10 Miracles to Mesa

How Heavenly Father’s Help can get you to the temple!

What you are about to read is entirely true—I know, because I lived it and loved it (but perhaps not in the moment…) I will share very short, completely real miracles that helped me on an epic trek through all of California and Arizona to photograph the completed temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to use for our artwork.  

Sometimes, the craziest stuff is true—and this is both crazy, AND true! Getting lost in the desert, doors miraculously opening, even seeing a stapled plastic butterfly–

 Here’s the countup from 1 to 10… actually, it’s 1-5 First, then 6-10 in the next post…;)

Miracle #1:

Not Minding the Medical…

Right before even conceiving the idea for a 2,000 mile long temple trip by myself, I had suffered a significant injury.  At that moment, the migraines, swelling, and pain down my back was almost unbearable.  I prayed about going on the California/Arizona trip, and the answer was to go… (Tough love, right??) I knew that first, I should probably ask my doctor for the medical “ok” before the flight.  We bought the ticket for just myself, but our whole family extended the faith that Heavenly Father would do the rest—it came right down to less than 24 hours before– waiting for the phone call from the doctor—just to be on the safe side. The phone rang right at 4:59 pm… I hobbled downstairs as fast as I could to pick up that call, and they hung up just as I swiped my smartphone to answer… I was dumbfounded… and yet, I felt in that moment that instead- I needed to answer the call of the Lord- to take that trip, and trust that everything would be ok.  *As it turns out—it was ok! But it definitely took 9 more miracles to make it so!

Miracle #2:

Specter in the Sonoran Desert-

Up until this point, you may have been saying to yourself, “Well Ellie, that story is great, but those are  just personal things you felt from the inside—nothing from the outside…” and I would say to you dear friend… here comes the tangible miracles!!!

 I had been relying on the GPS entirely through the trip, and trekking through the Sonoran Desert was no different.  When all of a sudden, my phone sounded an alarm and started to static out—it said that a lightning storm was coming on my weather app.  I looked at the sky and it was completely clear- then my phone sounded the alarm again and fizzled out—GPS gone…  I looked immediately to my right and saw a large dust devil (like mini tornadoes in the desert) and then a second and third dust devil form on the left.  My car was literally surrounded by these whirlwinds on each side, and my only device for directions was lost—I didn’t know how strong these whirlwinds could be, but they were getting closer and approaching my car. (I have actually been in a storm with three real tornadoes and my car was lifted off the ground repeatedly, so I worried that this was like one of those terrible things that keep happening!)…

I did what any self-respecting Christian would do, and I cried out to my Father in Heaven for help.  I needed a miracle… My mind instantly recalled a feeling– that we can be safe and guarded on the inside- even when things seem vulnerable on the outside… I felt a “peace that surpasseth all understanding…” and as soon as I felt that peace, the largest and closest dust devil was right at my passenger door of the car and turned into a spectral hand shape, as if to grasp at me if it could—But as I drove through it, it dissipated into just sand- nothing more.  The other two dust devils collided with the car towards the rear-driver’s side..but did nothing.  I was completely safe on the inside and the whirlwinds couldn’t harm me.  It reminded me of the spiritual whirlwinds that we can avoid or be safe from when we keep the principles taught by Jesus Christ.  I wasn’t perfect- but I was grateful for that miraculous save! 😉 It reminds me too of Jesus calming the storm for the disciples while on the sea of gallilee. (Luke 8: 22-25) We created an inspirational logo with the realization; “If He’s on the Boat- You’re not going to Sink.” or this product

Miracle #3:

Lost in the Desert

I eventually was able to reach the Snowflake Arizona Temple, and I took my photographs and was happy to be in civilization again so my GPS would start up… But it didn’t.  I went to a local restaurant to ask how to get a signal and was instructed to go to the junction of the next town—the signal was stronger at the gas station at that meeting of two towns, and I was sure to get my GPS back.  I drove to the said gas station, but no signal.  In a flood of realization- I knew my trip was at an end, and I would miss my flight home if I couldn’t find my way!

I prayed in my car, tried again, but no luck with the GPS.  I was very literally lost in the desert with no way to get home! I only had so much money and I couldn’t call my husband (the phone function wasn’t even working either), but I had the thought to go inside and ask the clerk if he knew how to get a signal back.  As I was opening the heavy glass door—two young men in white shirts came in right behind me. I’m sure you could guess who they were—missionaries!!! I may have seemed like a crazy lady, but at this point of desperation—I didn’t care- so I approached the two young missionaries and asked if they knew how to get a signal.  They tinkered with my smartphone and realized they couldn’t get it to work on it’s own, so they connected me with their internet hotspot.  They said it would only last so long…(I knew the signal would probably fizzle out when I drove through the mesas or through the Reservation Land), but I was just so grateful for my GPS back!  To be safe, they took screenshots of the directions to my next location so if the GPS went out, I could use the photos to find my way back to the airport. 

Friends—that tiny internet hotspot lasted me for the next 200 miles—through areas where I had lost my GPS signal before!!!  I have heard it said that missionaries are like angels in white shirts—and after that experience of being lost and alone in the desert and saved by two representatives of the Church… I couldn’t agree more!!!  *Thank you Elders!!!

Miracle #4

Redemption Amongst the Rocks in Gila

On my entire 2,000 mile temple trip, I had one chance to do temple work with my pressing schedule, and I was looking forward to doing temple work for a name that my teenage daughter had printed out for me before I left.  I hadn’t seen the family name before leaving, but I was excited to be inside the lovely Gila Valley Temple- ready to do that work… 

But, it was THAT name!  I couldn’t believe it! 

The name on the card of the person I would do temple work for that day had my maiden name (not surprisingly—they’re family…) but I had NEVER wanted to see that name again my whole life through…

Backstory—I had technically grown up a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but the things I experienced in my home were completely opposite of the teachings of the Church. I didn’t like my maiden name at all—it brought back terrible memories, and yet, there I was, staring at that name in the Gila Valley Temple…  

I know God does things for a reason–  Perhaps this woman had a similar story to me?  Perhaps this was my chance to show love and mercy where love and mercy hadn’t been shown…  Perhaps I needed to realize how much I had been blessed to get to where I was, and offer some help to someone else?…

With a prayer for courage in my heart, I proceeded to do the work for this woman who had that same triggering last name…  When I finished my work, I was led by the most lovely temple worker with the most lovely weathered face to the celestial room… I thought upon that kind woman with the sun-kissed weathered complexion—probably laboring with all her might- all her days- amidst the rocky, parched desert soil to make a living, and I was reminded of how our loving Heavenly Father wants us to work.  He wants us to do difficult things with faith, so that we grow in our trust and understanding of His ways.   

I found redemption amongst the rocks that day—for myself, and for my past.  Because Jesus Christ prepared the way for Salvation, whatever happens or happened is already covered… and if that isn’t a miracle- I don’t know what else is. I hope you can find that deep of a connection with redemption too! We’ve come up with a hard-working logo for those who need the extra “umph” to get through the days where hammering out our own salvation gets tough. Find some inspiration here

Miracle #5

Explosion in my car over the Sierra Nevada Mountains

I was mostly visiting the LDS temples throughout California and Arizona on this specific trip, but I did have Reno Nevada on my plan before I left… I just didn’t realize there was a big ol’ mountain range in between!  I decided to take the better part of valor and just go with it.  Things were going well as I drove my rental car up and over the mountain range, but I kept realizing how much trust I had in this rented vehicle as I got further and further away from civilization… 

When, all of a sudden– a huge explosion happened—inside my car!  I had just passed the highest point of the mountain and was making my way down when I had to halt the momentum and pull to the side of the road.  I thought my rear tire may have burst, but as I inspected the car—it was fine.  I thought maybe a bighorn sheep had collided with the back—but no marks or dents.  I knew I had heard a huge sound, and although the car was fine from the outside- I wondered if something had burst in the engine.  Nothing was smoking or leaking… I got back into the car, (there was still snow on the mountain) and I said a prayer.  I felt that everything was going to be ok… I didn’t understand… but I was trusting in God after all the miracles He had given me.

 I realized it was lunch time so I reached back to the back seat to grab a snack before pulling away- I grabbed my family size bag of white cheddar popcorn—and IT STARTED TO SPILL EVERYWHERE!!!  I laughed out loud to myself as the realization “popped” into my head—the changing air pressure from going over the mountains had caused the air inside the giant popcorn bag to swell, and it was the popcorn bag that had exploded!  It was kind of funny—and yet—I was regretting buying the humongous  family size- as most of the bag of white-dusted popcorn was all over the car… 😉

We made a few versions of gratitude/prayer journals! Check it out here or a General Conference Journal for kids here to document the miracles you have seen!

Share some miracles you have seen in our comments about how the Lord helped you get to the temple. 😉