BYU law professor Elysha Dishman spoke at a BYU Devotional this morning about the healing power of community and its role in the miracles of Jesus Christ.
Drawing from personal experience and scripture, Dishman taught that miracles often happen through communities centered on the Savior.
Dishman began by sharing her family’s experience navigating her daughter’s chronic health condition. During a visualization exercise at a workshop, she found herself mentally returning to the south campus trail overlooking the Botany Duck Pond.
Throughout her daughter’s healing journey, Dishman said community became an important source of strength and restoration.
“Restoration — whether of the gospel or of a person — can be painful and challenging, but also glorious and miraculous,” she said. “And community is woven through every moment of that journey.”
She centered her remarks on three ways community is reflected in Christ’s healing miracles.
“My prayer is that wherever you are on your healing journey, the Spirit will whisper to you that you are a beloved child of Heavenly Parents and that you are a valued member of this community,” Dishamn said.
Miracles of community restoration
Dishman taught that Christ restored more than physical health — He restored people to their communities.
She referenced the man at the pool of Bethesda, who had suffered for 38 years and could not reach the healing waters on his own. After Christ healed him and told him to “take up thy bed, and walk,” the man was no longer isolated from those around him, as he could now go join the community in the water.
“A community that isolates its vulnerable members is itself in need of healing,” Dishman said.
Miracles prompted by community members
Dishman also emphasized the role family members and friends play in bringing others to Christ.
She recounted the story of Jairus, whose daughter was dying. After Jairus sought out Jesus, he learned his daughter had already died before the Savior arrived. Christ encouraged him to continue having faith before raising the young girl from the dead.
“We can bring our friends to Jesus by inviting them to spiritual experiences,” she said. “We can bring Jesus to our friends by sharing our testimonies, listening compassionately and offering kindness.”
Miracles of community abundance
Dishman concluded by discussing the scriptural accounts of Christ feeding the five thousand and the four thousand. She explained that in both miracles, crowds gathered to hear Christ teach and to be healed and through the faith of the people and the blessings of the Savior, there was enough to feed everyone.
“These miracles are not just about bread and fish. They are about what becomes possible in a community gathered around the Savior,” she said. “They are miracles of the multitude.”
Dishman closed by encouraging students to take full advantage of the BYU community, connection and belonging.
“You will miss the full benefit of a BYU education if you pursue only the ‘education’ part and skip the ‘BYU’ part — the community, the connection, the belonging that is central to attending this university.”
