Are miracles directly proportional to faith?
Frequently in the BOM we are told that blessings/miracles will be “according” to our faith. Some examples: 2 Nephi 26:13 and Alma 57:21. Also the minimum and maximum have been set: where there is no faith there is no miracles (2 Nephi 27:23) and where there is all faith there is all miracles (1 Nephi 7:12).
Nem has already kindly pointed out one objection to this idea: “Don’t ‘bad’ people get blessed sometimes?” My response is that they do, but that someone must have had faith on their behalf. For example, Alma The Younger (Mosiah 27:14).
So does “according” mean “directly proportional”?
J Alfred\'s Diary 
January 12, 2006 at 5:28 pm
This is kind of side note, but I don’t think I use miracles and blessings interchangeably. I can agree that no faith = no miracles, and that you could possibly explain people like Laman & Lemuel & Alma the Younger & Saul witnessing miracles because of the faith of others.
But blessings somehow in my mind seem different. For example, the Atonement is a blessing that is given to everyone regardless of whether or not they have faith. They could have absolutely zero faith and they will still be resurrected.
January 12, 2006 at 5:31 pm
Surely our resurrection though is a miracle though?
Perhaps another way of looking at it would be to say that the faith needed to produce the miracle of the resurrection we showed before we came here.
January 12, 2006 at 6:18 pm
Okay, but on your mission did you ever have people say, “I don’t believe in God and I don’t think he’s there because I’ve never been blessed, ever.”? How did you respond to that?
January 12, 2006 at 7:03 pm
Okay, so it’s not the BEST example, but it’s all I had off the cuff. 🙂
January 12, 2006 at 10:28 pm
I have some thoughts so I thought I would chime in…….
The Atonement has 2 parts: Yes, everyone receives the blessing of overcoming the physical death. However, not everyone automatically receives the blessing of overcoming the spiritual death. That part is up to us–we are blessed through the Atonement according to our faith.
J. Alfred has an interesting point in that we showed faith before coming here. Everyone who comes to this earth chose God’s plan, not Satan’s. That 2/3 received a body which will be resurrected; the other 1/3 will not.
Nemesis’ question is an interesting one, which I think I received on my mission (or something like unto it). I would just emphasize the beautiful creations that God has given us. (Sorry, they didn’t come out of no where, and perhaps some scientists argue that……but that’s a discussion for another day). My opinion on why people don’t think they are blessed is that they do not know how to recognize blessings. Also, you need to look at the big picture. Blessings are not always received in this life. There are many blessing that await us after this life if we earn them.
(sorry, I totally rambled…….sometimes I get carried away!)
January 12, 2006 at 10:31 pm
Sorry, one more thought.
The “bad people” that seem to get blessed? Those people will get their come-upings in the next life. That’s what really counts.
January 12, 2006 at 10:58 pm
Hmmm, interesting.
There seem to be certain miracles/blessings that are predicated upon our faith and obedience but I don’t think the Lord is limited to this. The Bible dictionary talks about prayer being the means wherby we can secure blessings the Lord is already willing to give us. We also know though that, no matter how much faith we have, if it is not according to the Lord’s will it won’t happen.
But there are many miracles/blessings that come to those who do not believe. Think of birth – is that not a miracle? Think of all the natural disasters – not only the righteous and faithful survive but the unbelievers too. But maybe on these occasions the Lord is giving people the opportunity to become believers. Many have turned to God because of such miracles. Its part of the test and what’s so awe inspiring is the Lord in his mercy allows this to happen so that all can have a chance to believe.
January 12, 2006 at 11:07 pm
Came across this scripture which made me think
Mosiah 18:8 – ‘Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; …’
Maybe if we wish to bring about miracles we need faith – but the Lord also brings about His own miracles and He has faith! (Well actually He doesn’t because there are no mysteries to Him – He knows all!)
January 12, 2006 at 11:11 pm
Don’t we learn that blessings ARE granted according to our obedience. I know we receive many blessings here that we didn’t earn here. But we did earn them–there. At least that’s the way I understand it. I don’t claim it, and the topic’s answer is not necessary for salvation, but I do believe all blessings are rewards based on our faith and/or prior faithfulness.
Don’t forget some people’s blessings are a curse. Laman and Lemuel’s blessings ultimately spelled their destruction. They were given so much and squandered it…