After giving examples of what some of God’s servants from
Nephite history had accomplished, Moroni reminds us those miracles were done
through faith in Christ, “even those who were before Christ” (Ether 12:16).
Referring to the three Nephites, we are reminded it was
through their faith they would tarry until Christ returns. “Therefore, more
blessed are ye, for ye shall never taste of death; but ye shall live to behold
all the doings of the Father unto the children of men, even until all things
shall be fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my
glory with the powers of heaven” (3 Nephi 28:7).
No miracles have been performed by God’s servants without
faith in the Son of God.
Moroni mentions “there were many whose faith was so
exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within
the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with
an eye of faith, and they were glad” (Ether 12:19).
Some examples include…
Jacob, brother of Nephi – “Behold, my soul delighteth in
proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end
hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God
from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him” (2 Nephi
11:4).
Jacob mentions Old Testament prophets. “Behold, they
believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship
the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it
pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for
righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be
obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a
similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son” (Jacob 4:5).
Jarom wrote, “Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and
the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the
people to diligence; teaching the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was
given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to
come as though he already was. And after this manner did they teach them” (Jarom
1:11).
Speaking of Lamanites who, after being defeated in war, Alma
shares the following observation.
“Yea, and they did keep the law of Moses; for it was
expedient that they should keep the law of Moses as yet, for it was not all
fulfilled. But notwithstanding the law of Moses, they did look forward to the
coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type of his coming,
and believing that they must keep those outward performances until the time
that he should be revealed unto them.
“Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the law of
Moses; but the law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ; and
thus they did retain a hope through faith, unto eternal salvation, relying upon
the spirit of prophecy, which spake of those things to come” (Alma 25:15-16).
We also have the example of the brother of Jared.
“And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said
these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones
one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the
brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger
of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before
the Lord, for he was struck with fear.
“And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which
I shall speak?
“And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the
truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.
“And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed
himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from
the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show
myself unto you” (Ether 3:6, 11-13).
“Now, I wish to encourage those who are in the midst of hard
trials, who feel their faith may be fading under the onslaught of troubles.
Trouble itself can be your way to strengthen and finally gain unshakable faith.
Moroni, the son of Mormon in the Book of Mormon, told us how that blessing
could come to pass. He teaches the simple and sweet truth that acting on even a
twig of faith allows God to grow it…
“That particle of faith most precious and which you should
protect and use to whatever extent you can is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Moroni taught the power of that faith this way: ‘And neither at any time hath
any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in
the Son of God.’”[1]
[1] Mountains
to Climb, President Henry B. Eyring, April 2012 General Conference.
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