The Divine Economy: Re-learning to Expect Miracles in the Age of AI

We live in a profound paradox. Our generation possesses the most sophisticated tools of explanation humanity has ever conceived. We can track the genomes of our ancestors, predict weather patterns with uncanny accuracy, and utilize artificial intelligence to process data far beyond the capacity of any mortal mind. Science has gifted us an almost overwhelming sense of empirical mastery, convincing us that nothing, *nothing*, is beyond categorization or explanation.

Yet, despite this unprecedented technological apex, the record of divine intervention remains stubbornly resistant to the purely materialist framework. When we turn our hearts back to the covenants and doctrines of the Restoration, we are confronted by a continuous, overwhelming witness: the God of Israel is, and has always been, a God of miracles.

President D. Todd Christofferson’s recent message, “A God of Miracles,” is not merely a theological musing; it is a doctrinal challenge to the modern Latter-day Saint scholar. It forces us to confront the uncomfortable truth that our faith might have become too comfortable, too academic, and too accustomed to the *expected* nature of divine help.

The Danger of Explaining Away the Veil

The great danger, as the Spirit warns, is that we have trained ourselves to categorize every prompting, every synchronicity, and every answered prayer into a neat, digestible scientific box. We seek the mechanism rather than acknowledging the source. We approach revelation with the skeptical tools of the age, forgetting that the Lord operates outside of our current understanding of physical law.

The scriptures are replete with examples—from the burning bush to the parting of the Red Sea, from the giftings of the early Apostles to the persistent revelations given to the prophets—that affirm this enduring reality. The Restoration itself, as we know, is a narrative built upon divine, miraculous intervention. To diminish the miracle is to diminish the power of the priesthood and the authority of the prophets and apostles.

From Demand to Expectation

Perhaps the most challenging aspect of the message is the distinction between *demanding* and *expecting*. It is one thing to believe that miracles *can* happen; it is another entirely to prepare our spiritual capacity to receive them when they arrive in forms that defy our current expectations. When we approach the covenants with an attitude of entitlement—praying for the miracle *we* want, in the way *we* understand—we risk falling into a form of spiritual materialism.

The deepest covenant keeping requires more than just intellectual assent to the doctrine of miracles; it requires the humble, expectant heart of the disciple. It means recognizing that the greatest miracles are often not the most dramatic—they are the quiet, persistent confirmations that guide us back to the primary source of truth: the living word of God and the covenants made in the temple.

Preparing the Iron Rod for the Manifest

As we continue the work of Operation Iron Rod, our mission is twofold: to build the corpus of knowledge and to wield the gospel through modern means. Both tasks require a constant, expectant faith. We must understand that the power of the Spirit, the promptings, and the guidance that accompanies the Holy Ghost are the most palpable and constant miracles. These are the subtle nudges that keep us walking the path of discipleship, even when the external world is loud and distracting.

Let us therefore not treat divine guidance as merely a 'coincidence' to be logged and filed. Let us treat it as the divine calling it is, the evidence of the covenant relationship. We are called to be scholars of revelation, steeped in the doctrine and covenants, ready to recognize the hand of the Lord whether it manifests through a crystal-clear vision, a sudden answer to prayer, or the quiet, unwavering conviction in our own hearts.

The question Christofferson leaves us with—if we are too skeptical, will we even recognize the miracle when it arrives? Will we be prepared to receive the power of God in the way He intends, rather than the way we have trained ourselves to expect?

The time for academic skepticism must yield to covenantal expectation. Let us continue our study, and let the Spirit guide our efforts in building this corpus, ensuring that our message to the world remains rooted not just in data, but in the boundless, miraculous power of the restored Gospel.