Alma 39:1-6

The commandments of Alma to his son Corianton.

Comprising chapters 39 to 42 inclusive.

Chapter 39

Sexual sin is an abomination—Corianton's sins kept the Zoramites from receiving the word—Christ's redemption is retroactive in saving the faithful who preceded it. About 74 B.C.

Having spoken to two of his son, Alma turns to his last son, Corianton. As we will see, he was Alma’s problem child.  His concern for him is apparent throughout the counsel he gives him.  As he begins, his holds his brother as “steadiness … his faithfulness, and his diligence in keeping the commandments of God” (Alma 39:1).

As a side note, we learn something of Helaman.  Alma refers only to Shiblon’s faithfulness (“they brother”). Grant Hardy speculates this gives us insight to Helaman’s character. “Despite the fact that these words immediately follow Alma’s admonitions to his sons Helaman and Shiblon, only one brother – Shiblon – is held up as an example.  Helaman’s character and behavior apparently did not merit the same unqualified approbation.”[1]

Example is an important part of the gospel.  The Savior taught His twelves, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15). Preaching to the gentiles, Paul and Barnabus told them, “For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:47).

Corianton was not as faithful in following Alma’s words as was Shiblon^[2] during the mission to the Zoramites. Corianton had very high opinion of himself.  Alma reminds him during the mission, “thou didst go on unto boasting in thy strength and thy wisdom” (Alma 39:2).  Experience has shown me when people (myself included) start getting a high opinion of themselves, the Lord has a way of reminding us His way requires humility and reliance on Him.

In addition to his arrogance, he made a serious mistake.  He went away and visited the “harlot” Isabel.  This was a very serious offense. Solomon counsels, “For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil” (Proverbs 5:3).

In Old Testament times, Eli had problems sons. “Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said unto them, Why do ye such things?  for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD's people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them” (1 Samuel 2:22-25).

While the sexual sin, occurring during a mission, was a serious sin, Hugh Nibley provides a different perspective, one which would make the sin even more heinous.

Alma 39:3--4, rather than being a simple prostitute, was a priestess. Nibley observes that “Isabel [is] the name of the Patroness of Harlots in the religion of the Phoenicians, “27 that she had many followers, and that, to go to her, Corianton had to “forsake the ministry, and … go over into the land of Siron among the borders of the Lamanites” (Alma 39:3). Corianton's participation there is described as “an abomination” (Alma 39:5), precisely the same term that the Old World prophets used to denounce the Canaanite practices. which often included ritual prostitution and human sacrifice. It is reasonable to assume that some forms of goddess worship were being practiced.^[3]

Alma emphasized the seriousness of the sin, calling it an abomination.  Only two sins are more evil, murder or the denial of the Holy Ghost.

Alma further explains, “if ye deny the Holy Ghost when it once has had place in you, and ye know that ye deny it, behold, this is a sin which is unpardonable” (Alma 39:6). The Lord explains denial of the Holy Ghost as, “[H]aving denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to an open shame” (D&C 76:35).

What is the unpardonable sin? 

Mormons believe that there is only one unpardonable sin, the denial of the Holy Ghost. Joseph Smith stated, “What must a man do to commit the unpardonable sin they must receive the Holy Ghost have the heavens opened unto them, & know God, & then sin against him.” Words of Joseph Smith, 347. Additionally, Alma 39:6 reads: “For behold, if ye deny the Holy Ghost when it once has had place in you, and ye know that ye deny it, behold, this is a sin which is unpardonable.” Likewise, Doctrine and Covenants 76:31, 34–35 identifies the sons of perdition as “those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves through the power of the devil to be overcome, and to deny the truth and defy my power. . . . Concerning whom . . . there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come—having denied the Holy Spirit after having received it, and having denied the Only Begotten Son of the Father, having crucified him unto themselves and put him to an open shame.”^[4]

Mormon would described the situation of the Nephites to Moroni. “Pray for them, my son, that repentance may come unto them.  But behold, I fear lest the Spirit hath ceased striving with them; and in this part of the land they are also seeking to put down all power and authority which cometh from God; and they are denying the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 8:28).

---

[1] Understanding the Book of Mormon, Grant Hardy, Kindle Edition.

[2]“I say unto you, my son, that I have had great joy in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering among the people of the Zoramites” (Alma 38:3).

[3] Nephite Feminism Revisited: Thoughts on Carol Lynn, Pearson’s View of Women in the Book of Mormon, Kevin and Shauna Christensen, FARMS Review of Books 10/2 (1998): 33.

[4] Redeeming the Dead: Tender Mercies, Turning of Hearts, and Restoration of Authority, David L. Paulsen, Kendel J. Christensen, and Martin Pulido, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 20/1 (2011): 50.