Moving Mountains

"I have never witnessed the removal of an actual mountain. But because of faith, I have seen a mountain of doubt and despair removed and replaced with hope and optimism. Because of faith, I have personally witnessed a mountain of sin replaced with repentance and forgiveness. And because of faith, I have personally witnessed a mountain of pain replaced with peace, hope, and gratitude. Yes, I have seen mountains removed” -- Bishop Richard C. Edgley  (“Faith—the Choice Is Yours,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 33). 

I love this quote from my "Come Follow Me" study this week.   Spiritual miracles are certainly less visible and not as seemingly powerful or awe-inspiring as physical miracles. Witnessing a mountain physically moving or someone being physically healed would certainly be a powerful, awe-inspiring experience. But spiritual miracles such as those mentioned by Bishop Edgley actually have much more impact on individual lives in terms of their spiritual progression and their final destination in the eternities.

Seeing my brother, or other loved ones, come back to the truths of the Gospel from the pain and misery of apostasy and a sinful lifestyle would be a much greater miracle than me being healed physically.  Why is that you might ask?  Because my spinal cord injury along with any other physical imperfections will be healed during the resurrection.  All mankind will be physically resurrected in perfect form.  Regardless of how they lived their lives.  This is a free gift to all because of our Savior Jesus Christ's resurrection.

But spiritual ailments -- including lack of faith, apostasy, sin -- require action by those affected.  Spiritual ailments can be healed through the atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  But there must be a deliberate choice to utilize the Savior's atonement and go through the repentance process.  This requires great faith, a desire to change, and effort.  When and if an individual decides they want the joy, hope and peace the Gospel brings, it requires great faith and work to move those mountains of sin, pain, and misery.  It is a much greater miracle when spiritual healing occurs than is the miracle of physical healing.  Because that individual's eternal destiny is course corrected.  And hopefully changed forever if they stay on course and endure to the end.

Yes, moving mountains of any kind is a miracle.  But the greater miracle is when spiritual mountains are moved.  And people's lives are changed for the better.

That's my two cents.



Don't forget to watch General Conference tomorrow.  I'm so excited for it.  You can watch it on BYU TV or ChurchofJesusChrist.org tomorrow and Sunday 9 AM-11 AM and 1 PM-3 PM Pacific time.