Preface
For most of my Sunday blogs I’ve kept them focused on Jesus Christ and related to Him through stories held within the Bible, today I’d like to branch off. For those familiar with the term Mormon many thoughts come to mind. For some it reminds them of The Book of Mormon Musical, for others a denomination of Christianity, some see it as a religious moment that does not follow the Jesus found within the Bible, and others only wonder how many wives mormons have. Whatever your thoughts on the religion often referred to as Mormonism the reason for the name comes from the Book of Mormon.
The Book of Mormon is said to be a record of a small group that abandoned Jerusalem prior to the Babylonian capture around the time of Daniel. For those that believe the Book of Mormon as additional scripture from God they are blessed with deeper insights to truths taught within the Bible. Now being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I belong to a church where we believe the Book of Mormon to be Scripture from God. I have also witnessed for myself truths from within The Book of Mormon that have brought me closer to Christ.
“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:”
-1 John 4:2
Now this is a very general scripture from the Bible, but I’ve learned in my life that any efforts to draw closer to Christ and the life he lived is good. For myself I have found The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has an overabundance of material focused on bringing one closer to Jesus.
The Story Of Coriantumr
In ancient America a King rose by the name of Coriantumr. It is suggested he overthrew the current king of the land, Coriantumr being the rightful heir to the throne. He was a powerful man with no ties to God. In his days a prophet of God appeared called Ether. He tried to teach the people of God, but was driven out of the land.
Just as Coriantumr had earned the throne through bloodshed, bloodshed followed his reign. Not long after sending Ether away many rose up to take the throne from him. He, being just as crafty as his opponents, was able to thwart many of these attempts with battle and death. It’s said that Coriantumr’s sons fought much and bled much on behalf of their father.
In the heat of these battles for the throne Ether appeared from his hiding place and came to Coriantumr with a proposition. The Lord had told Ether that if Coriantumr would repent of all his sins and chose Christ, he would be rewarded with keeping his kingdom and his people being spared. Now Coriantumr was at the height of his power, not only had he taken the throne by force he had, thus far, been successful in thwarting all attempts at taking the throne. What need did he have of a God that required so much of him?
Soon after rejecting and even trying to kill Ether, a man rose up who defeated Coriantumr and placed him in prison. Immediately his sons went into action reclaiming the throne for their father, but the flood gates had opened. Coriantumr wasn’t as invincible as he had appeared before and new enemies appeared. With betrayals, the slaying of Brothers and kin, two superpowers eventually ruled the ancient world. The might of Shiz and the unmoving Coriantumr. There were only two sides, the safety of joining Coriantumr’s cause of maintaining the throne or joining the new wave of Shiz army who would kill you without a second thought if you stood in their way. Two superpowers colliding together.
Shiz’s mission was the death of Coriantumr. He chased him all across the land killing anything that slowed him down. When the two armies collided the battle was fierce leaving Coriantumr wounded to the point of death. For the first time since his arrival, believing his opponent dead, Shiz calls off the battle. The two titans seemed to be subdued.
On his recovery bed Coriantumr reflects on the words of Ether years before on the legacy he would leave had he chosen to ignore God’s call to repentance. He writes a letter desiring relief for his people. He offers Shiz the Kingdom if only he will stay his hand and spare them all. Shiz refuses his offer, countering, if Coriantumr will offer himself as a sacrifice for his people, they will be spared.
Now here is an interesting point and probably the most important of the entire story. Just like Christ Coriantumr is offered an opportunity to save his people by sacrificing his own life. The scriptures never specify whether or not Coriantumr decides to take this and is prevented by his people or if he refuses and demands they fight for him. From the wording I don’t think it’s too much to assume Coriantumr at least considered the offer.
I’ve always wondered how Christ’s life would look different had he been surrounded by people knowing he was their Savior. Watching this story unfold gives a glimpse of what that might have looked like. I can see Coriantumr telling his people he must submit. They call out in defiance,
“Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.”
Coriantumr, looking out at his loyal servants, knowing together they could overtake the army of Shiz. His heart is hardened against Shiz and he builds one final army to end the conflict. This leads to the final battle where every living soul is lost. Those loyal to Coriantumr lost in loyalty to their king, those loyal Shiz lost in his vengeance. The only soul left, Coriantumr left to sulk in his people’s destruction.
Unlike Christ, Coriantumr did not turn back to his people and declare this was his mission. Unlike Christ, he did not leave in the night, submitting himself in secret. Yet, just like Christ his sacrifice would have saved his people. This is an echo of the choice he was offered before, repent and your people will be spared. Those two choices are a type of further commitment.
Christ offers, repent and come unto him and his Atonement covers you. You will find peace and joy by the hand of the Lord through repentance. This was a similar promise made by Ether to Coriantumr. With repentance his people would be spared from war and his family would retain the Kingdom. The second promise is similar to the first. By giving your life to God you are promised exaltation, to be given a higher calling to bring others to God with you. Coriantumr was told by giving his life it would bring all his people into safety against their enemy.
I’ve always looked at this story and saw bloodshed and violence. Yet here it is, a physical representation of a deeper spiritual reality. It’s amazing how a story so bleak can hold such spiritual truths and that is how you can see Christ in all things. Life is like a never ending cycle with stories echoing the deeper truths of the heavens.
Jacob Gittins 