The chief judge had probably deferred to Alma as the interrogator because the charges related to the church, and Alma was the high priest over all of the land (Alma 4:18). The chief judge now steps in to see if Korihor will change his plea to guilty (Alma 30:51). Korihor does change his plea. What he wrote confirms what Alma previously said he knew, that Korihor always knew there was a God and he was possessed of a lying spirit (v. 42 above). His answer confirms that it was his pride that led him to follow the devil. His words were pleasing to the carnal mind (v. 53). As the Apostle Paul said: “the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be”(Romans 8:7). Perhaps a bigger detriment to Korihor’s downfall was the success he had among the people (v. 53). Once more pride enters into the picture. There is another very important lesson to be learned from the experience of Korihor. He had taught these things so long he believed they were true. Can we live a lie and come to believe it? Obviously, we can. Can we let others falsely praise us and not correct them until we believe what they say to be true? The natural man would rather be ruined by praise than corrected by constructive criticism.
Alma seems to be led by the Spirit in telling Korihor that he would lead the people away if the curse were removed (v. 55). Alma, in his humility, left it up to the Lord and the Lord did not remove the curse (v. 56), wherefore Alma was right in his analysis.