Do you believe in Miracles?

A couple of days ago, I posted a video from the Prince of Egypt featuring the song "When you Believe." I thought I'd continue on the subject of miracles. There are a lot of people these days who believe that miracles ceased with Jesus Christ and the Apostles.  The prophet Moroni in the Book of Mormon disagrees. He says: "For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing? And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles. But behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are...And now, 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, of which I have spoken? Has the end come yet? Behold I say unto you, Nay; and God has not ceased to be a God of miracles. Behold, are not the things that God hath wrought marvelous in our eyes? Yea, and who can comprehend the marvelous works of God? Who shall say that it was not a miracle that by his word the heaven and the earth should be; and by the power of his word man was created of the dust of the earth; and by the power of his word have miracles been wrought? 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? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles. And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust. Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth." (Mormon 9:9-11,15-21)

There are many miracles that have happened in the world of sports, but only one that I can think of that actually has the term "miracle" in its title. In 1980, the Winter Olympics were going to be held in Lake Placid, New York. The United States team was made up of just young college players, who were very promising, but never had much experience at high level competition. Days before the Olympics, the United States challenged the Soviet Union, the world power in hockey, to an exhibition match, and lost miserably. This loss didn't discourgage the United States one bit. In their first game in the Olympics, they tied with Sweden 2-2 and beat heavily favored Czechoslovakia 7-3. Encouraged by their performance in their two toughest games, they won 3 straight games to advance from group play to the medal round, where they faced...you guessed it...the Soviet Union. In spite of an inspirational gametime speech from their coach, the United States fell behind early 1-0, but tied it up quickly with a goal by Buzz Schneider. The Soviet Union scored again, but Mark Johnson scored with 1 second left in the first period to make it tied 2-2. The Soviet Union dominated the second period, but only scored one goal, making it 3-2 going into the third and final period of play. Mark Johnson scored again for the United States, and then United States team captain Mike Eruzione scored to put the Untied States up 4-3 with 10 minutes left in the game. The Soviet Union tried desperately to score, but were unsuccessful. With 10 seconds left, the building counted down and with 3 seconds left, TV sportscaster Al Michaels said the famous phrase: "Do you believe in miracles?" This game has since been called the Miracle on Ice. The United States would then go on to beat Finland 4-2 to win the gold medal.

I know that miracles have not ceased. They still go on around us all the time. If we feel that they have stopped, it is because of our own unbelief. God loves us. He is a God of Miracles. He wants us to be happy and successful in this life. He also wants all of us, His precious children, to come back and live with him again. I know this is possible only through obedience to God's commandments, living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and by applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ when we make mistakes. I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ, for all that they have done and continue to do for me in my life.