What is the power of faith?
Well, by it the worlds were made so… what can our faith do?
I’ve written about a miracle I saw happen in my post Miracle Baptisms.
I was once told a story that strengthened my faith and taught me something about the power of faith. By the way, this is a true story, not made up. If you don’t believe me, have faith.
The story goes like this…
There was a guy attending ASU. His parents planned a big cruise vacation over the winter break. This guy had been praying and looking for an opportunity to share the gospel with someone. Who? He didn’t know, just someone. He had made a commitment to baptize a friend before the end of winter break.
When his parents told him about the plans for the cruise he declined. His parents were shocked. “Why??? We’re going on a family cruise!” He explained he already had plans.
“What plans?!” They asked. “What could be more important than our family cruise?”
“I’ll be baptizing a friend at that time,” was his response.
Oh… they thought. Well, that is important. They asked who the friend was. He told them he didn’t know, yet.
Let’s break this down. Here was a cruise. It existed. It was paid for. It was happening. It was a guarantee.
This guy, though, had another guarantee. He had a commitment. He would be baptizing someone at that time.
Soon after the conversation with his parents (aka the testing of his faith) he was sitting outside on campus reading the Book of Mormon. An acquaintance from class walked by and asked what he was reading. A few weeks later our hero was baptizing this friend at the precise time his family was on their cruise.
Some would say the cruise was a sure thing and the baptism was not. The baptism was a pipe dream, a shot in the dark. It was unlikely to happen.
What role did faith play in this story?
Obviously, faith was everything.
Soon after declining a sure thing, an all-expense paid cruise vacation, the interaction happened.
While this guy could have been on a cruise, he was doing something vastly more important, baptizing a friend.
What is a cruise when compared to the eternal salvation of a soul, of one of God’s children?
I don’t know the rest of the story. I don’t know what happened with the individual that was baptized. My faith tells something special happened. What if this individual joined the Church of Jesus Christ and devoted himself to it? What if he went on a mission? What if he baptizes five individuals on his mission and shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ with countless others? What if he marries in the temple and has five children? What if those children are raised to worship Christ and bear testimony of Him throughout their lives?
Fact – that cruise turned into one baptism.
Faith – that one baptism turned into thousands hearing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and coming closer to their Savior.
Where does faith end and fact start? – That’s up to us.
“Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”
Doctrine and Covenants 18:10
“And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!”
Doctrine and Covenants 18:15
No Coincidences 