KnoWhy #138 - Why Was Korihor Cursed with Speechlessness? (Alma 30:5)

While standing trial before Alma and the Nephite chief judge, the antichrist Korihor demanded a heavenly sign as proof of God’s existence. Alma’s response to this challenge was decisive, and immediately thereafter “Korihor was struck dumb, that he could not have utterance.” Korihor’s specific affliction makes sense when read in the light of ancient religious and legal practices. As confirmed by the recovery of numerous ancient spells that deliberately aimed to invoke the divine curse of speechlessness on revilers and blasphemers, Korihor’s punishment was in line with ancient legal procedure for cases such as this. Welch, therefore, sees this outcome as “a good example of divinely executed talionic justice: his curse befits his crime.”