On Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022 I led a discussion about the following ideas in our Gospel Doctrine Sunday School Class. Many people shared the miracles that they have experienced in their lives. I would love to hear about the miracles in your life too!
In the April 2021 General Conference – Elder Ronald Rasband opened his talk with the following quote: On this Easter Sunday we commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace. His Atonement, culminating with His Resurrection after three days in a borrowed tomb, stands as the greatest miracle in human history.
This Easter I pondered this miracle we celebrate every year, of Jesus Christ’s triumph over death through resurrection! New life – rebirth – hope – faith – joy!
The more I thought about it the more it became clear that to be released from physical and spiritual death through the atonement of Jesus Christ is a bold & audacious claim and no wonder people question our faith and belief. As I pondered the stories we have been studying in the Old Testament I looked up other scriptures that mentioned miracles…
For example, in Mormon 9:11, Mormon shares his witness that… behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.
In our study of the Old Testament what are some of the miracles we have seen so far? The creation of the world and plants and animals. Adam and Eve, our first ancestors were able to survive and help their family thrive in this new world. Noah’s family survived the flood. Joseph, despite being sold into slavery was able to overcome a terribly unfair situation and ultimately forgive and save his family.
We are now reading about the plagues that God inflicted on Egypt that finally convinced Pharaoh to release the children of Israel from slavery and how Moses was given power from God to part the Red Sea so that the children of Israel could walk to the other side on dry ground. We also are learning about how God fed the children of Israel with manna and quail while they were in the wilderness, and is trying to teach them about his desire to teach and care for them.
Two weeks ago during the April 2022 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, President Russell M. Nelson gave us the following challenge…
My dear brothers and sisters, with all the pleadings of my heart, I urge you to:
- Get on the covenant path and stay there.
- Experience the joy of repenting daily.
- Learn about God and how He works.
- Seek and expect miracles.
- Strive to end conflict in your life.
When I heard that he was encouraging us to seek and expect miracles I had to pause for a minute and wondered, can we do that? Is that allowed? Again, this was a bold statement and counsel from our prophet, and yet it stuck in my mind and heart as something I needed to not only learn more about, but to also put into practice more fully in my life.
So I’ve been trying to learn more. As always I’m a word nerd and so I found the following definitions…
| seek | sēk | verb [with object] attempt to find (something) attempt or desire to obtain or achieve (something) ask for (something) from someone | ex·pect | ikˈspekt | verb [with object] regard (something) as likely to happen regard (someone) as likely to do or be something believe that (someone or something) will arrive soon look for (something) from someone as rightfully due or requisite in the circumstances require (someone) to fulfill an obligation | mir·a·cle | ˈmirək(ə)l | noun a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency a highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or accomplishment that brings very welcome consequences |
As well as the following about miracles from the Bible Dictionary…
An important element in the work of Jesus Christ, being not only divine acts, but forming also a part of the divine teaching. Christianity is founded on the greatest of all miracles, the Resurrection of our Lord. If that be admitted, other miracles cease to be improbable.
Miracles should not be regarded as deviations from the ordinary course of nature so much as manifestations of divine or spiritual power. Some lower law was in each case superseded by the action of a higher. They were intended to be a proof to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
What do we learn about miracles from this? If I have faith that Jesus Christ was truly resurrected, and I do, then other miracles are also possible!
In Matthew 11:4-5 we learn that Jesus taught his disciples to… Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
In John 20:30-31 we learn that.. many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
So part of my growing understanding is that the miracles that Jesus Christ performed were written down so that we might believe that he truly is the Son of God because they are part of his gospel.
We learn more from the Bible Dictionary in that: Miracles were and are a response to faith and its best encouragement. They were never wrought without prayer, felt need, and faith.
Returning to Elder Ronald Rasband’s talk from April 2021 he shared that: Miracles can come as answers to prayer. They are not always what we ask for or what we expect, but when we trust in the Lord, He will be there, and He will be right. He will suit the miracle to the moment we need it. The Lord performs miracles to remind us of His power, His love for us, His reach from the heavens to our mortal experience, and His desire to teach of that which is of most worth.
So my question to myself and to you is: How does this help me seek & expect miracles? And what is God wanting to teach me about what is of most worth?
Elder Ronald Rasband also shared the following quote: Many of you have witnessed miracles, more than you realize. They may seem small in comparison to Jesus raising the dead. But the magnitude does not distinguish a miracle, only that it came from God….Miracles are extensions of God’s eternal plan; miracles are a lifeline from heaven to earth.
As I pondered these ideas about miracles I wondered if I have actually seen miracles in my own life. As I took the time to ponder my life experiences and started writing down times and ways that I have received help, or guidance or strength or something surprising, or I was taught what was of greater worth in my life from God, the list grew and deep gratitude filled my heart and mind. It was quite frankly, overwhelming. I would strongly encourage you to consider and make a list of when you look back and reflect on the past, the times when have you seen miracles in your life?
President Nelson further expanded on his April 2022 counsel: Suggestion number 4: Seek and expect miracles. Moroni assured us that “God has not ceased to be a God of miracles.”Every book of scripture demonstrates how willing the Lord is to intervene in the lives of those who believe in Him. He parted the Red Sea for Moses, helped Nephi retrieve the brass plates, and restored His Church through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Each of these miracles took time and may not have been exactly what those individuals originally requested from the Lord.
So what do you think that means: that (those miracles) took time & may not have been exactly what was originally requested from the Lord?
Pondering this made me realize that I too have experienced praying for something specific, and the answer I received was completely unexpected. Yet I knew it was right and was the answer to a question I didn’t even know to ask. The realization of this miracle was also bigger than I was comfortable with which humbled me, taught me to know that the Lord was aware of me and made me recognize how much more I needed to depend on the Lord.
President Nelson further encouraged: In the same way, the Lord will bless you with miracles if you believe in Him, “doubting nothing.” Do the spiritual work to seek miracles. Prayerfully ask God to help you exercise that kind of faith. I promise that you can experience for yourself that Jesus Christ “giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”Few things will accelerate your spiritual momentum more than realizing the Lord is helping you to move a mountain in your life.
So this is my question and challenge for myself and to you…What is the spiritual work required to seek & expect miracles? Are I willing to do that? For me the answer is YES! even though I really don’t have any idea what that might mean for my life, how long the miracles I hope for might take and what that work will entail.
Elder Ronald Rasband also gave the following reminder: There are times we hope for a miracle to heal a loved one, to reverse an unjust act, or to soften the heart of a bitter or disillusioned soul. Looking at things through mortal eyes, we want the Lord to intervene, to fix what is broken. Through faith, the miracle will come, though not necessarily on our timetable or with the resolution we desired.Does that mean we are less than faithful or do not merit His intervention? No. We are beloved of the Lord. He gave His life for us, and His Atonement continues to release us from burdens and sin as we repent and draw close to Him.
As I continue to learn and study and pray I am gaining an even greater understanding of how much the Lord does love us and wants to help each and everyone of us. And so on this Easter Sunday in 2022 I commit to following the counsel of our living prophet,
President Nelson who concluded with the following encouragement and promises: When the Savior atoned for all mankind, He opened a way that those who follow Him can have access to His healing, strengthening, and redeeming power. These spiritual privileges are available to all who seek to hear Him and follow Him. My dear brothers and sisters, with all the pleadings of my heart, I urge you to get on the covenant path and stay there. Experience the joy of repenting daily. Learn about God and how He works. Seek and expect miracles. Strive to end conflict in your life. As you act on these pursuits, I promise you the ability to move forward on the covenant path with increased momentum, despite whatever obstacles you face. And I promise you greater strength to resist temptation, more peace of mind, freedom from fear, and greater unity in your families.
I want these miracles in my family, in our church congregation and in our community. I know I have more to learn about God and how he works so that I can have the confidence to seek & expect miracles in my life. I also know because of very personal and sacred experiences, that Jesus Christ is our Savior who has overcome physical and spiritual death and who lives to lead this church and help each person who tries to follow him. I’m so grateful we have living prophets who encourage us to do the spiritual work to learn about and know our Savior. He lives! This is the good news of the gospel! Happy Easter!
