The Book of
ALMA
The Son of Alma
Chapter 1
Nehor teaches false
doctrines, establishes a church, introduces priestcraft, and slays Gideon—He is
executed for his crimes—Priestcrafts and persecutions spread among the
people—The priests support themselves, the people care for the poor, and the
Church prospers. About 91–88 B.C.
1 NOW it came to pass
that in the first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi,
from this time forward, king Mosiah having gone the way of all the earth,
having warred a good warfare, walking uprightly before God, leaving none to
reign in his stead; nevertheless he had established laws, and they were
acknowledged by the people; therefore they were obliged to abide by the laws
which he had made.
2 And it came to pass
that in the first year of the reign of Alma in the judgment–seat, there was a man
brought before him to be judged, a man who was large, and was noted for his
much strength.
3 And he had gone
about among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word
of God, bearing down against the church; declaring unto the people that every
priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their
hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people.
4 And he also
testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and
that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads
and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men;
and, in the end, all men should have eternal life.
5 And it came to pass
that he did teach these things so much that many did believe on his words, even
so many that they began to support him and give him money.
6 And he began to be
lifted up in the pride of his heart, and to wear very costly apparel, yea, and
even began to establish a church after the manner of his preaching.
7 And it came to pass
as he was going, to preach to those who believed on his word, he met a man who
belonged to the church of God, yea, even one of their teachers; and he began to
contend with him sharply, that he might lead away the people of the church; but
the man withstood him, admonishing him with the words of God.
8 Now the name of the
man was Gideon; and it was he who was an instrument in the hands of God in
delivering the people of Limhi out of bondage.
9 Now, because Gideon
withstood him with the words of God he was wroth with Gideon, and drew his
sword and began to smite him. Now Gideon
being stricken with many years, therefore he was not able to withstand his
blows, therefore he was slain by the sword.
10 And the man who
slew him was taken by the people of the church, and was brought before Alma, to
be judged according to the crimes which he had committed.
Alma 1:1-10
The Book
of Mormon contains the account of a man named Nehor. It is easy to
understand why Mormon, in abridging a thousand years of Nephite records,
thought it important to include something about this man and the enduring
influence of his doctrine. Mormon was seeking to warn us, knowing that this
philosophy would surface again in our day.
–Elder D. Todd Christofferson
The
Divine Gift of Repentance, October 2011
The book of Alma begins with the new form of government and
the rule of Alma2. Mormon
reminds us that Mosiah had established laws that were accepted by the people.
King Mosiah established specific
laws (Alma 1:1). In so doing, he was acting like other ancient lawgivers, such
as the famous Babylonian lawgiver Hammurabi or the great Israelite leader
Moses. In antiquity, such leaders personally acted to issue laws for the
express purpose of establishing "justice and equity" among their
people.1 Likewise, one of Mosiah's main motives was
that all would be "equal" (Mosiah 29:38; Alma 1:26), and their judges
were praised for filling their judgeships with "justice and equity"
(Helaman 3:20, 37).[1]
In the first year of Alma’s reign, a man was brought before
Alma. This man, Nehor, was large and
very strong.
It seems Nehor preached a different gospel, one that went
against everything Alma1 and Alma2, as well as King
Benjamin, taught. The priests should be
popular! The Savior’s warning is
applicable to this situation – “Woe unto
you, when all men shall speak well of you!
for so did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 6:26).
The priest and teachers shouldn’t have to work and support
themselves. They should be supported by
the people. Talking to his brethren,
Nephi warned,
“For
the time speedily shall come that all churches which are built up to get gain,
and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh, and those who are
built up to become popular in the eyes of the world, and those who seek the
lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and to do all manner of
iniquity; yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of the devil are
they who need fear, and tremble, and quake; they are those who must be brought
low in the dust; they are those who must be consumed as stubble; and this is
according to the words of the prophet” (1 Nephi 22:23).
“Nehor preaches the gospel of free riding (see Alma 1:3);
what a great idea to be popular, to not have to labor with one's own hands!
What more appealing political position could there be?”[2]
As to this nonsense about repentance and obeying
commandments, forget it. All mankind
will be saved. God created all men and
he will save all men, giving them eternal life.
As he taught these things, many people accepted his teachings. Why not? Guaranteed salvation and you could live anyway
you wanted![3]
John L. Sorenson looks at Nehor’s logic.
No sooner was the system
inaugurated in the first year of the reign of judges than money became more of
a problem. Nehor, who taught that religious leaders and ministers should be
supported financially, gained followers. Perhaps his claim now made more sense.
After all, if judges were to be paid for their services, should not priests and
religious leaders also be paid? Nehor was persuasive, and many of the people
"began to support him and give him money" (Alma 1:5).[4]
He became even more arrogant, wearing “costly apparel.” As we will
see throughout the Book of Mormon, costly apparel is the ultimate sign of apostasy. It represents pride and superiority.
Nehor “began to
establish a church after the manner of his preaching.”
Elder M. Russell Ballard warned us against being like the
Nephites and following false prophets.
Therefore, let us beware of false
prophets and false teachers, both men and women, who are self-appointed
declarers of the doctrines of the Church and who seek to spread their false
gospel and attract followers by sponsoring symposia, books, and journals whose
contents challenge fundamental doctrines of the Church. Beware of those who
speak and publish in opposition to God’s true prophets and who actively
proselyte others with reckless disregard for the eternal well-being of those
whom they seduce. Like Nehor and Korihor in the Book of Mormon,
they rely on sophistry to deceive and entice others to their views. They “set
themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of
the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion” (2 Ne. 26:29).[5]
All was going well for Nehor. Nephite law forbad punishment for a person’s
belief. But, he couldn’t leave well
enough alone.
During his travels, he met a man named Gideon. We know Gideon from when the people of Limhi
were in bondage to the Lamanites. It was
Gideon, “an instrument in the hands of
God,” who came up with the plans to escape from bondage (see Mosiah 22).
One day, still in the inaugural
year of the reign of judges, while Nehor was going to preach to his followers,
he encountered the elderly Limhite warrior named Gideon, who had become one of
the officers (a teacher) in Alma's church (Alma 1:7) in addition to being a
respected former military leader who had personally fought against the wicked
King Noah.[6]
Nehor, angered by the words of Gideon, drew his sword and
began to strike and beat him with it. “In
a discussion with a very old man named Gideon, who had been a great hero in his
day, Nehor the Great Liberal and lover of mankind lost his temper and killed
him (Alma 1:7—9).”[7]
Click
here to hear Elder Dallin Oaks discuss – Nehor Taught that a “Teacher
Ought to Become Popular.”
[1] Reexploring
the Book of Mormon – The Law of Mosiah, John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute,
accessed January 8, 2015.
[2] For
the Peace of the People: War and Democracy in the Book of Mormon, Ryan W.
Davis, Maxwell Institute, accessed January 8, 2015.
[3] Nehor’s
influence was widespread. When Alma
speaks to his son, Corianton, he answers his questions. Many of his questions show that he was, at
the least, influenced by the teachings of Nehor (see Alma 42).
[4] Weighing
and Measuring in the Worlds of the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch, Maxwell
Institute, accessed January 8, 2015.
[5] Beware
of False Prophets and False Teacher, M. Russell Ballard, October 1999 General
Conference
[6] The
Legal Cases in the Book of Mormon – The Trial of Nehor, Maxwell Institute,
accessed January 8, 2015.
[7] An
Approach to the Book of Mormon – The Way of the "Intellectuals",
Hugh Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed January 8, 2015.
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