains of blood, both old and new.
2. Now when the chief judge saw
this, he put forth his hand and spoke unto Korihor, saying: Art thou convinced
of the power of God? In whom did ye desire that Alma should show forth evidence?
Would ye that he should afflict others, to show unto thee more evidence?
Behold, he has showed unto you evidence; and now will ye dispute more?
3. And Korihor did tremble
exceedingly; and hesitated to put forth his hand and write. Nevertheless, Alma’s guards did persuade him
without subtlety and he did relent.
4. Hereby a parchment of writ was
presented before him and weakly he did take the seal in his hand. And I beheld that he could not read a word in
his condition of pain; nevertheless he did apply his signature upon it.
5. Behold this writ was presented by
the priests; for they did read it above the courtyard for all to hear. And they did cry forth its words saying: I, Korihor,
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.
6. 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. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing
unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success,
insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I
withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me.
7. Thereafter, Korihor
having affixed his seal upon that confession, he did collapse upon the floor
for the weakness of his frame and the weariness of his soul, yet he besought
that Alma should appeal unto mercy and release him, that no further curses of
God might be imposed upon him.
8. But Alma said unto him: If
this prison sentence should be taken from thee, thou wouldst again lead away
the hearts of this people; therefore, it shall be unto thee even as the Lord
will for a season. Thou shalt remain
imprisoned until I can verily believe the words which thou hast spoken among my
people hath been forgotten.
9. And it came to pass that the
sentence was not taken off the shoulders of Korihor; but he was bound and held
within the prison, and subsisted on little light and little food for a season.
10. Now the knowledge of what had
happened unto Korihor was immediately published throughout all the land; yea,
the proclamation was sent forth by the chief judge to all the people in the
land, declaring unto those who had believed in the words of Korihor that they
must speedily repent, lest the same judgments would come unto them.
11. And it came to pass that they
were all convinced by the priests of the wickedness of Korihor; therefore they
were all converted again unto the doctrine of the Lord as taught by the priests
who did preach among the people; and this put an end to the ministry after the
manner of Korihor.
12.
And I did return unto the king among the people of Ammon and I did make
my report.
13.
And after a season of time, the sentence of Korihor did expire. He was released among the people. Thereafter, his strength did not find restoration;
and his voice forever rendered dumb.
Neither dared he write his beliefs; as he had before done in confidence. And Korihor did go about from house to house,
begging food for his support.
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14. And it came to pass that
as he went forth among the people, yea, among a people who had separated
themselves from the Nephites and called themselves Zoramites, being led by a
man whose name was Zoram—and as he went forth amongst them, behold, he was run
upon and trodden down, even until he was dead.
15. And thus we see the end
of him who sought to correct the pride of the priests and of the people. And this is the end of many who seek to
oppose those who think they do always know the ways of the Lord.
16. Thus we see that the leaders in authority will not support their subjects in manners of truth and repentance, should that counsel attempt to diminish their authority.
16.
And now again, I Orel, did ponder on these things.
17. I have been blessed of God in my
days. Or shall I say, blessed by some
power that honors truth and morality, and upheld by justice and mercy and this according
to my understanding of a power that I call God. Nevertheless I do acknowledge
the limitations of mine understanding.
18.
And also I do make this private record of the happenings regarding this
man and the proceedings which hath been issued against him. And I write these things because of the
changes which I have observed among the people who call themselves the people
of God. For they do take the words of a
man and change them to meet their needs.
And they do always consider themselves approved of God, even so much
that they will condemn another who doth retain a differing view and speaketh according
to his own heart and mind.
19. Therefore, in the record among them
some falsehoods have been introduced which do support their priests;
nevertheless their records are incomplete and their histories have been
rendered imperfect because they have silenced the voice of those who believe
differently.
20.
And it seemeth that upon occasion they give no heed to the morality of
any act, whether it be right or wrong; only to that which is taught among them by
the authority of men, as if all words of a man could proceed forth as the continuous
voice of God. Yet that man alone declares his own authority.
21.
Now there is great good within these people, nevertheless I fear that
perhaps their swiftness to grasp at authority hath blinded them to reason and
mercy; their minds made closed by confidence in their own beliefs. For they have failed to understand that
belief is not a virtue; and knowledge is to be had by those who reason from a
different point of view. Wherefore the
contrary man should be retained among us and not divided and driven away to be
silenced.
22. Therefore, I record the words of
this man as he did teach them in his own sincerity, for there was much wisdom
from that man; I say wisdom although I do not retain a belief in all of his
words. Nevertheless, I ponder his words
for the sake of mine own understand. And
I do sorrow for the sake of the injustice which he did suffer.
23.
And I commend the judgement of Ammon unto all who hear my report; for he
demonstrated wisdom in allowing all men and women to speak their minds that
perhaps we might be taught by all, even they who are not from among us.
24.
For he was a man who could enforce his will by the sword should he so
desire, nevertheless he did withhold his hand and show mercy; even amongst
those who we do face as enemies, for all have a measure of wisdom and all may
be edified, each from one another.
25. And I retain this record that we
may remember and that we may be more careful in judgment and merciful than we
have previously been.
26.
And thus I did seek to repent of my idolatry. Whereby, I did consider the words of the
prophets as counsel, but did not accept their words, save it was weighed
against the principles of truth and save their words did not grind against mine
conscience. And I teach these things unto
mine own children, that they may learn to be wise, and I pray that these things
shall not be diminished nor forgotten in time.
27. And I close mine account.
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