Of course it is wonderful when someone survives a traumatic experience such as this. And yet I wonder why people call it á miracle?' How often do you read about plane crashes and those who survived all say that it was a miracle and that prayer saved them. In reality even the dead were praying and now that they are dead they cant say that prayer saved them. I'm not being funny here I am simply saying that only the survivers see the miracle while those who die dont get a say in it. At the end of the day which seat you were sitting in at that particular time DECIDES who will be the next miracle!

Just luck.

Man alive!

"Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh".
when you face death, you are in the strongest position to SPEAK THE TRUTH.
No one has a right to judge another persons testimony. It stands on it's own and only God can see the whole picture.
Since God IS IN CHARGE OF ALL OF THIS, AND ALL OF OUR LIVES, let us remember, it matters not what happens or how it happens...as long as we are following the Lord Jesus Christ with ALL our efforts...doing all we can do each hour, keeping the guidence of the Holy Ghost...which tells us in 2 Nephi, 32...."will show us all things what we should do". The Atonement is such a massive miracle for those you believe and receive this GREAT gift. Mortal life is just Part of our experience and testing. Trust God, Don't judge. Spend our time concentrating on IF WE are loving God and developing a relationship.
Love to all. HE loves us with an unconditional and forgiving love...ALWAYS.

What I fail to understand is why people decide to make stupid comments like the one posted at 12:24 a.m. Who are you to question what this man calls a miracle? Are you the authority on miracles and why some live and others die? Keep your inane comments to yourself and find something else to do with your time.

A miracle is in the eye of the beholder. Here we have a horrific crash with apparently some pretty good people loosing their lives.

The fact that Dad didn't perish in the crash or remain unconscious in the aftermath is important fact 1. Two farmers heard his cries for help is fortuitous fact 2. The plane cracking open where Dan was sitting so his cries for help could be heard is lucky coincidence #3. That the farmers were close enough to hear him and able to pull him from a hole could be 4 and 5. That three others made it out of the plane, two of which survived makes 6, 7, and almost 8.

Miracles are not universally agreed upon by all observers to be miracles. There are always explanations of how things happened, what factors came into play. And there will remain unanswered questions as to why me and not someone else.

We can choose to see and acknowledge the hand of God in our lives, or we can choose to ignore it. In one case, it may serve to prompt us to be better people, and devote our lives more fully to serving others; or maybe not.

What you decide is a miracle is a very personal decision. According to the dictionary, a "miracle is a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency. A highly improbable or extraordinary event, development or accomplishment that brings very welcome consequences."
According to these definitions, this man truly experienced a miracle. A "spiritual miracle" is also determined by the receiver and not to be judged by others whether it was or was not a miracle. I believe this man recognizes and gives his gratitude to God, his maker, for his life and that life in itself is a blessing and a miracle.

To one who has just experienced something so horrible, it is nothing short of a miracle to have survived. Our Father in Heaven is watching over us. If we have work left to do, he will provide a way for us to survive through whatever is sent our way. Miracles happen all around us. The miracle is that in the end that was the seat in which he had sat for the flight and that the farmers were able to help them. Maybe even his being 'low' did save his life. Without that combination of factors, it's likely he, and the others would have died as well. Nothing short of a miracle. From any point of view.

There are too many idiots in this world whos only desire is to belittle and tear down everyone else. If you want to snake at the bottom of the ocean that is fine, but don't drag the rest of us down with you.

He, in theory, shouldn't have been pulled off that plane alive. How many people around him died? Why don't you ask his family if it's a miracle? I would consider it one!!!

The fact that any of you question that miracles happen makes me think you all really need to get a clue and a life. Miracles happen everday. The fact that others were killed and he survived is a miracle in itself. Some are meant to go earlier than others and God preserves others to finish their mission here on earth. Those of you who constantly feel the need to post negative comments on this site regarding anyone who believes in any type of religion etc. obviously is bitter, hateful and will have a real eye opening experience one day. I am so happy for him and his family and wish him a quick recovery. I also want to send out my deepest sympathy to those family members of those who lost thier lives.

If you had this crash WITH God performing a "miracle" and set it side by side next to this crash WITHOUT God performing a "miracle", the two would be indistinguishable.

When "the faithful" insist that God is in charge and loves us, and "some are meant to go," their explanation is indistinguishable from the explanation that luck and good fortune saved some and not others.

If you believe in God, you believe that God saved this man while killing everyone else. Why would God do that unless he is capricious and random?

If you do not believe in God, you believe that the capriciousness and randomness of nature "saved" this man and killed all the others.

So what you believers are saying is that you have anthropomorphized the caprice and randomness in nature and you worship it by calling it God!

I would rather believe that Nature, not God, is capricious and random.

I think the first commenter was merely pointing out the inconsistency and lack of logic in what we often call miracles. Was it a "miracle" that all the others died? Was God demonstrating some divine intervention to let them all die when they did and in the way they did? Why is THAT any less of a miracle?

This is clearly a miracle. He as there and he knows what happened. He knows that God took a hand in his life. As for the others, it was their time to go. It obviously wasn't his time. God makes those decisions. To those who have a relationship with God, it is obvious that this was a miracle. To those who don't, no amount of heart-felt testimony will suffice. Their hearts are too hardened.

Oh, Lizzie!! You will be missed so much! We have loved you since your days at Butler Elementary!

Sharon in TN:
If God is in charge of EVERYTHING, why does he let 3 billion people suffer in absolute poverty and filth?
Free agency and control are mutually exclusive. Either we have agency or we don't. God cannot give us agency and at the same time control our lives.
The fact that this guy survived was blind luck, nothing more.
Are the families of the victims allowed to blame God since he clearly took their lives?

"Coincidence simple means God chooses to remain anonymous." Miracles happen everyday if we take the time to recognize them. To Debate or give Thanks is the question?

If you are a survivor of a tragedy like this, the most insulting thing to tell the families and friends of those who died is that YOUR life being saved is a miracle!

It is conceited and vain to believe that God prefers you above the others. It adds blasphemy to your conceit and vanity to believe that somehow your superior prayers or faith or righteousness earned you the right to survive! God is no respector of persons. He does not play favorites like that, and cannot be bought by making deals with him.

When Titanic went down, the wealthy were in the top floors while the poor were below the water line. Many many more poor people died than rich people. The rich survivors claimed that they were saved by "miracles", but we all know better.

People always talk about death as if it is some horrible thing. It is really sad for those left behind who miss their loved one, but it is not horrible in and of itself. To die quickly without suffering is a great blessing and to be with those who have passed on before and with God is wonderful. Knowing this can be a great comfort to their loved ones who will need help and time to mourn. My heart goes out to them and hope they will be surrounded by love and feel peace.

Ernest T. Bass clearly doesn't understand the principle of "free agency."

Wow, what a horrific experience for all involved. Had I survived this crash, I would never deny the miraculous gift God gave me in sparing my life, no matter how many cynics and naysayers tried to twist it through their limited perspective. And some day, we'll all have a much different perspective of this thing we call death, and realize that God took compassionate care of each of His children that perished, too.

Wealth and power have nothing to do with being saved. It is a miracle that those three folks were saved. However those that perished were giving service to their fellow man, which is the most Christ like act that any one can give. They are in a better place and have their souls are at rest. It is the rest of us living that have to continue to fight the good fight.. See the big picture!

Earnest t bass- do you just troll these stories looking for a chance to bash on people who believe in God and miracles? I see you on every one of these stories that i happen to read. Time to get a life and realize that people don't believe the same as you. You're not convincing anyone.

May this man live to earn what he was blessed to recieve, and may the families of those who didn't make it be comforted.

Faith in What?

You nailed it.

Amen, brother.

I for one would consider death a miracle. Why because it is only for a brief moment. I thank God for the miracle of the Atonement of Jesus Christ who brought about the resurrection.

For those who left life we call mortality... I hope and pray they hear the words, well done.. my faithful servant enter into my rest!!!

I think what the gentleman is trying to express when he says "it's a miracle" is that 1) he can't explain why he's alive, and 2) he's grateful for the fact even though he's pained by his friends' deaths. Figuring out why one person lives while others die is usually an impossible task best left to divine providence. Our task is to make use of the time we have and to serve those who have been left behind.

To Anonymous at 8:10 AM:

Why do you assume that because someone lives it means that they are favored by God? Have you ever considered that perhaps those who died were more favored by God and he believed they were ready to meet Him? Perhaps those who lived needed more time until they too could be favored by God.

We don't really know why some live and some die.

That could possible be the worst post of all time on the DesNews forum!! You will have builders and wreckers in life-it is easy to spot who is who on these posts. Let the wreckers continue to be angry at the world and their lot in life. The builders will continue to be happy and be a shining light in the lives of people around them!

Wow! He survived! That is FANTASTIC. Enough said.

It’s a miracle that Dan can be with us. It’s a miracle that there is more to this story than death. Jesus Christ’s love, life and resurrection are all miracles. Perhaps the greatest miracle is someone can face death so calmly, “if it’s our time to go, it’s our time to go”, knowing that the miracle of Christ’s life and mission provides for this moment completely. The greatest miracle for me lies in knowing God’s wisdom and mercy doesn’t leave Dan in the hospital questioning why he survived, or the people who died buried in the ground with no future or their families without comfort as they seek it. When will we realize that a loving God can love us completely and reconcile all our questions and our pain? We are the ones that are seeing through a glass darkly, not Him.

Someone once said, "If everything is a miracle, then nothing is."

I agree.

My sympathies go out to the families of those who died in this crash.

My sympathies also go out to those who will delude themselves into believing their survival was a miracle.

A few years back there was a horrible crash involoving a medivac helicopter. Only one man survived. His name is Stein Rozqvist. If you ask him I'm sure he could enlighten us on what it must be like to survive when others died.

The world and a lot of posters on this thread choose to bring out the contention and negativity of this event to stir up emotions to fi their own selfish needs. I, however, believe that amongst all the immediate tragedy of this singular event, many more postive things will blossom. The rallying of families, communities, and people in general during events like this give me hope that human beings are genuinely good and want to perpetuate positive results amidst this kind of tragedy.

It is very easy to blame God for all that happens during adverse events. However, maybe we can all stop blaming God and look at what we can do to help the situation.

This man has survived a complete tragedy. What would we do in the same situation? I wonder sometimes at the motives of people who choose not to look at both sides before they sound off.

Makes you think, huh..........

Why does everything have to be about religion or politics?
Many of the people aboard this plane were friends, and i find it odd and vain that people are taking the time to make this all about themselves and their beliefs and argue over whether any of this was a miracle or not. What happened to these people is aweful, and i believe the more important thing we all need to do is keep them and their familys in our hearts and prayers and continue to provide support to anyone who needs it. As for my comments, i would like to tell the families that my thoughts and prayers are with them always and that together we will all make it through.

Anonymous, you are wrong. God is no respector of persons "where his love is concerned". He is the father of us all and he does love us ALL the same regardless of our parentage,religion, color or heritage. He does have his standards though and we are expected to live them. Liken it to our own parents. They love us equally but if we are disobedient children and choose to back away from their teachings, who
do you think is closer to them? The love is still there, but the closeness is not. It isn't conceited or vain to believe God feels closer us when we do what is right. Aren't we the same? Don't we feel closer to those that do good in this world? Prayers and righteous living make us better people. What is wrong with that. Miracles are sometimes granted to us for reasons we don't always understand. They really are miracles. God is not bought, but he can play favorites as you see if you read the Bible. Those who didn't play by his rules were drowned in the days of Noah.

Dan: We are so grateful for your safety. Marge and Jeff Clayton told me about your miraculous survival. Thanks for sharing the details about Javier and Walfred. They were good friends. I posted a tribute to them at davidgwoolley dot blogspot dot com. If you feel like leaving a note to them, I'm sure family and friends would appreciate anything you are able to share. All the best.

David G. Woolley

Two of the passangers who died were dear friends of mine. Their children left behind are also dear friends. Is it a miracle that Dan survived? Yes it is. But in my opinion it's a miracle that the others died instantly and didn't suffer. Thank you Dan, for bringing peace to many troubled hearts.

Dan also ought to thank those poor Guatemalan farmers who saved his life.

About 50 years ago I was one of three survivors of about 30 passengers of a DC3 the crashed on take-off. The rear of the plane where the last 3 seats were, broke off. I was too quick and I was 17 and "immortal", but being in a plane looking at the seats in front of me and then seeing open sky from my seat was an interesting.

It was a miracle. God preserved me for the rest of my life, in which I have accomplished a few small but important things. Wife, children, mission, military service and etc.

I never quit flying and managed to do about 2000 hours on a private license. Life is good, God and his Son are still patient with me.

The sad fact is that all these nasty naysaysers on these blogs are, in reality, spiritual pygmies. Since they have no understanding, enlightenment, illumination or faith, they think that trying to destroy someone else's faith is somehow clever and intellectual. They are pathetic, bitter people.

I hope, for their sakes, the time will come when they are willing to find hope and faith. If they do, they will have the strength necessary to navigate through life's trials. If they don't, they will die bitter and sad. Of course, that's when they will finally face the reality of God.

"Every knee shall bend and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ." I pray for all these people that they will find hope, faith and peace.

First off there isn't such a thing as a person who doesn't belive in GOD. Most athiest that I know all of a sudden belive in GOD when they are looking death in the face. As one athiest pointed out, "I don't have time in my life to believe in GOD".

Second, agency is not free! We have a right to choose but we DO NOT get to pick the consequence good or bad.

There is no point in trying to convince people (who do not have time in there life to worship GOD) that miracles do happen. It is sad however that those kind of people go through life without being able to believe in something that is so wonderful and so powerful as GOD.

Your argument is quite sound. Its validity, founded upon the very well known and repeatedly proven fact that there is no metaphysical, post-death state let alone a "heaven," is obviously inscrutable. And given that there is undoubtedly no further existence after death, the pinnacle of an individual's existence will be discovered during one's lifetime as we know it. Thus God, I mean nature, must be capricious and random. Everything a man ever was or every will be is taken from him at death....

Please go back to philosophy 101. I'm happy to recognize someone's observation that others are worshipping a God that MAY BE nothing more than the random machinations of a complex existence. But, I'm happy to recognize elements within life's happenings that CAN SERVE as evidence of a higher power. If there is a higher power, could it be that man has not yet attained full understanding of the extent and reach of our existence? In this scenario, would a higher power's seeming lack of intervention in the lives of those who died be viewed as ultimately capricious and random? Just some food for thought. There is no proof but perhaps reason to believe. God bless these families.

Whether you believe in God or Not... That our own right to do which ever we want... I'm glad I live here in a country that I can read others comments, whether I agree or not... for the most part I think we all agree that were all touched by the events of what happened and I'm glad we have eye witness to tell us the detail so the families can comforted by any mean they can be.........My prayers go out to the all the families involved............

If Mr Liljenquist says it's a miracle, so be it! He was there, experienced it and lived to tell the story.

Orin said "If everything is a miracle, then nothing is."

Well, actually we are surrounded by miracles daily but we mostly refuse to see them. Only when you have been brought to the brink of death do you start to really appreciate what a miracle life is. Personally, I believe each breath is a gift from God, and have thought so for the past 13 years.

Rather than characterize Dan's survival as a miracle, maybe it would be better to characterize it as a gift. Sadly, many others on the plane were not given the same gift, but that does not diminish the value of the gift he has received. It would have been easy enough for no one to have survived that horrific wreck; for no one to have received the gift.

To those who have lost loved ones, what a tragic loss. Dan provided the gift in knowing that they were not subjected to the pain and suffering that we all fear.

God watches over all of us. Sometimes when a person prays for continued life, He says, no, I need you home now. I have missed hugging you for too long. Dan will have to wait.

God allows some of his children to suffer temporal predations 1) because he has an eternal perspective and 2) to test them and 3) to test us. See Job and Sermon on the Mount.

The fact that some of the bloggers on this page are smart enough to log onto a computer is a true miracle. pretty lame comments. Everyone looks at death as a terrible thing - wrong! It's a graduation. If you could only ask the people who didn't make it out.....I think you'd find that it's all part of the plan. My good friend died of asphyxiation on his mission in Bolivia. People say - what a tragedy. I read a blessing he received only months before his death that said "some people are called out of this life early in preparation for the coming of the Lord". The way I look at it..... it's all good. :o)

Ok, so why don't miracles happen for the 3 billion (thats 3,000,000,000) people who live on less than $2 every day? Does God hate them?
How about the tens of thousand who starve to death every day. Does God ignore their need for miracles?
And yes, I have a firm grasp on the concept of agency. I'm intelligent enough the know that you cannot have agency while believing God controls what happens to us. Sound like you're the one who needs a philosophy course.

A man survives a terrible, horrible plane crash, he is interviewed by a newspaper reporter, he says what is in his heart. (I can't imagine watching anyone die in a plane crash let alone friends). Then 40 plus people attack this poor man for his words and his feelings, while he is still in the hospital trying to recover. His emotional scars will probably never heal, and people are bashing what he feels to be true. Let you without the first sin throw the first rock. I hope this man and his family live well. If he feels it was a miracle then so be it. Judge not that ye be not judged!

I didn't read all the comments because you all got so sucked into the "miracle" comment that started this out, that you have ignored what matters here.

I want to express my sympathy to the family of those who passed away in this tragic accident. I respect and admire that these people were in the act of service, I believe that they earned their reward. I hope that the three survivors will heal and that they will find comfort and strength as they move forward.

Two fatal small plane accidents in a weeks time, related to Utah is such a tragedy, my heart goes out to all those who are hurting at this time.