Alma 30:39-50

39 Now Alma said unto him: Will ye deny again that there is a God, and also deny the Christ? For behold, I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come.

40 And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only.

41 But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? Believest thou that these things are true?

42 Behold, I know that thou believest, but thou art possessed with a lying spirit, and ye have put off the Spirit of God that it may have no place in you; but the devil has power over you, and he doth carry you about, working devices that he may destroy the children of God.

43 And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.

44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

45 And yet do ye go about, leading away the hearts of this people, testifying unto them there is no God? And yet will ye deny against all these witnesses? And he said: Yea, I will deny, except ye shall show me a sign.

46 And now it came to pass that Alma said unto him: Behold, I am grieved because of the hardness of your heart, yea, that ye will still resist the spirit of the truth, that thy soul may be destroyed.

47 But behold, it is better that thy soul should be lost than that thou shouldst be the means of bringing many souls down to destruction, by thy lying and by thy flattering words; therefore if thou shalt deny again, behold God shall smite thee, that thou shalt become dumb, that thou shalt never open thy mouth any more, that thou shalt not deceive this people any more.

48 Now Korihor said unto him: I do not deny the existence of a God, but I do not believe that there is a God; and I say also, that ye do not know that there is a God; and except ye show me a sign, I will not believe. (Alma 30:39-48)

Alma continues his questioning of Korihor.

Alma asked him if he would deny there is a God and Christ. He testified he knew there is a God and Christ would come.

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no man that hath seen God. Because he showeth himself not unto us, therefore there is no God. Behold, they are corrupt; they have done abominable works, and none of them doeth good” (JST Psalm 14:1).

Alma testified these things are true. He told him he knows he has a testimony they are true and asks him if he will deny his testimony. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7).

He again asked him if he believed these things are true.

Alma told him he knows he believes, but he is possessed with a lying spirit.

“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

“God forbid [GR May it no be!]: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged” (Romans 3:3-4).

Abinadi made the same point speaking to King Noah and his priests. “Know ye not that I speak the truth? Yea, ye know that I speak the truth; and you ought to tremble before God” (Mosiah 12:30).

The Spirit has no place in him because the devil has power over him. “But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit which was not of the Lord; troubled him” (JST 1 Samuel 16:14).

The Spirit of God no longer has a place in him. The devil has power over him and he does his work. He works “devices that he may destroy the children of God” (Alma 30:42).

43 And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God, yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words.

Korihor asked Alma for a sign. This is what would convince him there is a God. Wanting a sign is not uncommon.

After feeding the five thousand, and departing, the people followed him.

“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

“They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

“Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat” (John 6:28-31).

Even after the miracle of feeding the five thousand with only “five barley loaves, and two small fishes” (John 6:9), the people still demanded a sign. They had received their sign, but demanded more.

Sherem demanded Jacob show him a sign. “And it came to pass that he said unto me: Show me a sign by this power of the Holy Ghost, in the which ye know so much” (Jacob 7:13).

The scribe and pharisees also demanded a sign. Christ told them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign” (Matthew 12:39).

We always see that, when the unbeliever demands a sign, and they receive one, it is either not enough and they demand more. And, having received a sign, they usually still do not believe.

Alma responded he has had many signs. Does he ask for a sign when he has the testimony of his brethren and the holy prophets.

The scriptures and all things testify there is a God.

“For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began—have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?

“Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth” (Mosiah 13:33-34).

Scriptures are before him, and all things show there is a God. Even the Earth and all life on it testify there is a God.

“But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:

“Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

“Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?

“In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:7-10).

Even the motion of the Earth and planets moving in their paths witness there is a God.

“Yea, by the power of his voice doth the whole earth shake;

“Yea, by the power of his voice, do the foundations rock, even to the very center.

“Yea, and if he say unto the earth—Move—it is moved.

“Yea, if he say unto the earth—Thou shalt go back, that it lengthen out the day for many hours—it is done;

“And thus, according to his word the earth goeth back, and it appeareth unto man that the sun standeth still; yea, and behold, this is so; for surely it is the earth that moveth and not the sun” (Helaman 12:11-15).

In spite of all these witnesses, he still teaches the people there is no God. Alma asked him if he continue to deny the existence of God with all these witnesses. Korihor continued to deny the existence of God.