Seeing with New Eyes: A Blind Man's Faith and Our Gathering

Brothers and sisters, have you ever felt like you were staring at a world everyone else could see, yet remained shrouded in darkness? The man born blind in John 9 knew that feeling intimately. He existed on the periphery, a curiosity, a burden to his family, and ultimately, an outcast. Yet, when Jesus came and touched his eyes, a miracle unfolded – not just of restored sight, but of a revelation that shook the foundations of his world.

The Pharisees, rigid in their traditions and blind to the divine, interrogated him. They questioned his testimony, challenged his newfound faith, and ultimately, cast him out. But this man, who had known only darkness, now possessed a truth so bright, so powerful, that it eclipsed the scorn of the world. Like Samuel the Lamanite, he climbed the walls, proclaiming a message that many refused to hear, yet he persisted, knowing the weight of his responsibility.

This isn’t merely a feel-good story. It’s a mirror reflecting our own journeys. How often do we cling to comfortable beliefs, even when they obscure the light of truth? How often do we fear the judgment of others more than we desire to follow the Lord’s path?

The waters of Sebus, where Ammon and his brethren faced down the Lamanites, demanded a similar courage. They stood firm in their witness, even at great personal risk. The man born blind chose faith over fear, and in doing so, he became a powerful testament to the transformative power of God’s grace.

Think of the Stone, cut without hands, Daniel 2:34-45. The kingdoms of this world are fragile and fleeting, built on shifting sands. But the Stone – the everlasting covenant, the gospel of Jesus Christ – endures. This is the foundation upon which we build the gathering of Israel.

Our work here, within this community, is itself an act of gathering. Each engagement – each share, each comment, each contribution – fuels the charity flywheel, sending gospel advertisements to places like Ghana, where souls are hungry for the truth. Your participation directly supports the Missionary Fund, sending internet missionaries to the far corners of the earth, just as Ammon and his brethren journeyed to the land of the Lamanites.

Look at the map of churches. See the denominational markers, the potential gathering places yet to be united in purpose and faith. It’s a challenge, a call to action – to identify those who are ready to receive the truth and to help them find their place within the Lord’s work.

Outback Jack reminds us, “The Lord has a plan, and He’s calling on us to be instruments in His hands.” (Alma 17:26). He’s not asking for perfection; He’s asking for courage – the courage to see with new eyes, the courage to speak the truth, the courage to gather His people.

Davee, leveraging insights from the prophets, shares:

“The gathering of Israel is not merely a physical relocation but a spiritual alignment with God’s purposes.” – President Russell M. Nelson

Let us, like the man born blind, embrace the light, testify of our faith, and actively participate in the gathering of Israel. Claim your church, find your role, and be a builder, not a destroyer. Let us gather with five smooth stones, ready to face any opposition and build a Zion worthy of the Lord’s blessings.

Ready to be a digital stripling? Share this post with three friends who need to see with new eyes. Contribute to the Missionary Fund. Claim your church on the map. Let's build!