Giddonah was a high priest in the land of Gideon during the time period when the anti-Christ Korihor began promulgating his blasphemous teachings, around 74 B.C. Notable for his role in the confrontation with Korihor, Giddonah posed pointed questions to the false preacher, seeking to understand why he perverted the ways of the Lord and spoke against the prophecies of the holy prophets (Alma 30:21-22). Giddonah’s inquiry into Korihor’s motivations revealed a firm stance in defense of the faith and highlighted the gravity with which he regarded Korihor’s heretical claims.
Recognizing the deceit in Korihor’s responses, Giddonah, in conjunction with the chief judge of Gideon, chose not to engage in fruitless debate with Korihor, whose heart was hardened against the truth. Instead, they elected to send him bound to Alma, the chief high priest over all the church, and Nephihah, the chief judge over all the Nephite lands. In doing so, Giddonah demonstrated prudence and adherence to spiritual discernment, refusing to cast pearls before swine and thus preserved the sanctity of the gospel from unworthy dispute (Alma 30:28-29). His decision to involve higher ecclesiastical authority displayed his recognition of the broader implications of Korihor’s apostasy for the Nephite society and the Church.