The Signs that Follow Them
“…all things whatsoever I have created by the word of my power, which is the power of my Spirit. For by the power of my Spirit created I them; yea, all things both spiritual and temporal—” – D&C 29:30
We hope you are ready to receive a diamond from the treasure of God…
The blessing to those who can speak with the Voice of God, which is speaking by the Power of the Holy Ghost, is not only the spiritual exchange of information and testimony.
God spoke and worlds were created. God speaks and mountains are moved, sickness is healed, and lives are changed. When we speak by the Power of the Holy Ghost, we speak the word of God, as if we were God. And all things will obey us as they do God. Moroni tells us,
“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?” – Morm. 9:17
When we speak with the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the voice of God, we speak with this same great power by which God created all things. All of creation recognizes the Voice of God, which is through the spirit of God. When we speak by the power of that spirit, all of creation will respond to us as if we were The Very Creator, God. One of the promised blessings that comes with the Gift of the Holy Ghost is that of miracles.
“64. Therefore, as I said unto mine apostles I say unto you again, that every soul who believeth on your words, and is baptized by water for the remission of sins, shall receive the Holy Ghost.
65. And these signs shall follow them that believe—
66. In my name they shall do many wonderful works;
67. In my name they shall cast out devils;
68. In my name they shall heal the sick;
69. In my name they shall open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf;
70. And the tongue of the dumb shall speak;
71. And if any man shall administer poison unto them it shall not hurt them;
72. And the poison of a serpent shall not have power to harm them.
73. But a commandment I give unto them, that they shall not boast themselves of these things, neither speak them before the world; for these things are given unto you for your profit and for salvation." - D&C 84:64-73
Although these are examples, they are by no means the end or extent of this power of word. We have personally witnessed this very power parting the clouds thus redirecting or halting torrents of rain. We have seen cars run without necessary engine components and broken electronics instantly fixed. We have seen people walk on water, heal the sick, stop wild fires and much, much more. And all of them have been done for the profit and benefit of men with the voice of God which is that same spirit which “tells us all things what we should do”, (2Ne. 32:3).
These things are not new and have been talked about throughout scripture. Jacob explains,
“Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.” – Jacob 4:6
Speaking in the Name of Jesus can only be done by speaking his words and with his spirit. We cannot speak by the power of the Holy Ghost except we speak the words of Christ, (2Ne. 32:2-3). This is how we do things in his name which is acting as if we were him by speaking with his voice. We are told, “...whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." (D&C 1:38).
There is great power in the voice of God given for men, women and children to use.
“For I am the Lord thy God; I dwell in heaven; the earth is my footstool; I stretch my hand over the sea, and it obeys my voice; I cause the wind and the fire to be my chariot; I say to the mountains—Depart hence—and behold, they are taken away by a whirlwind, in an instant, suddenly.” - Abr. 2:7
“For behold, by the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth, which earth was created by the power of his word. Wherefore, if God being able to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was created, O then, why not able to command the earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure?” – Jacob 4:9
There are many instances in which believers have spoken by the word of God through the Holy Ghost and been obeyed. However, one of the most common issues is a lack of faith which would prevent us from speaking altogether, or speaking with power. The Lord spoke directly to William Law, but his words are appropriate to all who desire to speak by the power of the Holy Ghost. (Although the keys by which we can ask and receive blessings are spoken of, they are not numbered in the scripture. We will add numbers in (bold) so that each key becomes clear);
“97. Let my servant William Law also receive the keys by which he may ask and receive blessings; (1) let him be humble before me, and (2) be without guile, and (3) he shall receive of my Spirit, even the Comforter, which shall manifest unto him the truth of all things, and shall give him, in the very hour, what he shall say.
98. And these signs shall follow him—he shall heal the sick, he shall cast out devils, and shall be delivered from those who would administer unto him deadly poison;
99. And he shall be led in paths where the poisonous serpent cannot lay hold upon his heel, and he shall mount up in the imagination of his thoughts as upon eagles’ wings.
100. And what if I will that he should raise the dead, let him not withhold his voice." - D&C 124:97-100
Having faith to act on the voice of the spirit is often more difficult than knowing what the spirit is telling us to do or say. In cases like these, we are the only ones holding ourselves back from receiving blessings and blessing the lives of others.
Another important point to make is that signs do not create faith. Faith must come first, and signs will follow those who believe. Sign seekers have always been a problem, even in the early church. The Lord said through the prophet Joseph Smith.
“7. And he that seeketh signs shall see signs, but not unto salvation.
8. Verily, I say unto you, there are those among you who seek signs, and there have been such even from the beginning;
9. But, behold, faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe.
10. Yea, signs come by faith, not by the will of men, nor as they please, but by the will of God.
11. Yea, signs come by faith, unto mighty works, for without faith no man pleaseth God; and with whom God is angry he is not well pleased; wherefore, unto such he showeth no signs, only in wrath unto their condemnation.
12. Wherefore, I, the Lord, am not pleased with those among you who have sought after signs and wonders for faith, and not for the good of men unto my glory." - D&C 63:7-12
These signs that follow believers are for the benefit and good of men, and NOT to prove faith. It is not pleasing to the Lord when signs and wonders are used to encourage faith. Only to be used for the purpose they are given which is to assist men and mankind.
Before we can experience these great blessings of the Spirit, we must first believe. We must believe that WE ARE Prophets before we can receive the prophecy. We must believe that we ARE Revelators before we can receive the revelations. We must believe that we ARE Seers before we can see and experience the Spiritual. We must believe that we can speak in the name of God before we can receive the words of God. This is VERY important and is the single largest reason people do not experience all that God has already given. This is what it means to “Receive the Holy Ghost”. And so we must be commanded to “receive the Holy Ghost” because it is not an easy gift to accept or receive.
To be able to receive the promptings of the spirit to do these amazing things, we must first believe. We must believe in the spirit, but more importantly, we must believe in ourselves and our abilities to be a modern Elijah.
Those to whom we speak (by the power of the Holy Ghost) will also experience that same power within them. This goes for both man and nature. When we heal others they will feel that they have been wrought upon by the same power that moved you. And both the healer and the healed will feel the spirit and be edified.
“And as many as had devils cast out from them, and were healed of their sicknesses and their infirmities, did truly manifest unto the people that they had been wrought upon by the Spirit of God, and had been healed; and they did show forth signs also and did do some miracles among the people.” – 3Ne. 7:22
If those to whom we speak do not feel the spirit of God, then they cannot be healed. Alma knew this when Zeezrom asked to be healed. Alma pointed out that Zeezrom could not be healed if he did not believe enough to receive the spirit of the Lord
“5. And it came to pass that they went immediately, obeying the message which he had sent unto them; and they went in unto the house unto Zeezrom; and they found him upon his bed, sick, being very low with a burning fever; and his mind also was exceedingly sore because of his iniquities; and when he saw them he stretched forth his hand, and besought them that they would heal him.
6. And it came to pass that Alma said unto him, taking him by the hand: Believest thou in the power of Christ unto salvation?
7. And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all the words that thou hast taught.
8. And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed.
9. And he said: Yea, I believe according to thy words.
10. And then Alma cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord our God, have mercy on this man, and heal him according to his faith which is in Christ.
11. And when Alma had said these words, Zeezrom leaped upon his feet, and began to walk; and this was done to the great astonishment of all the people; and the knowledge of this went forth throughout all the land of Sidom.” – Alma 15:5-11
This is why it was not the faith of Christ that was required to heal, but the faith of the healed which facilitated the miracles. So Christ often told people, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” It is their faith that helps them to feel the spirit of God and thereby hear the Voice of God which can heal them.
Having faith in Christ was enough for Zeezrom to be moved by the power of the Holy Ghost which power was able to heal him. This also is the same power by which poison has no effect on those who are filled with the Spirit. Both Christ and Joseph Smith taught this principle,
“For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing (the spirit), and their eyes they have closed (so they could not see the spiritual); lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” - Matt. 13:15
“The sick will be healed, the lame made to walk, the deaf to hear, and the blind to see, through your instrumentality. But let me tell you, that you will not have power, after the endowment to heal those that have not faith, nor to benefit them, for you might as well expect to benefit a devil in hell as such as are possessed of his spirit, and are willing to keep it: for they are habitations for devils, and only fit for his society.” – Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.91
Let us first inspire and teach the gospel with the power and Tongue of Angels, then when they have faith, they can be healed.
Prepare yourself, be you male, female, young or old, to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost to learn, serve and bring the power of God on the earth. You are powerful and the greatest miracles are yet to come and they will be done by you…
“11. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
12. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
13. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” – John 14:11-13