In humility and great faith, the brother of Jared laid on the ground16 stones molten from rock and knelt in earnest prayer. He asked that the Lord stretch forth His hand and touch the stones, lighting them for the journey across the sea to the promised land. "Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men."

The Lord answered the sincere prayer of the brother of Jared and stretched forth His hand. Then a miraculous thing occurred. "And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear."

When asked by the Lord why he was fallen, the brother of Jared answered, "I saw the finger of the Lord."

The Lord responded: "Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast."

Christians often remind one another, "Have faith." Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel — and the blessings of that faith are available to one individual or to entire lands. Then Elder Thomas S. Monson of the Quorum of the Twelve spoke of the blessings of faith and love during the October 1985 general conference. On that fall morning, Elder Monson, now first counselor in the First Presidency, related: "Ten years ago, on a Sunday morning, April 27, 1975, I stood on an outcropping of rock situated between the cities of Dresden and Meissen [in what was then the German Democratic Republic], high above the Elbe River. I responded to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and offered a prayer of dedication on that land and its people. That prayer noted the faith of the members. It emphasized the tender feeling of many hearts filled with an overwhelming desire to obtain temple blessings.

"Suddenly, from far below in the valley, a bell in a church steeple began to chime and the shrill crow of a rooster broke the morning silence, each heralding the commencement of a new day. Though my eyes were closed, I felt a warmth from the sun's rays reaching my face, my hands, my arms. How could this be? An incessant rain had been falling all morning. At the conclusion of the prayer, I gazed heavenward. I noted a ray of sunshine which penetrated an opening in the heavy clouds, a ray which engulfed the spot where our small group stood. From that moment I knew divine help was at hand."

Elder Monson continued, speaking of the dedication of the Freiberg Germany Temple 10 years later. "At the time of dedication, the attention of the international press was focused on this temple in its unusual setting. Words like 'How?' and 'Why?' were voiced frequently. To understand how, to comprehend why, it is necessary to know the faith, the devotion, the love of the members of the Church in that nation. Though fewer than 5,000 in number, the activity levels exceed those found anywhere else in the world.

"The love which these faithful members have for God, for His Son, Jesus Christ, and for His everlasting gospel is confirmed by their very lives. It is reminiscent of the love demonstrated by the brother of Jared as described in the Book of Mormon. The blessings of a loving, caring and just Heavenly Father simply could not be withheld. Faith preceded the miracle."

In humility and great faith, the brother of Jared laid on the ground 16 stones molten from rock and knelt in earnest prayer. He asked that the Lord stretch forth His hand and touch the stones, lighting them for the journey across the sea to the promised land. "Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men."

The Lord answered the sincere prayer of the brother of Jared and stretched forth His hand. Then a miraculous thing occurred. "And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear."

When asked by the Lord why he was fallen, the brother of Jared answered, "I saw the finger of the Lord."

The Lord responded: "Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast."

Christians often remind one another, "Have faith." Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel — and the blessings of that faith are available to one individual or to entire lands. Then-Elder Thomas S. Monson of the Quorum of the Twelve spoke of the blessings of faith and love during the October 1985 general conference. On that fall morning, Elder Monson, now first counselor in the First Presidency, related: "Ten years ago, on a Sunday morning, April 27, 1975, I stood on an outcropping of rock situated between the cities of Dresden and Meissen [in what was then the German Democratic Republic], high above the Elbe River. I responded to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and offered a prayer of dedication on that land and its people. That prayer noted the faith of the members. It emphasized the tender feeling of many hearts filled with an overwhelming desire to obtain temple blessings.

"Suddenly, from far below in the valley, a bell in a church steeple began to chime and the shrill crow of a rooster broke the morning silence, each heralding the commencement of a new day. Though my eyes were closed, I felt a warmth from the sun's rays reaching my face, my hands, my arms. How could this be? An incessant rain had been falling all morning. At the conclusion of the prayer, I gazed heavenward. I noted a ray of sunshine which penetrated an opening in the heavy clouds, a ray which engulfed the spot where our small group stood. From that moment I knew divine help was at hand."

Elder Monson continued, speaking of the dedication of the Freiberg Germany Temple 10 years later. "At the time of dedication, the attention of the international press was focused on this temple in its unusual setting. Words like 'How?' and 'Why?' were voiced frequently. To understand how, to comprehend why, it is necessary to know the faith, the devotion, the love of the members of the Church in that nation. Though fewer than 5,000 in number, the activity levels exceed those found anywhere else in the world.

"The love which these faithful members have for God, for His Son, Jesus Christ, and for His everlasting gospel is confirmed by their very lives. It is reminiscent of the love demonstrated by the brother of Jared as described in the Book of Mormon. The blessings of a loving, caring and just Heavenly Father simply could not be withheld. Faith preceded the miracle."