Gospel scholar Chauncey Riddle once explored how three of Korihor’s arguments seduce people today: “The first is that ‘it is possible to know all truth through the senses—by experience and observation.’ The second is a humanist position that ‘the solutions to our problems lie in sharp thinking and realistic approaches to life,’ and success is defined ‘in terms of wealth, social status, political power, and the glutting of the senses.’ A third argument is relativist: since so-called commandments and laws ‘are but social conveniences to give power to priests, the only important thing in life is to do what you want to do—if you can get away with it’” (Rust, Feasting on the Word, 36–37).
What could the phrase “management of the creature” mean? (30:17) “When we talk about ‘the management of the creature,’ that’s a perfect expression. It’s the manipulation of people as if they were items or products. You can manipulate everything with the psychology of salesmanship. It is the manipulation, the management of the creature” (Nibley, Teachings of the Book of Mormon, 2:424).