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| The Raising of Jairus’ Daughter – Edwiin Long |
Has the day of miracles ceased?
Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men?
Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them?
Moroni asked the same questions that many in our time ask. (Moroni 7) Are these thing finished? Are they merely stories and remnants of the time of Christ or the prophets?
No. Or as Moroni would say “Nay.”
Miracles happen all around us. Last week I had the distinct privilege of posting the conversion stories of twenty-five brothers and sisters in the gospel. Each one was a miracle. Each one involved some form of divine intervention. Each one was miraculous in one, or many different ways.
The process of conversion is a miracle in its own right. As the Holy Ghost touches our hearts, they are changed. We are changed. That is the most important miracle of all – and it is one that we all need.
Sure, there are many other miracles that we know of – the blind made to see, the lame made to walk, even people raised from the dead. But, in a very real sense, those miracles pale in importance to the miracle of conversion. They make for inspiring stories, and uplifiting videos, and they do testify of God’s power – but give me the choice between a change of heart and a healed body, and I’ll take the change of heart. Every time.
The miracle of conversion happens all around us. God’s influence is all around us. Sometimes we are not aware because we aren’t really paying attention. One of the great privileges of serving as a bishop in the church is that you are able to witness miracles on a regular basis. Never before had I known that Heavenly Father was so involved in the lives of His children. Through the Holy Ghost and others, He pours miracles out upon us, HIs children.
The Atonement of Jesus Christ heals, cleanses, and mends broken hearts, injured minds, and broken bodies. Constantly.
We need to try harder to notice.
What a bout the “big” miracles? Do the blind still receive their sight in our day? Do the lame take up their beds and walk? Do they dead rise?
Yes. It still happens. From the early days of the restored church, we have been surrounded by such miracles. And yes, they continue to our time as well. How do I know? I’ve seen them.
We hold such things to be sacred. When a miracles happens by the power of faith, or the power of the priesthood, we don’t run to Fox News or TMZ to tell our story. We hold it close to our hearts. Pearls and swine.
There are miracles all around us – large and small. Each one of the wonderful stories from last week stand as a miraculous testament that God loves His children. That He desires them to come into the fold. That He will use his divine influence to help make it happen. That He will use us to help make it happen – if we are paying attention to the call.
My sincere thanks to those who shared their stories, and helped remind me.
Some really good additional material:
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Miracles” CES Fireside, 2000. (Link here.)
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I would also invite you to read this selection from Moroni, chapter 7: 27-37, in the context of the conversion stories that we just read. You are going to have a new appreciation for it.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?
For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.
And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.
For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.
And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him.
And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men.
And Christ hath said: if ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.
And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.
And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased?
Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?
Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief and all is vain.
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I must share a miracle of my own. We recently held a yard sale to help with a especially difficult adoption. There were unexpected costs that had arisen including extra travel… extra time in our daughters home state.. etc.
Any way…our friend offered to hold the yard sale in her yard. She happens to be our relief society president. Her neighbor who is also our friend offered to store donated items in her basement apartment. People in our ward and community donated items until the basement was overflowing. The day of the yard sale it poured down rain. Buckets of rain. Members of the ward showed up with tents..Tarps…towels and helped keep things dry. We prayed for the rain to stop… it continued to rain. Our rs president told us she had asked the Lord to send us a 1000 dollars. I honestly thought she was crazy. Half way through the day.. I tearfully counted the money. 1100 dollars raised. Then the sun came out as if the Lord was saying ” see I can do all things.” By the end of the yard sale the Lord had doubled what was prayed for. Since that time we have brought our daughter home and the amount raised helped pay for the additional costs. I am not speaking of the money it cost to adopt.. these were unexpected expenses. The Lord works miracles every day
So this comment is late. I’m kind of behind in my blog reading. The link is to the story that is the most recent story of a miracle in our family. It involves my nephews, brothers only a year apart in age, and my sister’s newest “extra” son, who lives in Argentina.
I love this “extra” boy, and the family that raised him to be such an amazing missionary, though I have never met them. My sister doesnt’ elaborate on my nephew’s problems, but they threatened his physical well-being as well as his spiritual. Now he is a missionary, sharing the faith that he finally found with the help of this great elder.
http://www.unclesambailey.blogspot.com/2012/11/november-18tender-mercies.html
So this comment is late. I’m kind of behind in my blog reading. The link is to the story that is the most recent story of a miracle in our family. It involves my nephews, brothers only a year apart in age, and my sister’s newest “extra” son, who lives in Argentina.
I love this “extra” boy, and the family that raised him to be such an amazing missionary, though I have never met them. My sister doesnt’ elaborate on my nephew’s problems, but they threatened his physical well-being as well as his spiritual. Now he is a missionary, sharing the faith that he finally found with the help of this great elder.
http://www.unclesambailey.blogspot.com/2012/11/november-18tender-mercies.html
Thank you MMM and all the amazing converts who shared your stories. It was remarkable for my husband and I to read them, recount our own personal conversions, and marvel at the Lord’s hand in the lives of each one of His sons and daughters.
Yes, miracles still exist and this blog has strengthened my testimony this past week, SO much! God is totally aware of what is going on in our lives, He knows us by name!
I love this post, and have also loved the conversion miracle stories. Although raised in the church, I have experienced many miracles in my own life which have enhanced and strengthened my faith, love for the Lord, and knowledge of His love for me.
As far as “other miracles”, it seems like Heavenly Father is efficient. He does what is needful. Today, we are used to certain miracles like contact lenses and lasek surgery. We don’t need prophets to go around “healing” people of blindness as they did in times past, we can pray for confirmation that we should get a surgery or see a doctor – also a miracle even if it doesn’t seem as mystical…
another example…we have the testimonies of the prophets. The miracle of the Book of Mormon has touched hundreds of thousands, millions of lives…the Lord doesn’t need to personally visit each one of us in the sacred grove. We can have our own converting experiences through the words of so many of the prophets. We are lucky. many of the prophets didn’t have all these testimonies gathered in one convenient place. Again, still miraculous, even if the miracle isn’t as shiny or sparkly as those in the past.
(This is not to say that miraculous, shiny, sparkly miracles don’t happen anymore, I agree with you, they are sacred…I’m just saying that I don’t have the expectation, my faith is that the needful miracle will happen for me, and that I’ll recognize the miracles which are already abundant in my life.)
We live in such a miraculous time, it is just up to us to recognize the miracles. Thanks for sharing all of these stories. I love your blog!
-catania
Agreed. There are miracles every single day. The trick is acknowledge them as being from the Lord.
Great post
As a Convert, I’m sorry that I missed a chance to share with you, MMM, my story but I can testify that it is a pure miracle that leads the converts to have a conversion into this glorious truth. Now, I thank the Lord, I’m preparing to go on my mission on August 21st and spread the miracles! Thanks for sharing this insightful blog, Laura!
Please send me your story – I will figure out a way to run it, and you will have it written down for posterity. Wiin-win.
Also where are you headed on your mission?
I am headed to Florida Jacksonville Mission. I’ll send it to you post haste.
And there you are!
Ditto! Thank you Laura for summing up what we all feel. I am so totally amazed everytime I see the Lord’s hand in even the smallest things. He knows us and all our needs. Just totally amazing. Thank you MMM!
Amen, man.
I agree with everything Laura Chesley said in her comment and I add that absolutely miracles still occur. My earthly life experience has been full of miracles, I depend upon them.
I don’t have eloquent words to express my appreciation for the overwhelming spirit I’ve felt since the conversion stories started. I have loved them. They’ve fed my soul. And amazed me at times, too.
It’s humbling to see how things have fallen into place in just the right way to make conversion possible. It’s also humbling to see just how much work some have had to do to get to conversion … and that they hung in there.
Thank you, MMM. Thank you for having the insight, prompting, or whatever to put this together. Thank you for taking the time to post so many wonderful stories. Thank you for making it a safe place to share (I almost asked to have mine be anonymous).
And thank you for this post. You made a statement about which is better – change of heart or a healed body – and said you’d take change of heart any day. Thanks for making the distinction and the point. It’s something I needed to be reminded.
Thanks for a blog that is insightful, uplifting and not so serious. The mix really works.