We do not have the antecedent information to know precisely to what Alma refers. Somewhere in the mission to the Zoramites Corianton “did not give so much heed” to Alma’s words as did his brother. The only evidence we are given for this problem is that Corianton “did go on unto boating in [his] own strength and… wisdom.” What might he have done that was different from Shiblon?
We may compare this complaint against Corianton to part of the admonition given to Shiblon:
Alma 38:10-13
10 And now, as ye have begun to teach the word even so I would that ye should continue to teach; and I would that ye would be diligent and temperate in all things.
11 See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength.
12 Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness.
13 Do not pray as the Zoramites do, for ye have seen that they pray to be heard of men, and to be praised for their wisdom.
The admonitions to Shiblon do occur in a context that uses the mission to the Zoramites for an example, and the presence of the bad example of the Zoramites and the negative exhortation to “not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength” is so clearly parallel to the complaint against Corianton that we must suppose that there is a connection. There is something about the experience with the Zoramites that created a condition where one son did not boast of himself, and the other did. What might have happened?
The danger of boasting in one’s one strength or wisdom in the context of a missionary setting has to do with the interaction with the people to whom the missionary is sent. What happens is that in the conflict of ideas, one might enter the thick of the conceptual fray assuming that one has the strength of understanding or conviction sufficient to not only combat, but to convince the other contestant in the war of opinions. What many find when they enter that intellectual fray is that they are not as well prepared as they had thought, and their strength is not sufficient to the task.
Without the humility to rely upon the Lord, they are left to their own devices which begin to fail them, and rather than be the “victors” they become the “defeated.” They begin to lose their testimony rather than impress its truthfulness on others. As we proceed through Alma’s lecture to Corianton, we will see that what appears to have happened is that Corianton was insufficiently strong in his beliefs in the gospel, and was rather influenced by the arguments he heard from those to whom he was to preach.
There are many of the members of the modern church who fall into the Corianton syndrome. They assume that their testimony is strong enough, and so they seek out material that others have created that is antagonistic to the church. They may do so with full expectation that their faith is sufficient, but then they find that they were on a weaker ground than they had assumed, and as Corianton, find themselves being tempted by some of the ideas that come from the opposing camp. It should be noted that it isn’t the act of doing so that is the problem, but rather the preparation and humility with which it is understaken. Both Shiblon and Corianton went on the same mission, and Shiblon appears to have undergone greater physical stress (we do not hear of Corianton enduring stoning). Nevertheless there is a difference in the outcome.
Both Shiblon and Corianton had the same parents, the same background, the same training, and went on the same mission. They came home very different. The difference lay in their own personalities, with one willing to be humble before the Lord, and the other boasting too much in his own strength and wisdom, and strength and wisdom about which he had a false sense of security.