Alma 39 – Alma Teaches Corianton, Part 1: The Rebuke

← Alma 38Alma 40 →

Alma begins by clearly identifying a serious sin Corianton has committed: He left the ministry to pursue a harlot. Alma emphasizes to his son the seriousness of sexual sin by placing it third, after denying the Holy Ghost and murder. He urges his son to counsel with his older brothers and to repent and turn to God.

Alma then begins to address questions in Corianton’s mind. The first one concerns how they can know of a future event like the coming of Christ. Alma explains that God loves all of His children, including those who live before, during, and after the life of Christ, and that He makes salvation available to all of them.

Chapter Outline

  1. Corianton’s sin: abandoning the ministry to follow a harlot (v. 1-6)
  2. Repent, counsel with your brothers, and turn to the Lord (v. 7-14)
  3. God loves all of His children and teaches us about future events, like the coming of Christ (v. 15-19)

My Takeaways

  1. Chastity in action, word, and thought is an affirmation of loyalty to the most important relationships in our lives.
  2. Don’t make excuses for your mistakes. That prevents you from taking the first step toward repentance: confession.
  3. Acknowledge the worries that are holding other people back, and do what you can to “ease [their minds] somewhat,” so that they can move forward.

Featured Blog Posts

❖ The seriousness of sexual sin – Alma 39:1-6

No Excuse – Alma 39:4

After identifying a major sin his son has committed, Alma preemptively refutes a potential justification: Yea, she did steal away the hearts of many; but this was no excuse for thee, my son. Thou shouldst have tended to the ministry wherewith thou wast entrusted (Alma 39:4). Several chapters later, at the end of Alma’s remarks,…

❖ Alma calls Corianton to repentance – Alma 39:7-14

Ye Cannot Hide Your Crimes from God – Alma 39:7-8

7 And now, my son, I would to God that ye had not been guilty of so great a crime. I would not dwell upon your crimes, to harrow up your soul, if it were not for your good. 8 But behold, ye cannot hide your crimes from God; and except ye repent they will…

Bridle and Repent

To Shiblon, Alma counseled, “Bridle all your passions.” To Corianton, he said, “Repent and forsake your sins.” It’s better to prevent than to detect and correct it, but identifying sins and repenting quickly is better than leaving them unattended.

Cross Yourself in All These Things – Alma 39:9

9 Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself…

“When They Saw Your Conduct…” – Alma 39:11

Throw a pebble into the water, and you’ll see ripples expanding in concentric circles around the point of impact. Our actions are like that. We may only be aware of the first-order consequences of our decisions, but they surely have additional consequences that we cannot see. Alma pointed out to his son Corianton one of…

Acknowledge Your Faults – Alma 39:12-13

12 And now the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me: Command thy children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of many people to destruction; therefore I command you, my son, in the fear of God, that ye refrain from your iniquities; 13 That ye turn to the Lord with all…

❖ God can reveal future events – Alma 39:15-19

“I Will Ease Your Mind Somewhat” – Alma 39:17

King Benjamin taught his people that they should administer to the relief of others “both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants” (Mosiah 4:26). Alma gave the same commandment to the members of the newly organized church at the waters of Mormon (Mosiah 18:27-29). What does it mean to administer relief spiritually? One example might…

“Prepare the Minds”

Alma told Corianton that his ministry included helping parents prepare the minds of their children to hear the Savior’s words. Alma’s father had prepared his mind so that he knew where to turn in his moment of crisis. We can do the same for our children.

Old Testament Foundations

Overcoming Temptation: Lessons from David and Corianton

We are all tempted. Lehi taught that there is a devil and that he “seeketh that all men might become miserable like unto himself” (2 Nephi 2:27). Alma identified Zeezrom’s combativeness as “a snare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch this people” (Alma 12:6). And King Benjamin warned his people, “beware lest…

Accepting Feedback from Family

When Mordecai asked Esther to plead with the king on behalf of their people, her first response was simple: I can’t do that. It’s not possible. No one can approach the king without being invited, not even me, and I haven’t been invited in over a month. (See Esther 4:11.) Mordecai’s response was stern: Think…

New Testament Parallels

Flee Fornication

Paul urged us to run away from sexual immorality. He didn’t say to avoid it or to resist temptation. He said “flee.” Why? Because chastity in action, word, and thought is an affirmation of loyalty to your most important and permanent relationships.

Rashly

Alma counseled his son Shiblon to “bridle all [his] passions, that [he] may be filled with love” (Alma 38:12). He told another son, Corianton, to “cross [himself]” and to “counsel with [his] elder brothers in [his] undertakings.” And he added, “give heed to their counsel” (Alma 39:9-10). While our gut reaction to our circumstances may…

Church History Connections

“It Shall Be Disposed of by a Council”

If you want to increase the probability of making wise decisions, form a council. When Ammon and his fellow missionaries saw that their converts were being slaughtered by their enemies, he convened a council with government leaders to determine how to deal with the crisis. (See Alma 24:5.) When the Nephite army faced precarious circumstances,…

“Prepare the Minds of Their Children”

In 1833, the Lord instructed several church leaders to pay more attention to their families. He told them to teach their children “light and truth,” to set in order their homes, and to be “more diligent and concerned at home” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:41-50). The prophet Alma explained to his son Corianton that one reason…

Between Him and Thee Alone

Some conversations are better kept private. Scripture teaches that correction should often be done “between him and thee alone,” increasing the chance it will be received with an open heart. Alma’s loving counsel to Corianton was both direct and inspiring. Even difficult messages can be framed in optimistic and respectful ways.

All Posts Referencing Alma 39

Create a website or blog at WordPress.com

Up ↑