Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. (Russell M Nelson, 2018)
Through your faith, Jesus Christ will increase your ability to move the mountains in your life..Only your unbelief will keep God from blessing you with miracles to move the mountains in your life. (April 2021)
In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen. Between now and the time He returns “with power and great glory,”1 He will bestow countless privileges, blessings, and miracles upon the faithful. ..As you make the continual strengthening of your testimony of Jesus Christ your highest priority, watch for miracles to happen in your life.13(October 2022)
Since reading about the ability of faith in Christ to remove mountains and the ability that we each have to directly order the mountains to remove themselves (2021), I have been trying to pay attention to the mountains in my life, how they are removed, and the miracles that are brought to pass.
Following are some of the more memorable examples.
I am going to try to record miracles from now on when I experience them.
Miracle #1
In the Winter of 2021, during the Covid Pandemic, and at a time when missionaries could not reach the original destinations to which they had been assigned, I learned of Elder Stockton Lott, a young missionary originally assigned to the Italy Rome Mission, where Simon was serving, but temporarily reassigned to the Boston MA, Mission.
When Anziano Lott contacted me to possibly set up a daily schedule for Italian lessons, I was elated. It was a magnificent way for me to serve the Lord using my talents and feel close to my son, Anziano Sivers, while he was serving in Rome.
Anziano Lott turned out to be a delightful young man: hardworking, well mannered, humble, desirous to achieve great results, driven, committed to the work, pleasant, cheerful and even good looking. Needless to say, I soon adopted him as my fourth child.
Soon I discovered that Anziano Lott had not submitted his visa application. The travel office of the Church had simply been silent. They had abandoned him in Boston. I think the Boston mission presidency was hesitant to give him any leadership assignment because he was a visa waiter and could have left unexpectedly at any time. In essence, his talent was being wasted.
I contacted President and Sister Smith, of the Rome mission, to ask if they knew anything about his situation and predicament. They really didn't. Then an idea that I had already explored, resurfaced in my mind: have him apply for his visa at the Italian consulate in Boston as now he was a New England resident, just like a local college student is allowed to do. I quickly devised a way to find out from the consulate if this was indeed possible. I bribed a friend with a traditional Amalfi cake to access people at the consulate until I got my answer: what I was thinking was indeed true. All that was needed was a local address and a letter from the mission office confirming that all his utility bills were paid by the mission. Fortunately, Keith Dionne, a long time friend, was in the mission presidency. He helped me obtain such letter in no time.
I then asked Elder Lott to contact the travel office and explain the situation. Permission was granted to apply in Boston. However, we needed paperwork from them which took weeks to arrive. Those weeks were interminable. Nobody knew where those documents were. The Sister at the travel office would not respond to calls or emails. I should add that she did not have a great reputation and was known for creating big messes.
This was about the time when President Nelson promised that through faith we can remove mountains. I studied that scripture, and it became clear to me that I had the power to order the mountain to remove itself. I then proceed to say a prayer and order the Sister in question, by name, to remove herself out of my way so I could help Elder Lott.
The following day, when I made another attempt to call the travel office, I was told that the Sister had been moved to another department and that now there was a new person I should talk to. The new Sister was easy to reach, accommodating and ready to work with me.
Within a few weeks, the documents arrived and Anziano Lott was able to present his visa application in June 2021 and leave for Rome at the beginning of August, just in time to meet Anziano Sivers who was getting ready to return home within two days.
I am so proud of Anziano Lott and the incredible work he had to do to serve the Lord in two missions under four different mission presidents. A challenging task in the middle of a worldwide pandemic which he overcame with dedication and contagious enthusiasm. He is an amazing young man!
Miracle #2
Since moving to 54 Campbell Road in Wayland, I have hated the house. I won't go into the details now. It's sufficient to say that I greatly dislike it. However, buying another house is an unsurmountable obstacle: financially it is simply not possible as no bank will give us a loan given the weird income situation we face through Mark's work. As an independent professional, the income is never really stable and is unpredictable, something a bank doesn't like to see.
Regardless, we have gone to see homes from time to time, if only just to dream that we could move closer to the city in a community where we can actually have human interactions. We have seen new homes, old homes, crumbling homes with ridiculous price tags, mostly in Belmont - where we long to be. Nothing has ever transpired.
For the last year, we have been working more closely with the missionaries in our ward, trying to help and support them in their efforts. We have come to the realization that the city of Waltham is where they find the greatest percentage of new friends. However, even if they join the church, these people quickly fall away: reaching the Chapel in Weston is impossible without a car. Most of these people are immigrants and rely on public transportation to move around. There is no public service between Waltham and Weston.
It is evident to me that a branch of the church needs to be established in Waltham. I have asked the Lord if this is indeed true. I have not received a clear answer but have offered Him our availability and desire to work towards that direction if it is His will.
In September 2022, a few new construction homes became available in desirable areas of Waltham. We visited the neighborhoods, evaluated pros and cons, dreamed...but money was always an issue.
On a Thursday in September, I showed Mark the listing of a new house on the market in Waltham and asked him to schedule an appointment to go see it on the following Saturday while I would be out of town for the day with friends. He went and told me that he loved the house in all its features (which doesn't happen often). We went back to see it together the next day, during a Sunday open house. The builder and owner was there and gave us a detailed tour. Mark was even more impressed.
As I was standing in one of the bedrooms, I gazed outside the window. I could see the neighbors' back yards, a swimming pool, trees. Nothing really glamorous but for a moment I saw it through Eleni's eyes and a voice in my head said "Eleni will love it here!" Tears came running down my cheeks. I had to hide from Mark for a moment. But I quickly sent the voice and those happy thoughts away. It could never happen! This was the most expensive home we had seen so far. No bank would ever give us a loan.
We came home, thinking. I suppose I was thinking of the missed opportunity but Mark must have been thinking of the possibilities! Loving the house meant finding a way. And he did. He realized we could borrow money from our pension fund and pay it back on monthly installments.
Not knowing beforehand how things would exactly work out, we proceeded in faith. We made an offer. It was accepted. Within less than a week we put 54 Campbell Road in order, took photos, posted the listing online, had an open house and received an offer of $220 thousand above asking price. A miracle indeed!
The miracle continues with every box we pack. Just the two of us have been able to pack an entire house with no stress, minimum effort and with peace in our hearts. We are literally those talked of in this verse "But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)
This miracle will essentially allow us to buy the new home for about $300 more compared to what we paid for our current home. I don't know if we are moving to lead the effort to create a branch in Waltham but we are certainly willing and excited at the prospect. I know God will direct our path as we act in faith and observe our covenants with Him.
