On Dry Ground (Helaman Ch. 8 & 12)

Moses parting the Red Sea

Throughout the book of Helaman, the prophet Nephi gives many examples of how the Lord has shown His power to His children. In Helaman Chapter 8, Nephi reminds us of God's miracles with the children of Israel, for example their crossing the Red Sea on dry ground.

In Helaman Chapter 12, Nephi again recounts many ways the Lord has and will demonstrate His power to us, including the ability to "dry up the waters of the great deep." This week, I have been thinking of why the Lord used this teaching example. More importantly, I've been reminded of a miracle that-- to me, anyway-- is no less impressive than parting the sea.

Before you hear of my miracle, first let's consider why the Lord uses this example for teaching us. In the case of the Red Sea, He caused a great wind to create a gap in the sea so Moses and the children of Israel could cross it. The Egyptian soldiers, with their swords and horses and chariots, were swallowed up in the depths of the water as they pursued Moses and his people.

This story is amazing, isn't it? It's exciting, and even a little scary to envision those walls of water, towering above you as you faithfully follow the prophet. But to me, the most significant, poignant point of this account is a seemingly small detail that begs the question, why did God make the ground dry?

Think of it... They could have crossed over on damp sand. They could have walked carefully around a few puddles. They could have splashed through an inch or two of ankle-deep water as they walked to safety. But the Lord caused the ground to be dry, as we read in several accounts throughout the Old and New Testament, the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. In all of those accounts, including Nephi's retelling, the ground was dry.

The Lord may have made the ground dry so the Israelites would have more courage in walking between the walls of water. He may have made the ground dry so they could more quickly get across, creating just enough distance between them and the Egyptians as the water came crashing down. Could it be that the dry ground was just an inconsequential little detail or coincidence? I don't think so.

I believe the Lord wanted to demonstrate His absolute power to deliver us, His absolute attention to our lives and our trials, and His absolute ability to get us through them. God made it clear through this event that He is real, and that He loves us, and that He is omnipotent-- the Creator of Earth and Heaven. The Israelites had more trials ahead, and God blessed them with this faith-promoting miracle-- the undeniable delivery across the dry ground. There is no way the children of Israel could have seen this event in any other light.

MRI showing the growth at right

This past year, God gave our family a miracle that is just as powerful as those from the Old Testament days. In February of 2015, just a couple weeks after we moved from the Seattle area to the Portland area, our then-fourteen-year-old son Liam was diagnosed with an unusual growth between his brain and inner cranium. The condition required neurosurgery to repair, and his recovery was slow. He was in the hospital for a week, lying in bed, barely moving after the day-long surgery. He spent several weeks afterward recovering gradually at home.

We were so grateful he was able to get through the surgery and have no problems with the eye which this condition had affected, and that he hadn't had adverse effects prior to the surgery. Doctors were shocked that he had not had dizziness or headaches or problems before his surgery. The condition would have likely soon caused damage to his optic nerve, and probably meningitis. But he'd had no real discomfort before the diagnosis. There were, however plenty of headaches and dizziness as he recovered from surgery, and it was several weeks before we felt okay about him walking around unaccompanied by my wife or me.

We were still grateful for this miracle. He had gotten the diagnosis, received amazing care, and had an incredible surgery to repair the linings around his brain. His neurosurgeon had dealt wonderfully with this issue which she had never seen or heard of ever presenting in a patient this way before, and there was no cancer or malignancy. These were all miracles that were the result of priesthood blessings and prayers and fasting by people all over the U.S and Canada, some of whom we have never even met. But it is only now, almost a year later, that I can see a greater miracle has happened.

Liam recovering in the hospital

Liam had many visits with occupational therapists during his stay in the hospital and for several months afterward. They gave him exercises and tests, and kept us appraised of his progress and challenges. A few months after the surgery, Liam was still having some issues processing and following verbal instructions. The therapists let us know he would likely need someone to accompany him at school all day, making sure he captured all the instructions the teachers gave him. Or, at the very least they could get the teachers to write out all of their instructions especially for Liam, essentially giving him a transcription of what they would talk about at class.

Although I was just heartbroken about how he would probably have to go through high school, potentially with someone walking with him from class to class, I was still grateful. At this point, the Lord had certainly done enough to show us He was mindful, loving and powerful. Our son was safe and healthy and humble and happy. However, the Lord must have really wanted to show us how mindful, loving, and powerful He is. He wanted to show us the "dry ground."

As the summer closed, and as we prayed for Liam's continual improvement, we decided to let him try to go to school on his own, without the accommodation that was recommended. We figured we'd see how bad it was for him, then decide which course of action to take with the therapists once he got started back at school. About five months after his brain surgery, he started high school as a freshman, in a new city in which he'd never attended school.

As Liam began the school year, he worked hard, doing homework every day. He must have checked his online grade tracking every day of that first quarter. He was doing well-- working hard, occasionally bumping into a tough challenge here or there, often having to research topics online at home as he figured out what the teachers needed from him. But he was able to get through that first quarter with the best grades he had ever gotten-- all A's and A-minuses!

Liam today with his sisters

In fact, Liam finished the first semester and is now in his third quarter with a 3.95 GPA for the year-- all A's and one A-minus. He's not taking any special classes, and has had no accommodations. He is working harder than he ever has, and we are prayerful and grateful, and just plain amazed at the way the Lord has blessed him!

I know the Lord does not always just remove obstacles for us, the way He did when parting the Red Sea. I also know that He does not heal every faithful, believing person who has a setback like the one Liam and our family faced. But I do know He chose to show our family His power and love in a way that we could never have expected. He surpassed every hope I had for Liam’s recovery, not only healing Liam and restoring his health, but also blessing him with the capacity, desire and capability of doing things he has never done before, academically and physically.


The Lord got us through this trial, leading us figuratively across dry ground in a way for which we'll be ever grateful. How has the Lord shown you His love and power?