Miracles July29 - August 4

Working in the Mission Field, we see many things that happen by the power of God , we call them Miracles.  We talk about the miracles that the pioneers had as they crossed from Nauvoo to Winter Quarters, and the miracles that happened here at Winter Quarters. Sometimes the Saints did not see them as miracles but the Lord helped them all the way.  Think about as they left Nauvoo in the Winter of 1846, the Mississippi River froze overnight so that Saints could cross the river!  

In September of 1846 the Saints who were thrown out of Nauvoo were stranded on the shore by Sugar Creek Camp without food, and the Lord provided Quail.  When the pioneers moved across Iowa the mud was so bad that wagons were drawn through sometimes with 4 yoke of Oxen, sometimes only traveling a half a mile a day! It slowed them down so that they would have to stop at the Missouri River, here they would grow and get ready for the trip to Utah. 

The Mormon Battalion and the miracle that it was. The money they received was to help the people here for their food and getting families west. All were miracles and the Lord was with them.

Think what these scriptures and stories tell

Mormon 9:
  18 And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles.
  19 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.

Matt. 17
    24¶ And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

By Hilary Watkins Lemon

(Based on the life of Mary Elizabeth Rollins Lightner)

Mary Elizabeth Rollins loved her home in Independence, Missouri. She worked as a seamstress and remained faithful to the Church. Then mob violence in Independence became too great, and Mary Elizabeth and the other Saints had to flee to another part of the state.

Huddled together on the freezing ground, Mary Elizabeth and her family camped on the banks of the Missouri River and waited to be ferried over to freedom. While they waited, the Saints found out that among all the families, they did not have enough money to ferry everyone.

“Some families will have to stay behind,” one of the men said.

“Whoever stays behind will be killed!” a woman cried.

“Maybe the ferryman will let us pay in fish,” one of the men suggested.

A few of the men went to the shore and set up fishing lines. The rest of the Saints prayed in the cold rain for help from the Lord. The lines stayed out all night and into the next morning.

When the men checked the fishing lines, they rejoiced to see they had caught some small fish and one very large catfish. Mary Elizabeth watched while the men cleaned the fish. When they cut open the catfish, everyone fell silent. To her amazement, Mary Elizabeth saw three bright silver half-dollars inside the fish, just the amount needed for all the Saints to cross the river to safety. Mary Elizabeth joined the other Saints in a prayer of gratitude for the Lord’s protection.

Vern Wait and the White's at the Winter Quarters Temple

This week we saw a miracles in the life of one of our good friends out here is Omaha.  Vern was baptized over two years ago. He is the only member of the Church in his family. As he accepted the gospel his family was quite upset with him and his decision. The missionaries and ward members never gave up on him. They would come in weekly and read scriptures with him, they encouraged him He was given a job as greeter in the Ward and would be to church one hour early to fulfill his responsibility, He became a great friend to Sister White and myself. We continued to fellowship and he promised that when he went to the temple we would be invited. He struggled with health, and was in the hospital. His spirits were down but we kept encouraging and finally ordered his temple clothing. He moved from the ward and was in a different part of Omaha. His wife who was against his baptism became eager to see his fulfill the goal of the temple. Finally with the Lords help and those around him we were able to get him to the temple on August 3rd. Even in the Temple he struggled with getting around but the miracle was accomplished and now he is endowed and received those blessings in his life.

We all have miracles in our lives and we all have to remember that miracles do happen if we have faith and believe in the power of our Heavenly Father.  Take time this week to think about and remember and recognize the Miracles in your life. We love you all!