"And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets.
And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.
And it came to pass that from this time forth there began to be lyings sent forth among the people, by Satan, to harden their hearts, to the intent that they might not believe in those signs and wonders which they had seen; but notwithstanding these lyings and deceivings the more part of the people did believe, and were converted unto the Lord."
3 Nephi 1:20-22
In the next chapter we also read that ". . . the people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen" (3 Nephi 2:1). This reminds me of Laman and Lemuel who saw an Angel and then almost immediately went back to doing what the Angel had rebuked them for.
Signs and wonders can influence people for good, certainly, but it isn't those dramatic things that typically bring about lasting conversion. Even when there is a dramatic event, it's still the smaller things that make it stick... the prayer and conversation with God every day, the reading of scriptures to get the word of God into our hearts... the spiritual habits that keep God in our minds and our thoughts and at the forefront of our lives. Those are the things that help us not just to be converted, but to stay converted... to "feel so now" (Alma 5:26).
Today, let's not ask or wait for dramatic signs in our lives... and even when they come, let's not lean on them exclusively for our testimonies. Instead, let's remember the small, incremental things that keep God with us always, and let's keep those up. We don't need to despair if God doesn't send angels or lightning bolts from heaven. Instead, he gives us ways that we can all learn and know of him. Let's take advantage of this great blessing and find out for ourselves by putting in the effort daily to grow to know the Lord and his word.
And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.
And it came to pass that from this time forth there began to be lyings sent forth among the people, by Satan, to harden their hearts, to the intent that they might not believe in those signs and wonders which they had seen; but notwithstanding these lyings and deceivings the more part of the people did believe, and were converted unto the Lord."
3 Nephi 1:20-22
In the next chapter we also read that ". . . the people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen" (3 Nephi 2:1). This reminds me of Laman and Lemuel who saw an Angel and then almost immediately went back to doing what the Angel had rebuked them for.
Signs and wonders can influence people for good, certainly, but it isn't those dramatic things that typically bring about lasting conversion. Even when there is a dramatic event, it's still the smaller things that make it stick... the prayer and conversation with God every day, the reading of scriptures to get the word of God into our hearts... the spiritual habits that keep God in our minds and our thoughts and at the forefront of our lives. Those are the things that help us not just to be converted, but to stay converted... to "feel so now" (Alma 5:26).
Today, let's not ask or wait for dramatic signs in our lives... and even when they come, let's not lean on them exclusively for our testimonies. Instead, let's remember the small, incremental things that keep God with us always, and let's keep those up. We don't need to despair if God doesn't send angels or lightning bolts from heaven. Instead, he gives us ways that we can all learn and know of him. Let's take advantage of this great blessing and find out for ourselves by putting in the effort daily to grow to know the Lord and his word.
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