When we look for miracles in our lives, we need to study what has brought down the powers of heaven into others' lives - let that knowledge distill upon our souls - and then move forward with faith and a sure knowledge that we will experience the same things in our own. And, yes, I do tire of people admonishing not to share this kind of stuff. That is the devil's work - and is one of the greatest causes of faithlessness in the Church. It was around the time we started to hear that stuff, that I noticed (as a young adult), that we had started down a slippery slope (less striving and more complacency among the membership).
Just my opinion - and I think the proof is in the pudding as we look around us today.....
Here is a great experience too good not to repost. Note the watershed moment in this rancher's life as he used his Priesthood to powerfully bless his flocks, his land, and all the works that led to him later being able to serve at the Ensign Ranch in Cle Ellum, WA. God wants us to prosper, so that we can use our largess to later serve our fellow man with it, while not consuming it upon our lusts in ever bigger homes, cars, jewelry, vacations, etc. He does not want us to suffer, per-se - but He does want us to share out of our abundance to bless the lives of others. Time, talents and energies.
http://woodyoubelieveit.blogspot.ca/2011/07/remarkable-experience-on-our-montana.html
I have never heard of this! That story is so AWESOME and so FAITH PROMOTING! THANK YOU! And YES, I am so thankful to those who are willing to share their spiritual experiences. I, too, became dismayed when for some reason a virus infiltrated the Church that it is "taboo" to share these experiences. Do not the scriptures testify of miracles from God's goodness and power written by those who experienced them?
ReplyDeleteI realize there's a time when the Lord says not to mention things but I also think He is pleased when we testify of the miracles He's wrought in our lives for the benefit of others.
Notice in the story how the neighbors were ripe for being taught the truth because a faithful Priesthood holder was in their midst.
Thanks brother IRAQ. This is a stellar story!
Iraq,
ReplyDeleteThe reason why people are at times admonished NOT to share the miracles is so that the people are not condemned as a result by belittling said miracle.
This is your friend down in Mexico here (NOT the Mp). With a person like you, a friend, a person I could trust, I would be MORE THAN HAPPY to share these types of miracles because you believe them and they are a sign for the faithful.
Miracles by themselves will not convert. But those that are faithful that have seen the signs for themselves, will be strengthened by the miracles so as not to be deceived by other wannabes.
9 years ago, my companion and I were walking down the dirt roads immediately north of the capital city of Chiapas. We see a huge thunderhead form in front of us. Think severe thunderstorm type of thunderhead with one inch hail in it. Not big as I lived in Texas but even marble sized hail hurts when you get hit by it and softball sized hail I have seen before but I digress.
We see this thunderhead and I am prompted to talk to my companion about his grandfather. His grandfather was one of the pioneers of the Church in the Tampico area. The area as you might or might not be aware is susceptible to hurricanes, floods, and hailstorms. But every time that a storm approached, he used his priesthood and the storm hit the area but always seemed to blow over his house, giving him the life-giving rains but leaving the wind and hail for other places.
His plot of land was the greenest of all the plots for literally miles in every direction. The people would ask him what he did and he said "I have the priesthood." Everybody laughed at him over this, and though their places were severely damaged or destroyed, the grandfather's place was completely untouched except for the grass, which was much greener given that it rained instead of hailed.
So I have this idea to do the same thing to this storm which was by now bearing down on the city. I mean, the aluminum roofs TEN KILOMETERS away were being pounded on and we could hear it all the way out where we were. We used the Priesthood of God to calm the storm, and the storm broke in half and went on either side of the capital city.
This is what happened to me 9 years ago.
Now, Iraq, Jesus Christ in the Scriptures warned against the recollecting and telling of His miracles to those where He did His miracles. Even the Three Apostles present in His Transfiguration, were warned NOT to divulge what happened until AFTER Christ had ressurrected. I find it interesting that even that Matthew undoubtedly heard of this event afterwards and that it was told him by the Three Apostles, John, author of one of the Four Gospels, his three universal epistles, and Revelation, makes NO mention of the Transfiguration. NOT because it didn't happen, but because it was so sacred to John that he could not put it into words to do it justice.
to be continued...
Continued from last post...
ReplyDeleteEven Joseph Smith went with one of his trusted friends, the Methodist pastor (he had been inclining in their direction so no doubt they had had their conversations before), to relate the First Vision. The pastor responded in a very bad way to Joseph Smith, and we hear of no more miracles (and quite a bit of bad things--though not earth-shatteringly bad things) for the next three years until Moroni shows up on the Feast of Tabernacles to announce the Book of Mormon.
Joseph was undoubtedly tutored in great and sacred things by Moroni over the course of his four visitations until he received the plates on Rosh Hashanah, and he does mention being tutored by him, but he doesn't reveal everything Moroni taught him, also for similar reasons why John didn't reveal his account of what happened at the Transfiguration. Writing it down didn't do enough justice to the sacredness of the visitations.
I love hearing of miracles and I really love reading your blog. Common Saints have had these miracles before and they will continue. But today there are too many unbelievers within the Church (you call them the LDA Latter Day Aints) that would do nothing more than to scoff and mock those that believe in the miracles.
Cases in point Jana Riess and Peggy Fletcher Stack. About a couple of years behind now excommunicated John Dehlin but headed in that direction.
It is up to us to find the mysteries for ourselves. Great communication can be had with God especially as the veil grows thin. Remember always that it is by Him which miracles are done, and not of our own selves.