Korihor clarifies that he believes in a god, but not in Alma’s God, Jehovah. He continues to declare that he will not believe without a sign. The importance of this case is such that Jehovah does provide the sign that Alma had vowed would happen. Korihor was struck dumb.
Korihor’s sin was lying, and by striking him dumb, he was made unable to continue preaching his lies, which were dangerous to not only the Nephite religion, but also to their entire political and social structure.