He took our infirmities…

New Fashions?

J. Golden Kimball I remember a long time ago when [they] launched the Era [magazine]. I was on a trip with Apostle Francis M. Lyman- The people had not seen an Apostle for twenty years, and it was Sunday, a fast day. Meetings were begun in the morning and they kept them up all day, and we were fasting. I was pretty nearly dead at four o'clock. After four o'clock Brother Lyman said, "Now, Brother Kimball, get up and tell them about the Era [magazine]." … I said: "All you men that will take the Era if we will let you go home, rise your right hand." There was not a single man who did not raise his hand and subscribed and paid $2.00 cash for the Era. Brother Lyman said: "That is the brightest thing you ever did." I do not claim that was inspiration; it was good psychology. Really they paid $2.00 to get out.

Moroni’s Discourse of Faith And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith… For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; (Ether 12)

World’s View Miracles Produce Belief Gospel Truth Faith Results in Miracles Reinforc es

Mark Chapter 2 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them… And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. Question: What is Mark trying to teach us here?

Joseph F. Smith The test, then, of our soul's greatness is rather to be sought in our ability to comfort and console, our ability to help others, rather than in our ability to help ourselves and crowd others down in the struggle of life. If the reader will stop a moment to reflect upon the healing qualities of Christ's life, he will understand that Christ was a Master in the art of healing, not alone of the wounds he made, but of self-inflicted wounds, and the wounds that others made. What a comfort his life is to those in sorrow! How instinctively our thoughts turn to him! How prone we are to go to him for consolation He is truly the great Healer of the afflictions of others. Juvenile Instructor, March, 1903, Vol. 38, pp. 178, 179.

Mark Continues… When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

One more lesson… Luke 5: And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him… And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood (hemorrhage) twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague… Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near.

The symbolism? In the search for our own answers, for our personal miracles, we may find ourselves in a place where a miracle is being performed for someone else. At those moments, we can reach out with our own faith, to touch a “hem” of the spirit; believing that there may be a miracle for us as well…

President Hinckley There is much of another category of sickness among us. I speak of conflicts, quarrels, and arguments, which are a debilitating disease particularly afflicting families. Where there be such problems, I encourage the individuals to invite the healing power of Christ. We live in an environment where there is much of litigation and conflict, of suing and countersuing. Even here, the powers of healing may be invoked. As a young man I worked with Elder Stephen L Richards, then of the Council of the Twelve. When he came into the First Presidency of the Church, he asked me to assist him with a very delicate and sensitive matter. It was fraught with most grave and serious consequences. After listening to him discuss it, I said, "President Richards, you don't want me; you want a lawyer." He said, "I am a lawyer. I don't want to litigate this. I want to compose it." We directed our efforts to that end, and wonderful results followed. Money was saved, much of it. Embarrassment was avoided. The work was moved forward without fanfare or headlines. Wounds were closed. The healing powers of the Master, the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, were invoked in a delicate and difficult situation to compose what otherwise could have become a catastrophe. (Faith, The Essence of True Religion, p. 33)

Chronicles of Narnia C.S. Lewis Jill, new to Narnia, becomes very thirsty and follows the sound of water to a stream. Unfortunately, she also sees a great Lion on the bank. “Are you not thirsty?” said the Lion. “I am dying of thirst,” said Jill. “Then drink,” said the Lion…. “Will you promise not to—do anything to me, if I do come?” said Jill. “I make no promise,” said the Lion. Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer. “Do you eat girls?” she said. “I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms,” said the Lion… “I daren’t come and drink,” said Jill. “Then you will die of thirst,” said the Lion. “Oh dear!” said Jill, coming another step nearer. “I suppose I must go and look for another steam then.” “There is no other stream,” said the Lion.