True to his adulterous life, Korihor wanted Alma to show him a sign (vv. 43, 45, 48). Jesus said: “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign” (Matthew 16:4; see also 12:39). The Prophet Joseph Smith, commenting on the Savior’s declaration, said “that principle is eternal, undeviating, and firm as the pillars of heaven; for whenever you see a man seeking after a sign, you may set it down that he is an adulterous man” (TPJS. 157).
Alma now enumerates all of the things that were evidences of God. He had previously testified of it but had not stated the evidence (Alma 30:41 above). Although we call the General Authorities “the brethren,” the testimony of “all these thy brethren” cited by Alma (v. 44) are those in the church with whom Korihor had associated. Likening it unto our day, there is not a ward or a branch in the Church that does not have two or more, usually many more, who do not have a burning testimony that there is a God. A major purpose of fast and testimony meeting is for these testimonies to be borne.
Alma’s reference to “also all the holy prophets” (v. 44) is referring to the present church leaders that had been ordained among them. These were the special witnesses of God and Jesus Christ, the living prophets of the Nephite Church, or again likening unto us, of the Church today. These men traveled throughout the lands of the Nephites bearing testimony just as our apostles do today.
The third witness given by Alma, “the scriptures” (v. 44), contained the recorded testimony of past prophets who were special witnesses of God and Jesus Christ. Their testimonies were recorded on the plates of brass and the Nephite records that were kept. Today we have four volumes of these records: the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.
The above three groups of witnesses are spiritual witnesses, and Alma adds a fourth which is a physical witness, the earth and the planets (v. 44). The Lord verified the earth and the planets as evidence of his existence after revealing to the Prophet Joseph Smith concerning the many kingdoms in the solar system (see D&C 88:36–44): “Behold, all these are kingdoms, and any man who hath seen any of the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power” (D&C 88:47).
The Lord has further stated: “at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established” (Deuteronomy 19:15). Alma had given four witnesses to Korihor, and he had also given two types of witnesses, the spiritual and the physical.
Frustrated but not defeated in his argument with Korihor, Alma gives him a conditional sign. Korihor shall be smitten dumb if he denies God again (Alma 30:47). Once more Korihor resorts to his craftiness, probably somewhat fearful of Alma’s words, but also still suffering from pride. He doesn’t deny God but he doesn’t believe in him. Had he stopped at this point, he may not have been smitten, but his pride again shows. He confirms his previous two requests for a sign (v. 48), and Alma’s warning is fulfilled. Korihor was smitten dumb (vv. 49–50).
Regarding Korihor Dr. Daniel H. Ludlow has written:
The position of the agnostic is “I don’t know whether or not there is a God, but I don’t believe there is; furthermore, I don’t believe anyone can know there is a God.” The atheistic position is “I know there is not a God.” This position cannot be defended by reason or logic, for how can a person know there is no God unless he has the power of God to see everything and everywhere in the entire universe at one time? Perhaps Alma had this fallacy in mind when he told Korihor, “I know that thou believest, but thou art possessed with a lying spirit” (Alma 30:42; italics added). Korihor’s position in Alma 30:48 is essentially that of an agnostic: