Choosing Your Miracles

I've been thinking a lot about miracles.  I have heard of a lot of people lately who have decided that there is no God because they have never witnessed a miracle in  their lives, or they have never been part of spiritual events in their lives.

I have two things to say to that: one, yes you have; and two, it doesn't matter whether you have or you haven't, because even if you have, a miracle, as we have come to define it, does not a testimony make.

Too many people define miracles as something spectacular: bringing the dead back to life, building a boat in order to save the world's animals in a flood, or seeing angels.  While all of these have literally happened in the history of the world, and all of these are examples of miracles, I think all too often we tend to think these types are the only miracles that count as a miracle (did that sentence make sense?....yes.  It did).

A miracle, as defined by the LDS Church, is "An extraordinary event caused by the power of God. Miracles are an important element in the work of Jesus Christ. They include healings, restoring the dead to life, and resurrection. Miracles are a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Faith is necessary in order for miracles to be manifested." I like this definition for a couple of reasons.  First, it is specific.  Second, it is general.   Third, it tells you exactly how to have miracles work in your life.  I know, sounds like I just contradicted myself.  But I didn't.  Let me explain.

This definition is very specific in that it lists things like healing, restoration of life, and resurrections, which are very miraculous.  But the first sentence of that definition, "an extraordinary event caused by the power of God," is very general.  What kind of event?  What exactly does extraordinary mean?  With this degree of generalities, almost anything, depending on the person, can be a miracle. Fantastic, I say.

For example, I think the fact that my body has the capability to make a baby from scratch is pretty dang miraculous.  In fact, if you have ever made a baby, helped make a baby, or have been a baby, then you have been witness to a miracle--the Power of God bringing to pass an extraordinary event-- in your life.  I think that's everybody.

No amount of science in the world can convince me that a cosmic bang made it possible for me to sit around eating donuts while my body makes a baby all by itself (after the initial conception, of course).  Because, guess what.  I have no idea how all that happens.  My body just knows how to do it, and at the end, a perfect little human being pops out of me, and then they grow up and walk and talk and everything.  Miracle.

And I am sorry, but a brain that can remember the words to every song I have ever learned since I was like, four, as well as have the entire script of Grease floating around in there cannot have been an accident.  The fact that I still know every word to "Lost in Your Eyes" by Debbie Gibson after 25 years?  Miracle.

When you have decided that you need to move, but you have no home to move to, no way to buy a new home, and apparently no way to sell your current home, and then, all of a sudden, it's sold without even listing it on the market?  Miracle.

Now, you might be thinking, these are not miracles.  These are just happy accidents, feats of science that can't be explained (hello, extraordinary event, anyone?), not the power of God.  Okay.  I am not going to convince you otherwise, and you are not going to convince me otherwise, and we will just agree to disagree. If this is you, you can stop reading.  It won't hurt my feelings.  Promise.  (Just remember, no meanies in the comments!)

It is at this point that I move on to what I said earlier: a miracle does not a testimony make.  I say this because if you choose not to see a birth of your child (or your own birth, hello) as a miracle, then you are simply choosing to ignore miracles.  You cannot build a testimony on what you refuse to see.  Even if you did witness something supernatural, like the rising of the dead, or an angel, it still will not convince you of the Power of God because you choose to not see the power of God at work in your life.

For example, I have always been fascinated by Laman and Lemuel in the Book of Mormon.  For anyone who is not familiar with the story, I will refer you to here and you can watch the stories and look at the pictures.  Laman and Lemuel were witnesses to many BIG miracles, the kind that most of us don't see much of.  Namely,

• Laman and Lemuel witnessed Nephi retrieve the brass plates, a seemingly impossible feat.
• They were stopped by an angel when they were trying to beat up their little brother (yeah. They saw and ANGEL)
• They survived eight years wandering the harsh desert and survived (remember, they were little rich boys who weren't that outdoor savvy)
• They watched as their little broth made a bow and arrow and single-handidly feed the clan.
• They were led by a magic little ball that somehow told them where to go.
• They built a boat with their little brother.  Oh, wait.  First, their little brother made tools to make a boat, then he shocked them, like with an electric current or something powerful like that, and only then did they help build a boat.
• They survived a typhoon or hurricane or some sort of major sea storm because their little brother prayed the storm away.
• They landed in a land that had a lot of riches and plenty.

That's a lot of miracles for one life, and these are the types of miracles that miracle-seeker dreams are made of.  I mean, we're talking angels, magic compasses, electric shocks, the works.  And, now this is why I say you don't need a miracle to believe in a God: They still rebelled from God, from the prophet (who happened to be their father) and turned away from the truth of the Gospel. They chose not to build their testimony on the evidence of the Power of God.  Nothing could have convinced them to believe, because they chose not to.

 All these miracles, and still they chose not to believe in the power of God.  That's why a miracle does not a testimony make (Now, I realize that in order to take this story as historically accurate, you would have to believe that Joseph Smith miraculously translated the Book of Mormon, and that it is a history of the Native people of North America, so this might not even be good evidence for you, which is sort of my point).

It's choosing to see the miracle, to look at the miracle that counts.  Notice the last sentence in the definition above, "Faith is necessary for miracles to be manifested."  I would like to point out that the word "manifested" means "to display or show."  It doesn't say if you don't have faith miracles won't happen.  It says if you don't have faith, you won't see the miracles. Basically, you can't demand a miracle in order to believe. That's backward thinking, that is.  You have to believe to see the miracle that already exists.

 In other words, you have to have faith.  You have to have faith to recognize a miracle for what it is, and to believe that miracle was worked by the power of God for you and your welfare.  

And that's the stickler every time: It's really up to you.  Having miracles worked on your behalf is going to happen whether you think so or not.  Look at the fact that you were born, or that you have kids who say clever things, or that you even live in a world where water exists.  Miracles, all of them, if you choose to see it that way.  It's recognizing the miracles that some people don't understand, or refuse to understand.  You can choose to see it, or you can choose not to see it.  It's up to you.  

A testimony in the Power of God is a choice.  

I guess what I am trying to say is if you claim that you no longer believe in a God because you have never seen miracles worked in your life, I call BS on you.  You don't believe in God because it is easy to not believe in God, and it is hard to have faith. It is not the lack of miracles that have failed you, or the church that has failed you.  You have chosen to fail at faith.  (That sounds mean.  I'm sorry if it's mean.  I'm not intending to be mean.)

 I have never seen an angel, and I have never seen any body raised from the dead.  But I have had so many miracles worked in my life.  I have chosen to see the extraordinary events that evidence the existence of God.

I don't think I've seen so many miracles because I am any better than anyone else, or because I am more special.  I've seen so many miracles because I've looked for miracles, and I have faith that they will happen for me.  When you look for something, you usually find it. I choose to look for miracles, and I find them, everyday.

I have two children that I made basically from scratch, and I can't tell you how I did it.  This in and of itself is a miracle, but I was told that I would never have kids.  And they're here.  There are so many more, like the sale of my house, the way I met my husband, and the world around me. So many miracles.  They're small, granted.  They could be overlooked, if I wanted to overlook them.  But I don't, and they all add up to equal extraordinary.  

God has worked to make my life extraordinary.  God thinks I'm worth having an extraordinary life.  God thinks that you are worth having an extraordinary life.  It's a miracle.

Clarification and Some Thoughts

So on my last post, I had an interesting comment by a much loved one, and I have been thinking about it ever since.  With his permission, I'm going to post his texts, and then I am going to explain my thinking.  Okay.  I deleted the messages.  So I will paraphrase what he had to say.

Basically, my loved one said he was concerned with my statement that I am not an authority on Mormon Doctrine, his argument being that I shouldn't sell myself short, and that we all can be authorities because we understand the doctrine the best we know how.  Basically.  He actually made his point much better and with bigger words.

So, let me clarify what I meant, and then speak to the concern of the Loved One.  What I meant when I said I was not an authority was that this blog is not Official--meaning it hasn't passed through what we call correlation.  Correlation is where the Brethren (the Prophet and the 12 Apostles) review what is being taught and make sure it is accurate to the Official Doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  In other words, if I say something that contradicts what the Brethren in the leadership of the Church have said, past or present, or if I misuse or misunderstand scripture, or if I am faulty in my understanding of the LDS doctrine, then I ask that you defer to scripture or the leadership of the Church.  I am a human being with limited understanding and who makes mistakes.

Basically, I don't want someone taking what I have to say and being all, "See?  This Mormon clearly doesn't understand her own church's doctrine, blah, blah, blah." Because I don't understand all of it.  That is what this blog is about--coming to know and be aware on a deeper level what I believe, why I believe it, and to become closer to my Heavenly Father and Savior as I study His words and the words of His Prophets, both past and present.  If you desire to learn about The Church's official stand on....anything...then I urge you to visit LDS.org, or click on the picture of Christ on my sidebar.  That is where you will get the official word on everything.  This blog here?  This is how the Gospel works in my life, and any insights I might have.

Which leads me to my next point.  I believe what my earlier reader was concerned about was that I might not believe that I have the right to understand the Gospel on the level I desire, or that I am somehow insufficient and silly in what I have to say.  I am greatly touched by what he said to me, which was basically, "You're great.  You have a right to study and understand, and share what you understand, and you have the right to teach that understanding."  It felt good to get a shot in the arm like that, especially when this is something that's hard to write about sometimes.  And I want to clarify this: I am the authority in my life.  I am the authority on how the Gospel works in my life.  I might not understand everything and I might not live the Gospel perfectly.  But as I pray and strive to know more of God and His Plan for me, and as I feel moved to write these words and share my thoughts and feelings on this blog, I know that what I have to say and how I say it will be true for me.  And that's all this is--something that's true for me and my life.  And I have every right to teach what I know on that subject.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I have a right, and some would argue, an obligation to share the Gospel.  I struggle meeting new people and talking to them about something so personal and  important in my life, but lately I have felt that I wasn't doing enough sharing, enough testifying to those around me.  I don't really know how how to do that on a "hey, how are you?  Wanna hear about the Gospel" type of interaction.  I'm weird and awkward and...yech.

But.

God gave us all gifts, and one of my gifts is that I can write (notice I said "write"not "type"), and another gift is that I can teach.  And I am quite good on both.  So.  I don't know who is going to read this ever, or what this will come to, if anything, but I am going to write and teach to my heart's content, and I am going to do my part in living my testimony.  Because I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It's shaky at times, sure.  I struggle a lot.  But it's there.  Sometimes it's big and sometimes it's small, but it's there.  And it's time it got some notice.

So.  I hope that clarified any thoughts for anyone.  If not, well...you're on your own, because that's the best I can do.

And Now for Something Happier...

Enough with that uber depressing bit of self-wallow.  So I've decided something.  I've decided I'm going to be a Scriptorian.  Without the education.  I'm going to be self taught.  Basically, I've decided I'm going to read all the scriptures and all the commentary on the scriptures I can find, and then I'm going to blog about it.  Because I think it would be peachy keen.  And it would keep this blog from being a serious downer, because let's face it: we all have hard times, and I have found in my little life that I always feel so much better after I read the scriptures.

 For example, I don't like that we don't have a lot of money.  I like to shop.  I'm not like a Shopaholic, or anything serious like that, I just really enjoy the alone time and trying on clothes and feeling new.  I don't feel exhilarated by finding a deal, I don't like making my own laundry soap or bath wash, I don't particularly like the veggies I get from Bountiful Baskets (Bok Choy?  Really?  When is a 3 year old going to eat anything called Bok Choy?), and I don't like cheap shoes.  Granted, sales are great.  I shop sales, but I don't get my jollies from it.  And I don't enjoy couponing.  I can't figure it out, because it's stupid for me to buy something I never use, simply because I can get .30 off two.  I know, I know, you fit your menu to the coupon.  I've heard.  Guess what?  I don't want to.

So.  I feel like this a lot, and it has a tendency to get me depressed, but then I read the scriptures.  There is a lot of good things about poor people in the scriptures.  "Blessed are the poor who are pure in heart" (D&C 56:18).  "...the poor and the meek shall inherit the earth" (D&C 88:17).  And that's not including the B of M, the Bible, and the Pearl of Great Price.  We poor people must be pretty great.  That's not to say that rich people aren't, because when poor people are righteous, they always get more money, and then comes the pride, and then the humbling, and then it starts all over again.

So I figure, I'm poor now, I'm trying really hard to be righteous, so, according to scripture (and history), I should be rich at some point in the future right?  And then, all I have to do when I hit that point is to make sure I give a lot of my money back to the poor and be even MORE righteous (because when much is given, much is required), and avoid that whole pride-humbling-riches-cycle thing.  And go shopping somewhere in there, because, as we all know, "men are that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25), and shopping brings me joy.  Now, when I think of all that, I don't feel so bad, because, according to the scriptures, I'm pretty great because I'm poor.  And, according to the scriptures, I'm going to be rich someday.

That thought makes me happy, and I've decided that I would like to write weekly posts about my insights on the scriptures or Gospel principle I've been studying or whatever.

Now, I don't want everyone to think that I'm teaching doctrine here, or that I'm treating the scriptures irreverently, because I'm not.  I'm just having a little fun to keep my spirits up, and underneath all the joking, there is truth--both physical (money) and spiritual (faith).  And I believe that Heavenly Father wants my life to be joyful.  I don't think that money will make me happy,  but I do think that money will give me more options in my life, and alleviate a lot of stress.  So there you go.

My point here, though, is that scriptures and the Gospel help me choose to be happy.  So I have decided I'm going to blog about those happy moments as I strive to educate myself more on the doctrine.

I want to be perfectly clear, and read this a couple of times:  I am not an authority on Mormon Doctrine.  I'm not proposing here that everything I think, feel, or write on this blog is Mormon Doctrine.  This, quite simply, is going to be The Gospel According to Sarah, so take it for what it's worth--not a lot.

I love the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I admit that the unique culture of Utah has its challenges, but it also has its rewards, and I'll probably write about both.  Therefore, if you choose to comment, I am going to lay out a couple of rules, and they apply to Mormons and Non-Mormons alike:

1.  No being mean.  Period.  I don't care if you're being mean to me or to another commenter.  No Meanies.  I'm serious.

2.  No Mormon Bashing.  I, being a Mormon, tend to like them and will defend them.  This is my blog, and I will say what I want.  If you want to Mormon Bash, do it on your own blog.

3.  Discussion, questions, challenges, and counter points are encouraged.  However, I would ask that you phrase your questions in a way that will facilitate discussion, not defensive arguments.

4.  I have the right to delete your comments.  These posts are meant to be uplifting and light-hearted, and I WILL NOT tolerate meanies.

5.  I have a sense of humor, and sometimes that comes across when I analyze scripture (as seen above). I am not trying to be flippant or blasphemous or disrespectful.  I'm just trying to be me.  So, if your comments are to tell me that I'm not righteous enough, I'm not interested.  Don't waste your time.  I'll delete you.

So.  I don't really think anything I have to say will be important enough for my posts to be a big deal or whatever, and I'm pretty sure that everyone who reads my blog won't need these rules--I don't know any meanies.  I'm just laying them out there.

I don't really have a plan for what I'm going to read, or when I'm going to read it, but I hope to make it a weekly post, so tune in.  Maybe in the future, I will have some sort of syllabus.  Until then, remember: it's okay to be poor.  Just keep working hard and being righteous so that someday you will be rich.

P.S.  Because of my new feature, I will start moderating comments, just to keep everyone from being a Meanie.