To mortal man the creation of the earth was a mysterious, miraculous work. "God said let there be light and there was light." To the uninspired the production of that light remains a supernatural manifestation of power. From that time to this the Creator has been the same wonder working God.
The Mosaic dispensation opened up with mighty miracles in the land of Egypt. To Israel, for fifteen hundred years, the Lord God was a God of miracles.
Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, well understood the power of the Priesthood as manifested in the history of his fathers, when he said to Jesus, "No man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him;" John 3. 2.
The Jews had faith in miracles as a witness that a man was sent of God. "Many of the people believed on him, and said, when Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?" 7. 31. The Gospel dispensation, like the Mosaic, which preceded it, was one of miraculous manifestations. When Jesus sent out his disciples to preach the Gospel he said to them, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give;" Matt. 10. 8.
The Book of Mormon evidences that the Mosaic dispensation, among the Nephites, was also one of miraculous manifestations. The Gospel dispensation, among them, was preceded and ushered in, by miraculous wonders which involved the destruction of the wicked, and increased the knowledge and faith of those who had the testimony of Jesus.
We have the testimony of the writings of Moses, of the prophets, of ancient Israel on both continents, of both Gospel dispensations as recorded in the New Testament and Book of Mormon, that the God of Israel, and of former day saints, was a God of miracles, of signs, and wonders. We have the testimony of many thousands of Latter-day Saints, that God manifests himself to them as he did to his people anciently.
The Revelation of St. John assures us, that there will be many miraculous manifestations of the power of God in the last days. The sacred records everywhere evidence, that God is a God of miracles. No people can claim to be saints of the Most High without the testimony of miracles.
At the same time there may be miraculous manifestations that are not of God, for in the latter times one of the beasts which John saw, will have power to do great wonders and deceive them that dwell on the earth; Rev. 13. 13, 14.
John also saw the spirits of devils working miracles; 16. 14. The magicians worked miracles in common with Moses and Aaron, but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rod. Thus it will ever be. The devil may have great power over the elements, and over the hearts of men, but the Lord will come off conqueror. The elect will never be deceived for they will discern the difference between the two powers. Whoever is sent of God will work miracles in the name of Jesus, and no man can work miracles in the name of Jesus, "Save he were cleansed every whit from his iniquity;" 3 Nephi 8. 1-3.
There are two classes of miracles. One, manifesting the power of God in the destruction of the wicked, the other a means of preserving, blessing, and confirming the saints in the faith. If there be no faith God can do no miracles; Ether 12. 12. The apostle Paul declared that the power to work miracles was one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit; 1 Cor. 12. 10. Hence we may conclude that this gift will be ever manifest where the Holy Ghost is conferred by the authority of the Holy Priesthood.