At this period of his life Corianton appears to have been afflicted with a failing somewhat common to youth. He had an inflated idea of his own worth, an inordinate estimate of his strength and wisdom. Along with these weaknesses, he was inclinied to scepticism, if not infidelity. He was a doubter of everything except his own supposed abilities. He marvelled that the assurance of the coming of the Messiah should be given to men so long before His advent. His mind was worried concerning the resurrection of the dead, the restoration of all things, the eternal punishment of the sinner and other points of Gospel doctrine. He denied the justice of God in the condemnation of the evil doer, and sought to justify himself in sinning, on the plea of God's mercy.
Seeking to enlighten Corianton's mind concerning these things, Alma began a comprehensive explanation of them. He, first of all, spoke to Corianton of Christ: One who should surely come "to take away the sins of the world; yea, He cometh to declare glad tidings of Salvation unto His people."
Alma stressed upon Corianton's mind that to declare these glad tidings to the Zoramites was the ministry unto which he with his brothers had been called. His mission was to declare Christ's coming so that the people there would be prepared for that great event, and that their children also should be made ready "to hear the word at the time of His coming."