Nothing Shall Be Impossible

To my daughter, 

                Lucy Mack Smith was one of the most faithful saints in the early days of the church and a faithful supporter of the work of the Lord that her son committed his life to. I love the story of her faith when the saints were seeking to move from New York to Ohio in the winter of 1830-1831. One account describes what happened in these words after Joseph’s revelation was given that they should make this journey: “Lucy and several dozen Saints responded to the command of the revelation and traveled by boat on the Erie Canal to Lake Erie, then crossed the lake to Ohio. When they arrived at the banks of Lake Erie, however, the water was frozen with no foreseeable passageway. Many Saints on board the boat began to complain. Lucy rebuked them, asking, ‘Where is your faith? Where is your confidence in God? … Suppose that all the Saints here should raise their hearts in prayer to God that the way might be opened before us, how easy it would be for Him to cause the ice to break away so that in a moment’s time we could be on our journey.’” She then pleaded with the Saints to “pray for the ice to be broken up so they could continue their journey. In that moment, a noise ‘like bursting thunder’ was heard and the ice parted, leaving a narrow passage for the boat that closed no sooner than the boat had passed. The Saints then held a prayer meeting to thank God for His deliverance.” What incredible faith! The Lord answered her prayer of faith in a miraculous way, just as He can for you when you face similar challenges that seem insurmountable.

                After Lucy moved to Kirtland, she had a terrible accident when she fell down the stairs and severely hurt her head. Here is what happened next: “Her eyes became inflamed until she went blind. The ensuing distress Lucy endured for days was indescribable. Turning to priesthood power when medical remedies had failed, Lucy called upon elders to administer to her. Instead of asking for the restoration of her sight, Lucy asked for something better. She requested that the elders ask God to not only heal her eyes but ensure she would never have to use glasses again. After the elders administered to her and removed their hands from her head, Lucy read a passage in the Book of Mormon and never wore glasses again.” Again she trusted in the Lord for the impossible and He answered her faith with a marvelous blessing. As you need help in your life you too can pray to ask the Lord for help, and you can receive priesthood blessings and see the power of God similarly work miracles in your life. The angel declared to Mary when she was told about the birth of Jesus, “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). Lucy Mack Smith lived by this truth, and you can too. No matter what difficulty that you face, you can turn to the Lord in faith and He will always be there to help you.

                Lucy Mack Smith was a powerful witness of the Restoration, and she stayed true to the work of the Lord her whole life. She declared her testimony powerful in these words, “[The Book of Mormon] was brought forth by the power of God and translated by the same power. And if I could make my voice to sound as loud as the trumpet of Michael the Archangel, I would declare the truth from land to land and from sea to sea, and it would echo from isle to isle until not one should remain of the whole family of man but that was left without excuse. For all should hear the truth of the gospel of the Son of God, and I would sound it in every ear that he has again revealed himself to man in these last days and set his hand to gather his people together upon a goodly land.” Her words are like those of Alma in the Book of Mormon who declared his desire to share the plan of redemption with the whole world like Lucy: “O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!” (Alma 29:1) Like Lucy and Alma, you too can bear your witness throughout your life of the gospel of Jesus Christ to others as you continue to grow your faith in God. 

Love,

Dad