A man with cancer was cured by his church! Not the congregation of people who attended his church, the actual building itself. Another commonly referenced scripture in Proverbs states "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18). Finding purpose in our lives can help us heal both physically and spiritually. 

In anticipation of having my firstborn come in June, it has become apparent all of the things that can go wrong when having a baby. But, most of the time, things turn out okay--thank God! Modern medicine has made it much safer to have a child, and what a miracle that is, but I think the phrase "childbirth is a miracle" can be applied to much more than just the biological birth of offspring. In Matthew 19 Jesus blesses the little children; several verses in Proverbs and Psalms mention how beloved children are in the sight of God; and in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, a prophet named King Benjamin relates the attributes of a child, attributes that closely resemble characteristics of Christ (Mosiah 3:19). 

My favorite verse and my mantra for becoming a Pediatrician is from a Book of Mormon prophet named Abinadi when he said: "And little children also have eternal life" (Mosiah 15:25).

Do you think that doctors, and other medical professionals, sincerely believe in miracles themselves? Some research that I found suggests that about two-thirds of physicians have a belief in God; additionally, 45% report engaging in frequent prayer. Many physicians also recognize that the roles of medicine and religion cannot easily be separated. The scripture today comes from Numbers 21:7-9 and is the story of Moses holding up the brass serpent for the children of Israel (the Biblical story that the universal symbol for medicine is based on). When you put your faith into something--whether that is God or science or a medical specialist--whatever comes after that could be argued as being a "miracle;" usually it is miraculous, right? 

What are angels? Who are they? An angel can be defined as "a spiritual being believed to act as an attendant, agent, or messenger of God, conventionally represented in human form with wings and a long robe;" another definition is "messengers of the Lord [as] spoken of in the epistle to the Hebrews as 'ministering spirits' (Heb. 1:14)... In some passages, the 'angel of the Lord' speaks as the voice of God Himself (Gen. 22:11–12). The word angel is also sometimes used to designate a human messenger..." 

I think God sends spirits that are most faithful and closest to Him to "bear us up" in our everyday lives; and, I think He also sends those that are closest to us. Whether the experiences we have with an "angel" come through a voice, a soft impression, or another person, let's be grateful for them! Psalms 91:11-12 explains that God has sent His angels to us to help guide and protect us, and maybe He has sent you to be someone else's angel. 

As a psychology student, I am privy to learning about various mental illnesses, including psychotic disorders and schizophrenia. These disorders are not well understood especially on the neurobiological front. But recent studies have been able to draw parallels between hallucination-like behavior in animals and hallucination-like behavior in humans. This opens a door for us to learn more about psychosis and what causes it. In the meantime, treating others with love is the only permanent solution. As 1 John 4:18-21 states, "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar..." 

Another incredible story of a woman who, despite the suggestions of some doctors remained on life support and eventually woke up from a traumatic car accident. But, that was only the beginning of her road to recovery. It took over 3 years to get back to walking and talking like she used to! In Luke 9:57-62 we learn that Christ loves effort, and maybe we need to put in a little more of that effort to make the world a better place to live.

Has the COVID-19 pandemic been a miracle in your life? One incredible survivor isn't sure, but the scientific feats that have been made can be viewed as nothing short of a miracle. But what about the challenges that the pandemic has caused beyond physical health? In the Bible, we learn about the woman with an issue of blood, and Christ heals her--both physically and emotionally.