No Support from Below

There was a wicked man named Korihor who went around trying to destroy the church. He would basically try to convince them that they could not know the things they claimed to "know", and that people can't tell what will happen in the future.

I've often been impressed by people of faith that lived before Christ. They had to live by faith that Christ would come at some point in the future and atone for their sins and make it possible for them to be saved. Those of us who have lived after Christ still need faith, but at least there's some historical records of Christ and His actual mortal life and ministry.

Anyway, I think a man like Korihor, with the the arguments he used to convince people to turn away, could certainly have made an impact. He didn't necessarily say that he knew that Christ would NOT come, but he tried to make people question their faith by saying things like "For no man can know of anything which is to come" 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".

He went all over the place preaching this way, working to destroy peoples' faith. He went to Jershon (where the people of Ammon lived), and they knew right away what he was up to and they took him to Ammon, who had him taken out of Jershon. They weren't going to let him do what he was trying to do.

Korihor was eventually taken before Alma, who had played that game before. He probably recognized exactly what Korihor was up to, both because he had the Spirit to guide him and give him understanding, but also because he had personally done something very similar in his younger years.

Eventually, Korihor is struck dumb so he can't lead people away from Christ anymore, and he ended up having to go around begging for food. Eventually, he was trampled and died.

"And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell." (Alma 30:60)

This is one of those things that is very clear to watch. The devil will tear people down, pull them away from the truth, and try to convince them to do wrong. But at the end of the day, when push comes to shove, he doesn't care about his "followers". His entire goal is to ruin peoples lives, and when their life goes to the bad because of the choices they make (with help from his influence), he just lets them take the fall.

This is so different from what happens when you follow God's commandments! Our Father in Heaven cares so much about us and our welfare. He wants us to be happy. He is there for us. He will help us, comfort us, and bless us, no matter what, but he provides extra blessings for those who follow Him. I have experienced this support and uplift and am so grateful for His watchful care.