Nehor

Cody F Miller

ALMA 1:1-33

n my Book of Mormon study group, the question was asked concerning Nehor. Why did Mormon refer to him only as “that man”, and his name was mentioned only after his “ignominious” death. Was it some some “middle eastern” thing? 

We are studying Alma 1 in the Book of Mormon concerning a man named Nehor, one of a short list of "named" anti-Christ's, priest crafters and would be over-throwers of the doctrine of Christ. This record starts out with the "trial".

Alma 1:22 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.

So, the rest of the chapter details his transgressions, which was to teach false doctrines to lead away the people from the church of God or to overthrow the doctrine of Christ.

Alma 1:4 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.

Moses 5: 13 And Satan came among them, saying: I am also a son of God; and he commanded them, saying: Believe it not; and they believed it not, and they loved Satan more than God. And men began from that time forth to be carnal, sensual, and devilish.

Have you ever known of someone, but the only thing you remember about them was their bad behavior or the bad things they did? The name may be on the tip of your tongue but it just won't come, and even when you say the name, you might make a face.  What a sad and sorry person that must be. 
The pivotal point was the murder of Gideon

Alma 1:9 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.

So this man, fought with an unarmed old  man named Gideon, because he "withstood him" with the words of God. Those were some powerful words.   You could say that Gideon was a martyr because he stood for Christ in a desperate situation and ultimately gave his life for the preserving of the truth.

Up to this point in Nephite history, besides the wars, did the Nephite’s murder one another?

So Nehor became a murderer, much like Cain.

Moses 5:32 And Cain went into the field, and Cain talked with Abel, his brother. And it came to pass that while they were in the field Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and slew him

The Lord changed Cain’s name earlier in Moses 5: 23-24

23 If thou doest well, thou shall be accepted. And if thou do not well, sin lieth at the door, and Satan desired to have thee; and except thou shall hearken unto my commandments, I will deliver thee up, and it shall be unto thee according to his desire. And thou shall rule over him;

 24 For from this time forth thou shall be the father of his lies; thou shall be called Perdition; for thou was also before the world.

Cain loved Satan more than God, so in effect he had taken on the name of Satan, which Perdition describes the evil. I think the most interesting statement the Lord makes to Cain is after "naming" him Perdition, or a son of Perdition, he said that Cain had made this choice before the foundation of the world, during that great council where Satan and a third of the angels were cast out, their names were no more. But wait, Cain had an opportunity to go against his destiny, didn't he?

Moses 5:  41 And Cain was shut out from the presence of the Lord, and with his wife and many of his brethren dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. (Was his name blotted out?)

So Cain was now persona non-grata or an unwelcome person (in relationship to God). So Nehor’s name was not mentioned, only his crimes. He was an enemy to God, a natural man, he was unwelcome. He did not know the mind of God

Alma 26:21 And now behold, my brethren, what natural man is there that knoweth these things? I say unto you, there is none that knoweth these things, save it be the penitent.

In D&C 10:5-7 another example would be Martin Harris,who was a friend and a benefactor of the Prophet Joseph Smith. 

From April 12 to June 14, 1828, Martin Harris served as Joseph Smith's scribe, producing 116 manuscript pages. To gain family support, he persuaded Joseph to let him take the pages to Palmyra to show his family, and during a three-week period when he visited relatives, attended to business, and served jury duty, the 116 pages were stolen. It is reported that Lucy Harris said that she burned them. Ill and suffering the insecurity of progressive deafness, she reportedly feared that Palmyra's boycott of the Book of Mormon would lead to her and her husband's financial ruin. After the loss of the manuscript, Harris ceased his work as scribe. Martin Harris: The Encyclopedia of Mormon

These pages made up the record of Lehi. So Joseph succumbed and gave the pages to Martin, who gave them to his wife, and they were never returned. The Lord was angry at Joseph, but he was even more angry at Martin Harris, and in the revelation in Doctrine & Covenants 10, it seems that Martin was in danger of being "cast out of his presence" unless he repented. 

Martin was present at this revelation and was offended at being called “a wicked man”. Did Martin know the mind of God? Martin sought for a sign that the work he was doing was authentic, he was privy to revelations spoken through Joseph Smith, yet he still did not believe.  He did repent later and was forgiven and was one of the 3 witness's to the truth of the Book of Mormon.

. Neither Cain or Nehor nor the other Anti-Christ’s repented. Why was Martin wicked? The Lord knows the hearts of men. Martin was not innocent in this "crime", he was complicit. He knew what his wife's plans were and he did not stop it. When you see a crime committed, wouldn't you call 911?   

D&C 10:5-75 Pray always that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.
 6 Behold, they have sought to destroy you; yea, even the man in whom you have trusted has sought to destroy you.
 7 And for this cause I said that he is a wicked man, for he has sought to take away the things wherewith you have been entrusted; and he has also sought to destroy your gift.

So it seems to me that the Father equivocates sin and wickedness; etc with Satan and anyone in allegiance with Satan has taken on his name, which is a name that the Lord “doth not speak”. It’s like your name is mud in the eyes of the Lord, unless one repents and asks forgiveness. Even Alma the younger’s name was not mentioned, only his crimes, but only after he awoke from his “coma” and was repentant and was forgiven by Heavenly Father, was his name mentioned or rather restored. 

3rd Nephi 1:16 And there were many, who had not believed the words of the prophets, who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction which they had laid for those who believed in the words of the prophets had been frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at hand.

Questions:

Does the Father see things in “black and white” or rather sin and obedience? 

What does the Lord consider as "wickedness"?