29 Now when the high priest and the chief judge saw the hardness of his heart, yea, when they saw that he would revile even against God, they would not make any reply to his words; but they caused that he should be bound; and they delivered him up into the hands of the officers, and sent him to the land of Zarahemla, that he might be brought before Alma, and the chief judge who was governor over all the land.
30 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.
31 And he did rise up in great swelling words before Alma, and did revile against the priests and teachers, accusing them of leading away the people after the silly traditions of their fathers, for the sake of glutting on the labors of the people.
Alma 30:29-31 (Emphasis mine)
The high priest and chief judge realized that it wasn’t worth their time to continue dealing with Korihor. They ignored him and decided to send him to Alma(2).
When he arrived and stood before Alma(2), he continued to insult the priests and teachers for believing in the silly traditions of the past. He also accused the priests and teachers of living off the labors of the people.
I can’t help but believe he was enjoying all this attention. All these important people were giving him attention and listening to him. It didn’t matter they rejected his teachings. I am convinced he felt he had finally arrived when he stood before Alma(2). He was really going to show them.
Then Alma(2) responded to his accusations.
32 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.
33 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.
34 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?
Alma 30:32-34 (Emphasis mine)
Alma(2) begins with the word “Thou knowest.” He is making sure Korihor knows he knows he is lying. Even though he knows his charges are false, that doesn’t stop him from making them.
He reminds him that he supports himself by working for his money. He reminds him that he has never received even a senine for his work. (This would be like us saying that we have never received a penny for our service to the Church.) Not only has he not received anything, no one has received a penny for their service.
He does qualify his statement with the time they had served in the judgment-seat, but that what they received was in accordance with the law.
Then he hits Korihor with a very powerful argument. You claim we teach the traditions of our fathers for profit. I’ve proved that we don’t profit from our service paid, so that claim is not valid. With that in mind, we labor in the church to declare the truth. There is no other reason.
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Acts 20:32-35 (Emphasis mine)
Lindon Robison reminds us that the only compensation many of these men received were spiritual.
“The sons of Mosiah were motivated to do missionary work among the Lamanites because they could not bear that any human soul should perish and endure endless torment (Mosiah 28:3). Alma declared that his joy was in being an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance. He added that his joy was more full because of the success of his brethren (Alma 29:9, 14). Later, Alma declared that his reward for his service to the Church was the happiness he felt because of the joy of his brethren (Alma 30:34).” [1] (Emphasis mine)
[1] Economic Insights from the Book of Mormon, Lindon J. Robison, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 17, 2011.
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