A God of Miracles

One of the points upon which the Book of Mormon is emphatic is that God does and will perform miracles in the lives of the faithful.  The text seems particularly concerned with the disbelief in the last days and declares repeatedly that God will continue to perform miracles if there is faith among the children of men.  The title page of the book suggests that one of the book’s purposes is to “show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers.”  In addition to showing those miracles that took place among the Nephites themselves—especially the miracle of the visit of the Savior among them—the Book of Mormon also promises of the great power of the Lord that will be made manifest to the faithful in all dispensations.  Two Nephite prophets were particularly focused on this topic.    

Nephi talked repeatedly about miracles.  After showing us many of the miracles in his own life—such as the angel saving his life when his brothers were going to kill him—and then left us his testimony about how God will provide miracles for those who have faith.  He wrote, “And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith” (2 Nephi 26:13).  He condemned those Gentiles in the last days who “put down the power and miracles of God” (2 Nephi 26:20).  In speaking of the last days Nephi  warned of those who would say, “Behold, hearken ye unto my precept; if they shall say there is a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work” (2 Nephi 28:6).   Nephi also quoted the Lord’s witness of Himself, saying, “For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith” (2 Nephi 27:23).  Nephi’s testimony is that God would perform miracles, but that faith is a necessary prerequisite. 

The other writer of the Book of Mormon who really focused on miracles was Moroni.  He prophesied that the Book of Mormon would come “in a day when it shall be said that miracles are done away” and when “the power of God shall be denied” (Mormon 8:26-27).  He spoke against those who might imagine that God is changeable and said to them, “ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles.  But 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” (Mormon 9:10-11).  He continued later on, “O all ye that have imagined up unto yourselves a god who can do no miracles, I would ask of you, have all these things passed, of which I have spoken? Has the end come yet? Behold I say unto you, Nay; and God has not ceased to be a God of miracles” (Mormon 9:15).  Continuing his argument about God’s unchangeable nature, he wrote to us, “And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles” (Mormon 9:19).  To Nephi and Moroni especially, they wanted us to understand and believe the God could do miracles for the faithful in the last days just as in previous times.  So I guess the question we are left of ponder in our own lives is whether we truly believe that the Lord can work wonders in our personal lives.