The easiest lie to disprove is Korihor’s accusation that Nephite priests glut themselves on the labor of others. Alma puts it to him directly and clearly declares that Korihor is lying: “thou knowest that we do not glut ourselves upon the labors of this people.” Alma presents himself as the most important case in point. If there were any priest who should have been supported by the people, it was he. However, Alma declares that he has never received wages as the chief priest, even though he had received wages as the chief judge (verse 33).
To make certain that this point is clear, Alma asks Korihor if he believes that the priests deceive the people to get gain, even though he knows they do not? Korihor answers that he does, thus declaring himself a liar. He is preaching something he knows to be false. While that declaration makes him guilty, it is the lesser of the dangers in his preaching. Korihor has also preached that the scriptures are false and, therefore, Korihor threatens the very foundations of Nephite society. Therefore, even though Korihor has already declared himself guilty, the trial continues.