SHOW ME A SIGN

(From the book, Verse by Verse, The Book of Mormon by Skinner & Ogden, pg. 283)

“The Prophet Joseph Smith said, ‘Whenever you see a man seeking after a sign, you may set it down that he is an adulterous man.’ There is a difference, of course, between those who are sincerely seeking a sign, meaning a spiritual confirmation or witness of heavenly truth and those who are just looking to satisfy their vain curiosity. The prophets condemn the latter.

…The message of secular learning today is that logic dictates that there is no such thing as predictive prophecy or supernatural events. If you can’t see it or quantify it, it isn’t true (an unfortunate inheritance from the Age of Reason). Such is the basic premise of all unbelievers….

President Joseph F. Smith wrote concerning sign seekers: ‘…Show me Latter-day Saints who have to feed upon miracles, signs and visions in order to keep them steadfast in the Church and I will show you members of the Church who are not in good standing before God and who are walking in slippery paths.

It is not by marvelous manifestations unto us that we shall be established in the truth, but it is by humility and faithful obedience to the commandments and laws of God.’

Elder George A. Smith recounted an occasion when a preacher came to Joseph Smith and, to be convinced of the Prophet’s message, requested a sign, some spectacular manifestation of the power of God. Said the preacher:

‘I want to see a notable miracle performed and if you perform such a one, then I will believe with all my heart and soul and will exert all my power and all my extensive influence to convince others and if you will not perform a miracle of this kind, then I am your worst and bitterest enemy.’

‘Well,’ said Joseph, ‘what will you have done? Will you be struck blind or dumb? Will you be paralyzed, or will you have one hand withered? Take your choice, choose which you please and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ it shall be done.’ That, of course, was not the kind of miracle he wanted.”