Where Faith Lives, Miracles Live

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Do Miracles Still Happen?

Short answer: Yes — Ether 12:16 argues that miracles have never stopped, because the condition that produced them then (faith) is the same condition that produces them now.

Ether 12:16
“Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after.”

Below is a clean, doctrinal dissection of Ether 12:16 through the lens of our shared question: “Do miracles still happen?”

Core claim of Ether 12:16

Miracles still happen because the power behind them has not changed, and the condition that unlocks them has not changed.

Ether 12:16 ties two ideas together:

• Miracles: the outward, observable acts of God
• Faith: the inward, covenantal trust that gives God permission to act in our lives

The verse teaches that everyone who ever worked miracles — before Christ or after — did so by the same spiritual law. That law is still in force.

Dissection by phrase

“Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles …”

Miracles were not limited to a few elite prophets. They were widespread among God’s people.

For us, this means:

• Miracles were never meant to be rare museum pieces.
• Miracles were part of normal covenant life.
• Miracles were expected wherever God’s people walked with Him.

If God intended miracles to be normal then, we should not assume He intends them to be rare now.

Essential witness scriptures

Selected from the Topical Guide list “Miracle” — the strongest, clearest, most representative witnesses.

These passages show that miracles were common, diverse, and distributed across generations, not isolated to a few individuals.

1. Miracles were widespread among God’s covenant people

These verses show miracles happening across entire nations, not just prophets.

• Exodus 3:20 — God smites Egypt “with all my wonders,” demonstrating miracles on a national scale.
• Deuteronomy 11:3 — Israel collectively witnessed “his miracles, and his acts” in Egypt.
• Numbers 14:22 — The people “have seen my glory, and my miracles” repeatedly.

Why these: They establish that miracles were not private events — they were public, communal, and expected wherever God’s people walked with Him.

2. Miracles were normal in Christ’s ministry and among His disciples

These verses show miracles happening constantly, in many forms, through many hands.

• Matthew 4:23 — Jesus heals “all manner of sickness,” showing miracles as a continual pattern.
• Mark 1:34 — “He healed many… and cast out many devils,” demonstrating frequency and variety.
• John 2:11 — The “beginning of miracles” at Cana sets the tone for a ministry full of them.
• Acts 2:22 — Jesus is “approved of God… by miracles,” confirming miracles as His signature.
• Acts 6:8 — Stephen (not an apostle) works “great wonders and miracles,” proving miracles were not limited to leadership.

Why these: They show miracles happening through Christ, through apostles, and through ordinary disciples — reinforcing that miracles were widespread, not elite.

3. Miracles continued after Christ — and were expected

These verses show miracles as a continuing covenant reality, not a temporary phase.

• 1 Corinthians 12:10, 29 — “Working of miracles” is a spiritual gift distributed broadly in the Church.
• Galatians 3:5 — God “worketh miracles among you,” showing miracles active in normal congregational life.
• Hebrews 2:4 — God bears witness “with… miracles,” confirming ongoing divine action.

Why these: They show miracles functioning in the early Church as a normal, expected part of discipleship.

4. The Book of Mormon’s clearest witnesses that miracles were normal

These verses explicitly teach that miracles were common, expected, and tied to faith.

• 2 Nephi 27:23 — “I am a God of miracles,” grounding miracles in God’s unchanging nature.
• Alma 23:6 — Converts experience “the power of God working miracles in them.”
• 3 Nephi 8:1 — Disciples work “many miracles in the name of Jesus.”
• 4 Nephi 1:5 — “In nothing did they work miracles save it were in the name of Jesus.”
• Mormon 9:15 — “God has not ceased to be a God of miracles.”
• Mormon 9:20 — Miracles cease only when people “dwindle in unbelief.”
• Moroni 7:37 — “By faith that miracles are wrought.”

Why these: They directly answer the question “Do miracles still happen?” by teaching that miracles continue wherever faith continues.

5. Ether’s own witness (the anchor for this section)

• Ether 12:12 — “If there be no faith… God can do no miracle.”
• Ether 12:16 — “All they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith.”

Why these: They tie miracles to faith — the same condition we still have access to today.

Summary for this section

Across every dispensation, miracles were widespread, normal, and expected among God’s people. The scriptures show miracles happening:

• in Egypt,
• in the wilderness,
• in Israel,
• in Christ’s ministry,
• in the early Church,
• in the Book of Mormon Church,
• and in every community where faith was alive.

Ether 12:16 fits perfectly into this pattern: miracles were never rare — they were the natural fruit of covenant life.

“…wrought them by faith…”

This is the key line.

Ether is teaching us that miracles were never about human power — they were about human trust. Faith is the spiritual condition that opens the channel for God to act.

For us, this means:

• Miracles are not random; they are relational.
• Miracles are not earned; they are received.
• Miracles are not proof of our greatness; they are proof of God’s nearness.
• If we still exercise faith, we still stand in the same position to receive miracles.

The verse does not say miracles ceased. It says miracles follow faith — and faith is still available to us.

How Hebrews 11:7–40 Supports Ether 12:16

Anchor scripture from Hebrews 11 verse 7

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

Hebrews 11 is the Bible’s clearest witness that faith is the condition through which God works miracles. It shows us that every generation received divine intervention not because they were powerful, but because they trusted God enough to act.

1. Faith acts before the miracle — not after

• Noah moved “of things not seen as yet” and built the ark.
• Abraham obeyed God “not knowing whither he went.”
• Sarah received strength to conceive because she “judged him faithful who had promised.”

Pattern: Faith steps forward before the evidence appears. Miracles follow that step.

For us: We do not wait for God to prove Himself before we trust Him. We trust Him — and then He reveals His power.

2. Faith holds onto promises that are not yet fulfilled

• They “saw them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them.”
• They confessed they were “strangers and pilgrims,” seeking a heavenly country.

Pattern: Faith lives in the tension between what God promised and what we currently see.

For us: We do not measure God’s faithfulness by our current circumstances. We measure our circumstances by God’s faithfulness.

3. Faith obeys when obedience seems impossible

• Abraham offered Isaac, trusting God could raise him from the dead.
• Moses forsook Egypt “as seeing him who is invisible.”
• Israel kept the Passover, trusting God’s protection.

Pattern: Faith does what God asks even when the outcome is unclear.

For us: Obedience is not a transaction — it is trust in motion. Miracles often meet us on the other side of obedience.

4. Faith confronts impossible barriers

• Israel passed through the Red Sea.
• The walls of Jericho fell.
• Rahab was preserved.
• Prophets “stopped the mouths of lions,” “quenched the violence of fire,” and “escaped the edge of the sword.”

Pattern: Faith does not remove obstacles — it invites God into them.

For us: We do not need smaller problems; we need greater trust. Faith positions us to see God do what only He can do.

5. Faith endures when miracles are delayed

• Some “received their dead raised to life again.”
• Others suffered, wandered, were imprisoned, or died — “of whom the world was not worthy.”

Pattern: Faith is not measured by outcomes but by loyalty to God.

For us: Miracles are not always deliverances — sometimes the miracle is endurance, transformation, or divine companionship. Either way, God is still acting.

6. Faith connects generations — including ours

Hebrews ends by saying:

“God having provided some better thing for us…”

Meaning: We are part of the same faith‑story. The same God. The same covenant. The same spiritual laws. The same access to miracles.

For us: We stand in the same stream of divine power as Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab, and the prophets. If miracles followed their faith, miracles can follow ours.

Summary for this Section

Ether 12:16 and Hebrews 11 teach the same truth: miracles are not about human ability — they are about human trust in God’s ability.

Where faith lives, miracles live. Where faith grows, miracles grow. Where faith acts, miracles follow.

Faith is still available to us. Therefore, miracles are still available to us.

“…even those who were before Christ…”

This phrase reminds us that miracles were not tied to Christ’s mortal ministry alone.

For us, this means:

• Miracles existed long before Jesus walked the earth.
• Miracles were not dependent on geography, temple access, or priesthood office.
• Miracles were the natural fruit of people trusting God in their own day.
• If miracles existed before Christ, then miracles are not limited to one era.

This prepares us to see that miracles also continue long after Christ, including in our own dispensation. And this is exactly where Elder Rasband’s message becomes a prophetic witness.

“Right Before Our Eyes" – Elder Ronald A. Rasband – General Conference, April 2025

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is growing in members and families, missions and missionaries, meetinghouses and temples.”

Elder Rasband’s talk is a modern, apostolic confirmation of the truth Ether is teaching: God’s miracles span generations. They did not begin with Christ, and they did not end with Christ. They continue in our day — right before our eyes.

Here is how his message fits seamlessly into this section.

1. He testifies that God’s work is visibly accelerating in our day

President Nelson’s prophetic question, quoted by Elder Rasband:

“Do you see what is happening right before our eyes?”

This is the same spiritual challenge Ether gives us: are we awake to the miracles happening in our own generation?

Elder Rasband describes:

• explosive temple growth,
• unprecedented missionary expansion,
• global educational miracles,
• prophecy being fulfilled in real time.

These are not administrative updates — they are modern miracles, the same kind of divine interventions that happened “before Christ.” They show that God’s works are not bound to one era.

2. He frames prophecy fulfilled as a living miracle

Elder Rasband points to Joseph Smith’s prophecy that the Church would fill the world — a prophecy now unfolding across continents.

He points to Elder Melvin J. Ballard’s prophecy about South America — now fulfilled in temple districts and thriving stakes.

He points to the surge in missionary work — a fulfillment of ancient promises about the gathering of Israel.

These are miracles of the same order as:

• Noah building the ark,
• Abraham receiving a promised land,
• Moses leading Israel through the sea,
• Rahab preserved by covenant loyalty.

Hebrews 11 shows miracles before Christ. Elder Rasband shows miracles after Christ. Ether 12:16 ties them together.

3. He shows that covenant miracles are happening globally, not locally

Our section teaches: “Miracles were not dependent on geography.”

Elder Rasband confirms this by showing miracles in:

• Argentina
• Peru
• Uganda
• South America
• Africa
• North America
• Isles of the sea

This is the same pattern we see in the scriptures:

• Miracles in Egypt
• Miracles in Canaan
• Miracles in Babylon
• Miracles in the wilderness
• Miracles in the promised land

God’s miracles have always been global, not provincial. Elder Rasband is simply showing us the modern map.

4. He calls us eyewitnesses of prophecy — which is itself a miracle

Elder Rasband says:

“We are eyewitnesses of the fulfillment of prophecy, both ancient and modern.”

This is the same spiritual identity Hebrews 11 gives to the faithful “before Christ.” They were eyewitnesses of God’s promises unfolding in their day.

Now we stand in that same stream of divine action.

For us, this means:

• We are not reading about miracles — we are living inside them.
• We are not spectators — we are participants.
• We are not the footnotes — we are the continuation of the story.

This is Ether 12:16 in real time.

5. He teaches that faith is still the condition for modern miracles

Our section emphasizes: “Miracles follow faith — and faith is still available to us.”

Elder Rasband echoes this perfectly:

• “Give the Lord equal time.”
• “Let God prevail.”
• “Look for His hand in your life.”
• “Faith in Jesus Christ can lift you up and heal your wounded soul.”

These are not motivational lines — they are faith‑conditions, the same spiritual laws that governed miracles “before Christ.” Elder Rasband is teaching the same principle as Ether: Where faith lives, miracles live.

Summary for this Section

Our section teaches that miracles existed long before Christ — therefore miracles are not limited to one era.

Elder Rasband’s talk teaches that miracles exist long after Christ — therefore miracles are not limited to one era.

Together, they form a unified doctrinal arc:

• Before Christ — miracles
• During Christ — miracles
• After Christ — miracles
• In the Restoration — miracles
• In our day — miracles
• Right before our eyes — miracles

Elder Rasband’s message is the modern witness that Ether 12:16 is still true.

“…and also those who were after.”

This is the knockout line.

Ether is saying: miracles continued after Christ, and they continue wherever faith continues.

For us, this means:

• The pattern did not end with the apostles.
• The pattern did not end with the Restoration.
• The pattern does not end with us.
• If we walk in faith, we walk in the same stream of divine power as every generation before us.

This is exactly where Elder Oaks’s message becomes a living witness.

“Followers of Christ” – Elder Dallin H. Oaks – General Conference, April 2013

“The purpose of following our Savior is to come to the Father, whom our Savior referred to as ‘my Father, and your Father; and … my God, and your God’ (John 20:17).”

Elder Oaks’s talk is not a discourse about miracles — it is a discourse about discipleship, and discipleship is the continuing condition through which miracles flow “after Christ.”

Ether 12:16 teaches that miracles continue wherever faith continues. Elder Oaks teaches what that faith looks like in a modern disciple. Together, they form a seamless doctrinal unity.

1. He teaches that following Christ is continuous — not confined to one era

Elder Oaks begins with a foundational truth:

“Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice but a continuous commitment and way of life…”

This continuity is the same continuity Ether 12:16 describes:

• Christ’s power continues.
• Christ’s pattern continues.
• Christ’s disciples continue.
• Therefore, Christ’s miracles continue.

For us: we are not living in a spiritual “afterthought.” We are living in the same covenant stream as the Saints who came before us. This is the heart of continuing discipleship.

2. He shows that Christ’s works continue in His restored Church

Elder Oaks lists the ongoing works of Christ that remain active “after” His mortal ministry:

• Baptism
• Repentance
• Commandments
• Prayer
• Apostles
• Sacrament
• Missionary work
• Caring for the poor
• Forgiveness
• Love
• Teaching all nations

These are not symbolic gestures — they are the continuation of Christ’s ministry in our day.

Our section teaches: “The pattern did not end with the apostles.” Elder Oaks shows that the pattern is alive in:

• our ordinances,
• our worship,
• our service,
• our obedience,
• our missionary efforts,
• our covenant life.

Where Christ’s pattern continues, Christ’s power continues.

3. He shows that discipleship produces divine outcomes — the soil where miracles grow

Elder Oaks emphasizes that discipleship is active, not theoretical:

• “Whosoever heareth… and doeth…”
• “Blessed is that servant…”
• “Men ought always to pray…”
• “Love one another…”
• “Forgive…”
• “Feed my sheep…”

These are the same spiritual conditions Ether identifies: “All they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith.” Elder Oaks is describing what that faith looks like in practice.

For us, this means:

• When we obey, we step into the stream where miracles flow.
• When we pray, we open the channel where God acts.
• When we love, we align with the power that transforms hearts.
• When we forgive, we participate in the miracle of Christlike change.

This is the lived expression of faith in action.

4. He shows that Christ’s followers today are part of the same story as Christ’s followers then

Elder Oaks ties modern disciples directly to ancient ones:

• We keep the same commandments.
• We preach the same gospel.
• We pray to the same Father.
• We follow the same pattern of apostleship.
• We serve the poor as Christ commanded.
• We take His teachings to every nation.
• We seek perfection through Him.

This is the same continuity Ether 12:16 teaches: “Miracles continued after Christ.” Elder Oaks is showing that we are the continuation of the New Testament church — not a separate story. If the discipleship continues, the miracles continue.

5. He teaches that following Christ leads to divine transformation — a miracle in itself

Elder Oaks ends with the promise that discipleship leads to:

• rest to our souls,
• becoming like Christ,
• inheriting all things,
• eternal life.

These are not metaphors — they are miracles of transformation, the greatest miracles God works in His children.

Our section teaches: “If we walk in faith, we walk in the same stream of divine power.” Elder Oaks teaches: if we follow Christ, we enter the same path that leads to divine power. This is Ether 12:16 in motion.

Summary for this Section

Our section teaches: miracles continue after Christ wherever faith continues.

Elder Oaks’s talk teaches: discipleship continues after Christ wherever covenant followers continue.

Together they form a unified truth:

• Christ’s ministry continues.
• Christ’s commandments continue.
• Christ’s apostles continue.
• Christ’s covenant continues.
• Christ’s power continues.
• Christ’s miracles continue.
• And we are part of the “after” Ether saw.

Elder Oaks’s message is the practical, lived expression of Ether 12:16.

What Ether 12:16 means for our question

Do miracles still happen?

According to Ether 12:16: yes — because the God who works miracles has not changed, and the faith that unlocks miracles has not changed.

The verse gives us a simple equation:

Where faith lives, miracles live.
Where faith grows, miracles grow.
Where faith dies, miracles disappear — not because God stops, but because we stop receiving.

What this means for us personally

Ether 12:16 invites us to see miracles not as ancient stories but as present possibilities:

• We can expect miracles — not because we are special, but because God is faithful.
• We can prepare for miracles — by choosing trust over fear, obedience over hesitation, and hope over resignation.
• We can recognize miracles — because they often come quietly, in timing and forms we did not predict.
• We can testify of miracles — because our stories become the next generation’s evidence that God still moves.

The verse is not just history. It is a promise.

Principle

Miracles still happen because God has not changed, His covenant has not changed, and the law of faith has not changed. When we exercise faith, we step into the same spiritual current that empowered every miracle worker before and after Christ. Miracles are not exceptions — they are expressions of God’s ongoing presence among His people.

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