The Leap of Faith After the Miracle: Following the Prophet Today

Brothers and sisters, have you ever stood on the edge of something incredible? Something so obviously miraculous that you could practically reach out and touch it? Like standing at the edge of the Red Sea, looking at those towering walls of water, knowing that the Lord had parted the way for you.

It’s easy to get caught up in the sheer spectacle. It’s easy to think, “Wow, look at this salvation! It’s right here! How cool!” But the lesson that keeps hitting me, the one that feels so vital for us as we strive to be better disciples, is that seeing the miracle isn't the same as walking the path.

The record is clear: the Lord parted the sea, but the Israelites still had a job. They had to *walk* forward. They had to take the leap of faith, follow the prophet, and trust the Lord’s power to sustain them step by step.

The Enemy is Still After Us

This is where the parallels to our lives as Latter-day Saints become so sharp, so necessary. We remember the great deliverance—the Atonement, the temples, the covenants. We know we are saved. We have passed through the gates of death and out of slavery. But as Autumn Dickson so powerfully pointed out, the work isn't done. The enemy is relentless. He is still pursuing us, trying to enslave us again, even when all evidence points to the power of God.

When the Israelites panicked, they looked back at the danger and complained, saying it would be better to be slaves in Egypt than dead in the wilderness. Friends, that temptation whispers to us today. It whispers, “Just sit down. Observe the miracle of your current blessings. Don't move. Don't risk it.”

Taking the Leap

We can look at the amazing covenants we’ve made, the covenants of the temple, or the testimony of the Prophet, and feel overwhelmed by the sheer goodness. We can be tempted to just sit on the beach of our current blessings—the comfort, the routine, the visible protection—and think, “This is salvation enough.” But that’s not the fullness of the gospel. Our job, our sacred calling, is to move forward.

We must be willing to trust the path, even when it looks treacherous. We must be willing to trust the prophet, even when the path ahead seems difficult or uncertain. We have to be willing to move forward in faith, trusting that the power that parted the sea can sustain us on the dry ground of our daily discipleship.

“Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”

This isn't just about surviving the next crisis; it's about actively participating in the ongoing work. It’s about being an internet missionary today, not just when we are on assignment. It's about having the faith to follow the guidance of the Spirit, to engage in our missionary discussions with courage, and to keep learning, keep testifying, and keep moving forward, no matter what the enemy throws at us.

If you feel like you’ve been observing the miracle of your own life—the blessings, the covenants, the strength of your ward—I invite you to do something today: take a small, intentional step of faith. Don't just watch the walls of water; walk through them.

If this message resonated with you, I highly recommend listening to the full podcast episode for more insights from Autumn Dickson on this powerful passage:

As always, remember that we are all disciples on this journey. If you're looking for ways to deepen your study, check out the Social Scripture Study layer in LivingBook, or consider joining a Book Club in HolyPlaces. We learn best together!