“I Had Murdered Many of His Children”

"In recounting his sinful past to his son Helaman, Alma said that he had 'murdered' many people, and then he adds, 'or rather led them away unto destruction.' (Alma 36:14.) As Alma mentions later to his son Corianton, the murder of a human physical body is a grave sin. However, an even more serious sin is to murder the spiritual life of a person or, in other words, to purposely lead one away from the saving principles of the gospel. Concerning such people Alma says: ' ... whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of God, it is not easy for him to obtain forgiveness.' (Alma 39:6.)" (Daniel Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, p. 218)