Here's your sign

This morning in our family scripture study time we finished reading the story of Korihor from the Book of Mormon (Alma 30). If you are not familiar with this story I will summarize it, if you are you can skip ahead to (*) the point of my post (yes, there is a point).

In this story a man, Korihor, becomes deceived by Satan and trys to lead the people away from the truth by his lying and flattering words. Most of the people were not buying into what he had to say and after being repeatedly kicked out of various cities he ends up before the chief judge over the land as well as Alma, the prophet.

Alma questions Korihor as to why he would teach what he claims to be the truth, which is that there is no God , that there is no Christ and there is no reason why we have to follow the "foolish traditions of our parents" to obey the commandments. Basically Korihor is teaching the principle of eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you die with no consequence of how you lived your life. Alma asks Korihor if he believes that there is a God. Korihor says no, he doesn't believe there is a God because he has no proof. Alma answers him by saying that everywhere around us there is proof of God's existence. Korihor continues to resist and then tells Alma that he will believe only after he is given a sign (proof) that God exists.

This is Alma's reply (Alma 30:44):
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.

Alma warns Korihor that the sign he is asking for may not be what he wants (Alma 30:46-47)...
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.
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.

Korihor again insists that he will believe only after he is given a sign (Alma 30: 49-50)...
Now Alma said unto 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.

* While reading this story to my kids I couldn't help but think of the phrase coined by Bill Engvall, "Here's your sign". I also couldn't help but think about the signs all around me that clearly denote the existence of God.

• My children are the first thing that come to mind. When each of my children were born I would stare in awe at their perfectly formed little bodies. When you start thinking about the complexity of our bodies, how intricately they are made and how well they function (most of the time) - that is a huge "sign" to me that there is no doubt that a Supreme Being, greater than anything or anyone on Earth had a hand in bringing this child into existence. There is no coincidence that life on Earth is here for a purpose and a reason. It didn't just happen because certain elements and circumstances provided the perfect environment for life to grow and flourish. A loving Heavenly Father had a plan for each of us to come to this Earth to gain bodies and to grow and learn from this mortal existence.
• The beauty and functionality of this Earth is another great testimony to me of the existence of a God. The thought that this earth could be created by anything less than a wise and all knowing Heavenly Father is like saying that you could take all the materials needed to build a giant infrastructure and put them into a pile and then expect them to build themselves. It is ludicrous. I think the more we examine this earth and how beautifully it is formed and created, much like the little babies, how could it possibly be coincidence or anything less than God made?
• Beyond physical proof is the spiritual proof or faith. The feelings that I get inside that testify to me that God lives and loves me are more powerful than any other physical manifestation of God's existence. I have seen God's hand in my own life guiding me and helping me in undeniable ways.
• The testimonies of the prophets, both those who have come before us and those that lead us today are further proof of God's existence. I will end with the testimony of our beloved Prophet today, Thomas S. Monson.

With all my heart and the fervency of my soul, I lift up my voice in testimony as a special witness and declare that God does live. Jesus is His Son, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He is our Redeemer; He is our Mediator with the Father. He it was who died on the cross to atone for our sins. He became the firstfruits of the Resurrection. Because He died, all shall live again. "Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: 'I know that my Redeemer lives!' "21 May the whole world know it and live by that knowledge, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior, amen.

For more testimonies (including the one above) watch this video....