All Things Testify; In the Strength of the Lord

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.

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.

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?

I am grateful for the changing of the seasons, and the testimony of the Great Creator to know that He is behind their varying expressions. If one has the testimony of Christ in their heart, they know that everything testifies of His existence and divine mission. However, it is easy to stray from this testimony, letting the natural man enter in, offering "educated" and "empirical" explanations for the existence of natural phenomena. Such was the case with Korihor, of whom we read in Alma Chapter 30. Korihor went about inciting the people to disbelief, turning away many, preaching that there was no God, and that there was no Christ who should come. Korihor came to this conclusion initially through a vision, in which a messenger told him to preach such things.

Alma confronted Korihor, and gave him the rebuke seen above. Korihor had no evidence that there was no God. He then asked Alma to show him a sign, that he might be convinced of the truth of Alma's words. Alma replied:

...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.
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? (Alma 30: 44-45)

Noticing that Korihor still sought after a sign, Alma replied:

...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. (Alma 30: 47)

Korihor again asked for a sign, and so Alma gave it to him, striking him dumb by the power of God. Korihor then admitted to being deceived by the devil, and that he always knew there was a God. However, Alma refused to take away the curse, and Korihor lived a meager existence the rest of his days.

What, if anything, can be learned from this story? First, it is important to gain a personal testimony of what Alma taught, that all things testify that there is a Supreme Creator. It is also important to gain a testimony of what Alma showed, namely that there is power in the Priesthood of God, and this power overcomes the wicked designs of the adversary. I am grateful for a personal knowledge of that second point as well, to know that as I remain worthy to hold the Priesthood, I can use it to serve in such a way that confounds the wise and learned (see Alma 32: 3, 36: 6-7, 1 Cor. 1:27).

It is important to remember that Alma acted under the direction of the Spirit, acting as an instrument by which the Lord's purposes could be established. Only when we serve with this mindset and purpose may we be able to have such power, as priesthood holders or anyone called to serve. In Elder David A. Bednar's first talk given as an Apostle (entitled "In the Strength of the Lord"), he said the following:

I have pondered the instruction of Jacob as contained in the Book of Mormon:

“Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.

“Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things” (Jacob 4:6–7).

Brothers and sisters, please pay particular attention to the word grace as it is used in the verse I just read. In the Bible Dictionary we learn that the word grace frequently is used in the scriptures to connote a strengthening or enabling power:

“The main idea of the word is divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.

“… It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts” (p. 697).

Thus, the enabling and strengthening aspect of the Atonement helps us to see and to do and to become good in ways that we could never recognize or accomplish with our limited mortal capacity. I testify and witness that the enabling power of the Savior’s Atonement is real. Without that strengthening power of the Atonement, I could not stand before you this morning.

May we accept our call to serve with such humility. May we remember that our spiritual and subsequent social, emotional, and mental strength comes through applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives. And lastly, may we have the courage to do as Alma did, showing those who are unbelieving that they have no reason not to believe. I know that as we do so under the direction of the Spirit, we will be the small means by which the Lord confounds the "wise and learned" designs of the adversary.

Have a great week!