Romulus Toro is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Fiji. He is also a member of the Fiji Interfaith Search Group which gathers regularly to discuss faith topics.
Romulus-Toro's-family.
The Toro family. Romulus (left) with his wife Annie Catherine and their son, Romulus Koster.2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.On Wednesday, 12 July 2023, the Suva, Fiji based group met on the topic “Miracles as in our Scriptures.”
Each religious affiliate presented a paper of one page only, followed by discussion on each paper. Toro presented using examples from the scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"Part of my role as a member of the group is to help clarify and answer any questions, so that everyone can gain a better understanding and appreciation for my religious beliefs," Toro said.
"As a member of the group, I enjoy getting to know members of different faiths and gaining a better understanding of their religion," he continued. "I have made some friendships that I have come to cherish.
"There is a mutual respect among participants despite the differences in beliefs and opinions. I look forward to future meetings with the Interfaith Search Group."
Excerpts from his presentation follow:
The Book of Mormon is one of the canonised scriptural texts for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There are many miracles in the Book of Mormon amongst the Nephites and Lamanites (the two main groups of people that are mentioned in the Book of Mormon) These miracles are all centred in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer.
In the beginning of the Book of Mormon a prophet Lehi is commanded to flee Jerusalem having been warned by the Lord that it would be destroyed due to the wickedness of the Israelites. As Lehi takes his family into the wilderness the Lord commands Lehi to send his sons back to Jerusalem to gather a record of their history, genealogy and scriptures. These are contained in a set of brass plates kept with a man called Laban.
Their third oldest son, Nephi, is eager to fulfil this command despite the dangers. His older brothers Laman and Lamuel murmur at the task ahead. In an attempt to exchange their property and wealth for the brass plates, Laban tries to kill Nephi and his brothers, and takes hold of their wealth. In their anger, Laman and Lamuel begin to hit Nephi with a rod.
An angel appears to them and promises that the brass plates will be delivered to them as recorded in the first book of Nephi in 1 Nephi 3:29 “And it came to pass as they smote us with a rod, behold, an angel of the Lord came and stood before them, and he spake unto them, saying: Why do ye smite your younger brother with a rod? Know ye not that the Lord hath chosen him to be a ruler over you, and this because of your iniquities? Behold ye shall go up to Jerusalem again, and the Lord will deliver Laban into your hands.”
The climax of the Book of Mormon is the visitation of our Saviour Jesus Christ in His resurrected form to the Nephites and Lamanites. This occurred approximately 600 years from the time Lehi left Jerusalem and settled on the American continent. This is a testament of God’s love for His children as He promised in the New Testament:
“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (John 10:16).
While visiting the Nephites and Lamanites He performed many miracles which we read in 3 Nephi to name a few:
Healing the "lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner" (3 Nephi 17:7–10).
Providing bread and wine as emblems of His sacrifice and death to the multitude despite not bringing either with him (3 Nephi 20:3–7).Allowing three of His called twelve disciples in the Book of Mormon to preach His gospel on the earth until His Second Coming and the other nine to not experience death but live until the age of 72 and be taken "up to His kingdom" (3 Nephi 28:1–23).
The coming forth of the Book of Mormon has been made possible through miracles and faith of prophets like Nephi. The Book of Mormon provides further light on how the Atonement [of Jesus Christ] makes it possible for us to be cleansed from sin and live with our Heavenly Father someday.
A Book of Mormon prophet Moroni wrote, “And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore, they first believed in the Son of God” (Ether 12:18).
Miracles occur according to God’s will. They are an expression of Heavenly Father’s love for His children.