Read: Alma 30-31
Mark: Alma 30:37-39
"Korihor's arguments sound very contemporary to the modern reader, but Alma used a timeless and ultimately undeniable weapon in response --the power of a personal testimony." --Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
To ponder: How did Alma respond to Korihor's claim that there is no God?
As I read tonight, I couldn't help thinking: I'm so glad Korihor was so short-lived! What a nightmare! :)
ReplyDeleteI love how Alma responds to Korihor; just as the quote today from Elder Holland explains the power of a personal testimony--this is how Alma responded. And, what can really be said at that point?? Korihor is obviously not all that wise (as he proclaims to be), because next he wants a sign! Yikes!
These scriptures remind me of a Relief Society lesson I taught some time ago on the priesthood, all was going well until one sister said something like: Well, I believe that women should hold the priesthood, the church is behind the times. Hmmmm....all I could do was respond with my testimony: That I knew that we had a prophet here upon the earth, President Thomas S. Monson, and that I had raised my hand to the square to sustain him. As such, until he let's us know something different, I will continue to follow him and sustain him. The room became very quiet, there wasn't a whole lot else to be said, and I went on with my lesson. This was a great testimony to me of the power of being led by the Spirit as well as the power and strength of a simple testimony.
You rock! Great way to respond! I love you mom!
DeleteI love you too!!!
DeleteThat's awesome--a very appropriate and spiritual response. I'm not sure how I would have handled that situation. Yikes!
DeleteChapter 30: know the spirit - live so it can guide you to recognize the work of the devil add the people of Jershon did or scarier still, so you can recognize when he visits you in the form if an angel as he did to Korihor. Can you imagine being him? It would be so confusing to have such a visit. You would wonder where the visitor came from. The devil is always our adversary. But he is like our friend who learns everything about us but cares nothing for us and waits for us to make a single decision that he can encourage and lead us down that path. He only desires company in hell. There is no pleasure in it for him except knowing he won't be the only miserable one.
ReplyDeleteChapter 31: the word of God is stronger than all else. When not spoken by God it may not be immediate, but it will always have the deepest and longest impact. The Zoramites fell into great sin because they did not keep the commandments nor did they observe the performances of the church such as daily prayer. It is these 'small' things that protect us from destruction.
Alma is wise. He is getting ready to preach to this people who have frisky preferred the ways of the Lord. He does not pray for success only, but he knows he will have trials. He doesn't even ask to avoid the trials. He asks for strength. Life will have trials. We should approach then the same way.
I LOVE Alma 30:41--"But behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true..." because as we learn elsewhere in the scriptures, all things are a testimony of Christ! I really take this to heart. As I go through life I really do try to connect everything to the gospel. I'm not sure I've ever run into a TV show, movie, book, situation, etc. that I COULDN'T tie to a gospel lesson/message. Whenever I do read/watch something I try to think about how it connects to my own knowledge and testimony, even (and especially) secular things because I love to see how there's an innate knowledge buried within us as a species of what is right and wrong and how that comes forth even among secular media. Korihor's words and teachings are still so prevalent today! I know a LOT of people like Korihor who deny Christ and even God and who look for sure signs of their existence--"proof". It's as Alma states in Alma 30:42, that they "have put off the Spirit of God that it may have no place in" them. These people aren't looking for answers. If they were given proof it wouldn't even matter (just like with Laman and Lemuel after seeing angels). God is the farthest thing from their hearts, and so there's no room for him to enter in. It makes me wonder in what ways I can more fully open my heart to God. I hope I will never be a Korihor!
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