Gideon, Alma, and Nehor
Defending truth with the words of God
The Nephites chose Alma the
Younger to be their chief judge.
Alma was also the
high priest of the Church. A man named Nehor started
teaching people something he called the word of God. But he taught the people that they did
not need to obey God or repent. Many people liked and
believed what Nehor said.
He wanted people to give
him money and praise him. He thought he was
better than other people.
He made his own church, and
many people listened to him.
One day, Nehor met an
old man named Gideon.
Gideon was a teacher in the Church
of God and had done a lot of good. Nehor wanted people to leave
the Church, so he argued with Gideon.
Gideon used the words of God to show
that Nehor was not teaching the truth.
Nehor was mad! He killed
Gideon with his sword.
The people took Nehor
to Alma to be judged. Nehor tried to defend what he had
done. He did not want to be punished.
Alma said that Nehor’s teachings
were wrong and could hurt people. Alma followed the law. Because Nehor
killed Gideon, Nehor was put to death.
Before he died, Nehor told
the people that he had lied.
He had not taught the word of God.
Even though Nehor said he was wrong, many people followed his example. They lied to people to
get praise and money. But other people listened to Alma.
They took care of the poor
and kept God’s commandments.
