Whatever Happened to Coriaton?

I came across an interesting passage in the Book of Mormon tonight that answered a question I had been wondering about. You'll recall in Alma, chapter 39 Alma chastises his son Corianton for breaking the law of chastity. Corianton was on a mission, but had gone after the harlot Isabel. Alma let his son know how serious his sin was, and told him to repent and forsake his sins. He let him know how his actions had damaged the missionary work there. It's quite a powerful chapter about sin and forgiveness and repentance, and I'd always wondered what happened to Corianton and if he had repented.

Tonight I found the answer in a verse I hadn't really noticed before and it made me happy. Alma 49:30 says:

"Yea, and there was continual peace among them, and exceedingly great prosperity in the church because of their heed and diligence which they gave unto the word of God, which was delcared unto them by Helaman, and Shiblon, and Corianton, and Ammon and his brethern, yea, and by all those who had been ordained by the holy order of God, being baptized unto repentance, and send forth to preach among the people."

There was my answer. Corianton must have repented! It is encouraging to know that even if a person commits a serious sin, they can turn turn their lives around and again be useful servants of the Lord. It's all part of the atonement and the miracle of forgiveness.