From: Susan
Carter
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2001 7:29 AM
Subject: [888] Reason for few miracles
I thought many of you and especially Lynn
R. would be interested as to the official reason we don't hear much
any more about miracles in general conference or in sacrament meeting.
Dallin H. Oaks in an article in the latest Ensign stated: "Why
don't our talks in general conference and local meetings say more about the
miracles we have seen? Most of the miracles we experience are not to
be shared. Consistent with the teachings of the scriptures, we hold
them sacred and share them only when the Spirit prompts us to....it is
usually inappropriate to recite miraculous circumstances to a general
audience that includes people with very different levels of spiritual
maturity. To a general audience, miracles will be faith-reinforcing
for some but an inappropriate sign for others...There are good reasons why
we do not seek conversions by exhibiting signs.....The viewing of signs or
miracles is not a secure foundation for conversion."
Well Attorney Oaks I have some scriptures for
you.
How about the conversion of the Lamanites in
Alma 23:6 "As many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth,
through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of
revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working MIRACLES in
them--yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as
believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never
did fall away."
Moroni as one of his very last statements
shouted, "And now I speak unto ALL the ends of the earth--that if the
day cometh that the power and gifts of God shall be done away among you, it
shall be because of unbelief."
Of course Attorney Oaks is careful to not say
that miracles are done away with completely--just that they are too sacred
to share. I suppose then that Joseph Smith, Alma, all the Nephi's,
Jacob, Benjamin and on and on were inspired to share THEIR miracles but we
are not strong enough in the faith to hear them from our apostles and
prophets. It is a sad commentary that 90% of the miracles he spoke of
in the article were 35 or more years ago. And the modern miracles he
talks of are not all that inspiring.
2 Nephi 26:22-29
"And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea the founder of murder, and works of darkness; year he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever. For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness... he doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world......Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden. He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world, but they seek not the welfare of Zion."
God works in the light of day, proclaiming truth
and doing miracles if we are to believe the accounts about Jesus. He
wasn't loath to preach miracles, do miracles and CONVERT people to His
Father. He was preaching to a pretty general audience wasn't he?
Don't the scriptures say that if any other nation had witnessed and heard
about the miracles of Jesus they would have been converted? Doesn't
that tell us that if we want to be GOOD missionaries we better be showing
the gifts of the spirit????
When the scriptures talk of restraint and
boasting in regards to sacred things, it refers to having the right motive
in speaking of sacred things: is the motive to convert people to the
Father, or boast of THEMSELVES? They are not telling us not to speak
of them!!!!!!!!!
Nephi tells us of a couple of methods of Satan
in the last days:
- Rage against that which is good. [try telling your Bishop you speak with Christ and the angels]
- Pacification--hey all is well, don't worry, it's too sacred to share
- Flattery--there is no evil and no devil so don't worry
Nephi then warns us: "Wo be unto him
that is at ease in Zion! Wo be unto him that crieth: All is
well! yea wo be unto him that denieth the power of God, and the gift
of the Holy Ghost! Yea, wo be unto him that shall say: We have received, and
we need no more! And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are
angry because of the truth of God! For behold, he that is built upon
the rock receiveth it with gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy
foundation trembleth lest he shall fall." What of all these
bishops, stake presidents and up warning us against having spiritual
experiences because so many are led astray? Does that sound like
trembling lest we should fall? I say WO UNTO THEM. God help a
people who believe this trash in the Ensign.
Susan
