Today I wanted to talk a little about miracles. Many people think miracles are mind-blowing occurrences that rarely happen. This week I read an article that helped me understand more about miracles. I pasted it´s URL at the bottom. By reading it, I was able to recognize the miracles in my life and in the lives of my investigators. A miracle has been defined as “a beneficial event brought about through divine power that mortals do not understand and of themselves cannot duplicate.” Christ performed many miracles in the lives of others. He taught people, blessed people, and cured many from physical ailness.
The Book of Mormon teaches that a greater miracle than physical miracles, is a mighty change of heart by a son or daughter of God (Mosiah 5:2). A change of heart, including new attitudes, priorities, and desires, is greater and more important than any miracle involving the body.
Dallin H. Oaks said ´´the body will be resurrected in any event, but a change affecting what the scripture calls the “heart” of a spirit son or daughter of God is a change whose effect is eternal. If of the right kind, this change opens the door to the process of repentance that cleanses us to dwell in the presence of God. It introduces the perspective and priorities that lead us to make the choices that qualify us for eternal life, “the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7). God wants to bless his children, and sometimes does so in ways that require the manifestation of extraordinary power. He is restrained only by their lack of faith. Thus, the absence of miracles is evidence of the lack of faith among his children, "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" (Moro. 7:37). "For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them" (Ether 12:12).
I learned that it is by our faith that miracles happen. If I don´t have faith that i can change or do something very difficult, clearly I won´t be able to. When I think of my investigators, I think of miracles. Romilda and her family are a living example of the principles explained by Dallin H. Oaks. ( ´´The absence of miracles is evidence of the lack of faith among his children, for it is by faith that miracles are wrought´´) . Romilda and her family have lots of faith in the promises of Christ and Heavenly Father that we taught them. It was with this type of faith that within one month they will be getting baptized. On August 24th I went on splits with Elder J. Silva (my zone leader). We were in the middle of a big staircase in the favela and all our appointments had fallen through. We prayed for orientation to know where to go and who to talk with. We asked that we would be able to find 1 good family to teach. Afterwards we found Romilda´s family as well as Joselito. Now exactly one month later on September 24th Romilda and her family will be purified by baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and Joselito has accepted a baptismal date as a goal. To me the changes they made in so little time is a miracle. I have worked with people that have difficulties with certain addictions. Some take a looong time to stop, and others never do. To me it is a miracle that Romilda, Luana, and Lucas have the faith, desire, and will to put some old habits aside and follow Jesus Christ. They began to open their ´´spiritual eyes´´ and realize their true purpose here on Earth. They are beginning to have a change of heart and see the larger picture. These are miracles.
The article I read says, ´´Physical miracles have played an important role at various times, particularly when the Lord is reestablishing His Church after a period of darkness.
But ultimately, they are a matter of very little eternal consequence. You see, whether a person is cured of physical blindness in this life is ultimately inconsequential.
But whether spiritual blindness is healed is a matter of utmost eternal significance. Christ performed many miracles while he was here on the Earth, but the only ones that
really mattered were the Atonement and the hearts that were changed by His goodness. These true miracles are what Christ still performs today through the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Other physical miracles happen too, but it is the spiritual miracles—the ones that have occurred in my life and I hope in yours—that are the hallmark of Christ’s ministry. I believe that these types of miracles
can happen more often.´´
´´Of all the miraculous gifts of God given to his children, the one of greatest benefit is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. By powers and means not understood by mere mortals, Jesus was able to take upon himself the sins of the world and make it possible for anyone by repentance, to escape the otherwise inescapable suffering of sin and the doom of death, and thereby return to the presence of God. "For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent…which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit" (D&C 19:16, 18). ´´
The miracle of forgiveness is wonderful. I learned that physical miracles are great to experience and can surely happen in our lives, but more important than these physical changes are the spiritual changes that take place within us. When we come to appreciate the Savior´s incomprehensible feat we call the Atonement, and when we apply its healing power, we see spiritual miracles occur. These types of miracles change us and forge us into new people. They widen our vision, and define our objectives. I know that when we recognize God´s hand in our lives and feel grateful for Him, we realize how blessed we are.
While serving my mission, I have noticed that it is impossible to be perfect. I have personal weaknesses and sometimes I fail. I also know that we are given weaknesses so that we might overcome them and be stronger. I´ve had to rely on the Atonement of Christ to get through tough times. I hope that, regardless of what weaknesses we have, we may feel our nature being changed by Christ´s grace. I have felt Christ´s influence change me little by little during my own life. I look back at the last 5 years and I see how He has helped me overcome weakness after weakness. Instead of giving up on myself, I trust in him and continue pushing forward. This is a miracle. To me these personal miracles that take place are just as special, and have just as much impact, than any temporal or physical blessing He could give us.
I believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a church of miracles. I am thankful to be serving a mission and being a special witness of God´s love for His children. I love you family!
Here is the article
https://happiness-seekers.com/2016/08/02/does-your-church-perform-miracles-a-mormon-missionarys-response/
BALANCE!
LACERDA!
MOTOCROSS!
RIO DE JANEIRO!!
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