In all dispensations of the gospel, the promise of certain confirmatory proofs has been given, evidence that the name and true power of Jesus Christ are being used: casting out devils, speaking with new tongues, meaning miraculous ability to speak otherwise unknown languages, taking up serpents, being unaffected by the poisons of venomous snakes or serpents, drinking lethal liquids but not being harmed, and laying hands on, and administering to, the sick and healing them.
A God of Miracles Still Today
Evidences of Christ’s miraculous power are still found among his believing disciples. One among many examples is that of Elder Jacob Roberts, who suffered a near-fatal fall from a moving bus in Santiago, Chile, in 1998, and spent a month in intensive care in the hospital, with all the missionaries praying fervently day and night for his recovery. Upon his release from the hospital, Elder Roberts and his mother attended the fast and testimony meeting of his previous ward in Santiago, where tender expressions of love and gratitude were freely given in person and in testimonies. The ward leaders asked Elder Roberts and President Ogden to begin the testimony portion of the meeting. The elder bore a sweet, humble witness in Spanish. President Ogden then took the congregation through a few lines that Moroni wrote for our day:
“I speak unto you who deny the revelations of God, and … healing… .
“But behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles… .
“O all ye that have imagined up unto yourselves a god who can do no miracles, I would ask of you, have all these things passed … ? Behold I say unto you, Nay; and God has not ceased to be a God of miracles… .
“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.
“And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? …
“ … Whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him… .
[Then Moroni cites the instructions of Jesus to his disciples:] “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; …
“And these signs shall follow them that believe—in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover” (Mormon 9:7, 11, 15, 18–19, 21, 22, 24; emphasis added).
That final line of Moroni’s teachings was once again fulfilled in January 1998 in Santiago, Chile, in the person of Elder Jacob Roberts. God answers prayers. He sees our faith in fasting. He is still a God of miracles.
Given his practical and cautious view of things as a medical doctor, Dr. Richardson, the mission medical adviser, must have wondered about such bold words when he heard a priesthood blessing at Elder Roberts’s most serious and dangerous moment that he would be miraculously healed. Admittedly, the person giving the blessing may have wondered also about such spiritual boldness, to declare such a remarkable promise, yet that was the will of God, and it was sealed upon Elder Roberts through God’s power. Elder Roberts was an instrument in helping many witness the strength and power of the Master Healer.