There Is A God

                Many people do not believe in God and even deny the possibility of His existence.  Such a person existed in ancient America.  His name was Korihor, and he ridiculed Jesus Christ, the Atonement, and the spirit of prophecy.  He went about teaching that there is no God, no Fall of Adam and Eve, no penalty for sin, and definitely no Christ.

                Korihor was taken before the chief judge of the land and a high priest of the church; there he continued to rile against God and accused the leaders of glutting themselves on the labors of the people.  When those leaders found they could not have a coherent discussion with Korihor, they delivered him before the governor over all the land and the prophet Alma.  Again, Korihor accused the leaders of making slaves of the people, which Alma denied.

                Korihor continued to deny the existence of God, and Alma bore testimony of the existence of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  He asked Korihor what evidence he had to prove there is no God.  Of course, he had no evidence besides his words. 

                Alma then instructed Korihor:  “… 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? …

                “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,

                “But Alma said unto him:  Thou hast had sings 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.”

                Korihor continued to demand a sign until a sign was given to him.  “… This will I give unto thee for a sign, that thou shalt be struck dumb, according to my words; and I say, that in the name of God, ye shall be struck dumb, that ye shall no more have utterance.

                “Now when Alma had said these words, Korihor was struck dumb, that he could not have utterance, according to the words of Alma.”  (See Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Alma 30:37-50.)

                Korihor admitted that he was struck dumb and only the power of God could have done it.  He begged to have the curse lifted.  Alma left it in the hands of God, and the curse was not lifted.  Korihor was run over on the streets of his city and died.

                Alma testified to Korihor that “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” (Alma 30:44).

                It is the same today.  We too can look up into the night sky and see the millions of stars and planets, all in perfect order.  They did not come into being because of a big bang but were placed in their orbits by our Creator.  The work of God is visible in both the earth and in the heavens.  All things testify of God – the plants, animals, the mountains, the rivers, the clouds with their moisture, etc.

                God dwells in the heavens and is the ruler of the universe.  “Through his Son, Jesus Christ, he created heaven and earth and all things that are in them (see Pearl of Great Price, Moses 2:1).  He made the moon, the stars, and the sun.  He organized this world, gave it form, motion, and life.  He filled the air and the water with living things.  He covered the hills and plains with all kinds of animal life.  He gave us day and night, summer and winter, seedtime and harvest.  He made man in his own image to be a ruler over his other creations (see Genesis 1:26-27).  God is the one supreme and absolute being in whom we believe and whom we worship.  He is the Creator, Ruler, and Preserver of all things….” (See “Our Father in Heaven,” Gospel Principles, pp. 3-4.)

                God is a perfect, glorified man; He is a personage of flesh and bones.  He has a tangible body housing His eternal spirit.  “He is a God of love, mercy, charity, truth, power, faith, knowledge, and judgment.  He has all power.  He knows all things.  He is full of goodness.

                “All good things come from God.  Everything that he does is to help his children become like him – a god.  He has said `… Behold, this is my work and my glory - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man’ (Moses 1:39).

                Our Savior taught the importance of knowing God, “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).

                The more I know God, the more I love Him.  I keep His commandments because I love Him.  I know that I can become more like God by keeping His commandments and following in the footsteps of the Savior.  You too can come to know and understand God.  Believe in Him, believe that He exists, and believe that He loves you and desires that you return to His presence to live with Him for all eternity.  By coming to know God, we can eventually obtain eternal life.