Question
Gramps,
I really do appreciate reading your responses to the submitted questions. This isn’t really a question, but a statement. Although you quoted the scriptures stating that God is all powerful, I really don’t think that is the case. He does have what would appear to us to be unlimited power, but I think His power is limited. For example: Jesus couldn’t perform miracles unless the people had faith in him. I think that God is so loving, kind, great, etc. that the elements recognize him for the supreme being He is and because of this do what He commands. God never forces anyone to do anything. Therefore, the elements respond to his biding because he is God, not because of some force he exerts. Making mountains move, requires that the elements or the spirit of the mountains to perform this function on their own, not because God demanded it by zapping them with an all powerful ray or something similar. This is just my opinion, and I intend in no way to minimize the greatness of the eternal God or His Son Jesus Christ. To me it almost makes God a greater being; that He his able to perform His work because of His personality and great works.
Victor
Answer
Dear Victor,
Of course we all have our own interpretations, opinions and beliefs on such religious topics as you bring up. Apparently you and I differ on a couple of points. I believe that the scriptures are the word of God, and that God cannot lie. So, from the scriptures I believe that God is all powerful. Further, I believe that His power resides in His word. As you say, He doesn’t go around zapping things with some powerful space gun. He speaks and matter obeys! The scriptures tell us something about this—
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light (Gen. 1:3).
And the Gods ordered…. and it was so, even as they ordered (Abraham 4:7).
For behold, by the power of his word man came upon the face of the earth, which earth was created by the power of his word. Wherefore, if God being able to speak and the world was, and to speak and man was created, O then, why not able to command the earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure? (Jacob 4:9)
O the greatness and the justice of our God! For he executeth all his words, and they have gone forth out of his mouth, and his law must be fulfilled (2 Ne 9:17).
And with righteousness shall the Lord God judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked (2 Ne 30:9)
…I say unto you, if ye speak against it, it matters not, for the word of God must be fulfilled (Alma 5:58).
What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same (D&C 1:38)
And one could go on. The scriptures are full of such statements about the infinite power of the word of God.
You state that Jesus could not perform miracles without the faith of the recipient. Was it the faith of Lazarus who was dead that brought him forth out of the grave? Or was it the faith of the tempestuous waves that caused them to be still when He spoke? Or was it the faith of the 157 fish that swam into the disciples net at His command?
You raise the philosophical point that God never forces anyone to do anything. I wonder if the sons of perdition go willingly to their fate in outer darkness at the request of the Savior? And I wonder if the fig tree mentioned in Mark 11:20 dried up from the roots of its own accord?
Again, I believe the scriptures to be the word of God, and when man’s philosophy or sophistry varies from the revealed word, I count it as chaff driven before the wind.
Gramps
