17 Miracles
Even if you don’t follow the LDS church beliefs, I highly recommend watching the movie 17 miracles if you’re looking to add a little inspiration to your life. Historically speaking, the film adds a little extra perspective to what these religious pilgrims had to go through while crossing the vast unsettled country of the United States. Emotionally speaking, I suggest you bring a few tissues.
The movie covers the expedition of the Willie Handcart Company of 1856, following Levi Savage and many other inspiring individuals as they struggle to travel to Zion (Utah) where they can be free to worship as their hearts’ desire. Due to the lateness in the season, the pioneers have to push through ice and snow with little food, clothing, and bedding. Only their determination and faith keeps them moving despite the seemingly impossible obstacles in their way.
Interestingly, Filmaker T.C. Christensen states that the 17 in the title is just a number. “I could tell you 25 miracles. Somebody else might watch the movie and say, ‘I don’t know maybe I’ll give you two.” Depending on how you look at it, a miracle could be an act of God, or it could be merely a coincidence. Either way, the events that took place in the film (and in history) are truly extraordinary and inspiring if you take the time to appreciate the courage required to finally reach their goals.
Although I personally stopped counting each and every miracle partway into the moving (and simply enjoyed the overall experience), 17 miracles is a surprisingly moving experience. It demonstrated the love that human kind can toward one another, and though I don’t want to spoil the whole movie for those who hadn’t seen it yet, the self-sacrificing love of children, parents, and couples demonstrated in this movie is enough to rekindle my hope that human kind is not completely given into self-service and greed.
To read more about the film and even see the trailer, you can visit the movie’s website here.
What kind of miracles have you seen today? Make a list and look back on it during times of struggle.