Gospel Principles
Unit 6: The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Chapter 22: The Gifts of the Spirit
Comments and Resources

Spiritual Gifts
President George Q. Cannon stated:

"How many of you, my brethren and sisters, are seeking for these gifts that God has promised to bestow?  How many of you, when you bow before your Heavenly Father in your family circle or in your secret places, contend for these gifts to be bestowed upon you? ...There is not that seeking for the gift of healing and for the gift to be healed that there ought to be among the Saints.  And so with other gifts and graces that God has places in His Church for His people...
"Let us seek for these gifts ...and let us seek for them with all our might, mind and strength."  (Millennial Star, 23 Apr. 1894, pp 260-61.)

"By The grace of God - following devotion, faith, and obedience on man's part - certian speical spirtual blessings called gifts of the Spirit are bestowed upon men...  They are signs and miracles reserved for the faithful and for none else....

"There pupose is to enlighten, encourge, and edify the faithful so that they will inherit peace in ths life and be guided toward eternal life in the world  to come.  There presence is proff of the Lord's work; where they are not found, there the Church and kingdom of God is not....

"Faithful persons are expected to seek the gifts of the Spirit with all their hearts"  (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 314)



During the study of this topic, we will learn what the gifts of the Spirit are, how they benefit mankind, and how they are acquired.

Resources:
Gospel Principles, chapter 22.
The Articles of Faith, chapter 12.

Scriptures :
Mormon 9:7-11, 24-25
  7 And again I speak unto you who deny the revelations of God, and say that they are done away, that there are no revelations, nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking with tongues, and the interpretation of tongues; 
  8 Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them. 
  9 For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing? 
  10 And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles. 
  11 But behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. 
      "  "  "
  24 And these signs shall follow them that believe in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover; 
, doubting nothing, unto him will I confirm all my words, even unto the ends of the earth. 

Moroni 7:33-37; 10:7-17
Moroni 7:33-37
  33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me. 
  34 And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved. 
  35 And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased? 
  36 Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved? 
  37 Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain. 


Moroni 10:7-17
  7 And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever. 
  8 And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them. 
  9 For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom; 
  10 And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 
  11 And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 
  12 And again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles; 
  13 And again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things; 
  14 And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits; 
  15 And again, to another, all kinds of tongues; 
  16 And again, to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues. 
  17 And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as he will. 


D&C 46; 84:64-72
D&C 46  
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to the Church, at Kirtland, Ohio, March 8, 1831. HC 1: 163 165. In this early time of the Church, there had not yet developed a unified pattern for the conducting of Church services. However, a custom of admitting only members and earnest investigators to the sacrament meetings and other assemblies of the Church had become somewhat general. This revelation expresses the will of the Lord relative to governing and conducting meetings. 
1-2, Elders are to conduct meetings as guided by the Holy Spirit; 3-6, Truth seekers should not be excluded from sacramental services; 7-12, Ask of God and seek the gifts of the Spirit; 13-26, An enumeration of some of these gifts; 27-33, Church leaders are given power to discern the gifts of the Spirit. 


D&C 84:64-72
  64 Therefore, as I said unto mine apostles I say unto you again, that every soul who believeth on your words, and is baptized by water for the remission of sins, shall receive the Holy Ghost. 
  65 And these signs shall follow them that believe 
  66 In my name they shall do many wonderful works; 
  67 In my name they shall cast out devils; 
  68 In my name they shall heal the sick; 
  69 In my name they shall open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf; 
  70 And the tongue of the dumb shall speak; 
  71 And if any man shall administer poison unto them it shall not hurt them; 
  72 And the poison of a serpent shall not have power to harm them. 


Mark 5; 9; 16
Mark 5 
      Jesus casts out a legion of devils, who then enter the swineA woman is healed by touching his clothesHe raises Jairus daughter from the dead.

Mark 9 
      Jesus is transfigured on the mountainHe casts out a dumb and deaf spiritHe teaches concerning his death and resurrection; who shall be greatest; and the condemnation of those who offend his little ones.

Mark 16 
      Christ is risenHe appears to Mary Magdalene, then to othersHe sends the apostles to preach, promises that signs shall follow faithHe ascends into heaven.

Acts 3:1-11
  1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 
  2 And a certain man lame from his mother s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 
  3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 
  4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 
  5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 
  6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 
  7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 
  8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 
  9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 
  10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. 
  11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon s, greatly wondering. 


1 Corinthians 12:1-10
  1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 
  2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 
  3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 
  4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 
  5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 
  6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 
  7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 
  8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 
  9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 
  10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 


James 5:14-15
  14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 
  15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 


Articles of Faith 1:7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.  

Topical Guide: 
               Discernment, Spiritual
               God, Gifts of
               Heal, Healing
               Holy Ghost, Gifts of
               Interpretation
               Sign
               Tongue
               Translate
	   

 
Concept 1: Introduction

'Following baptism, each of us has had hands laid on our heads to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  If we are faithful, we can have his influence constantly with us.  Through him, each of us can be blessed with certain spiritual powers called "gifts of the Spirit".  These gifts are given to those who are faithful to Christ.  They help us know and teach the truths of the gospel.  They will help us bless others.  They will guide us back to our Heavenly Father.  To use our gifts wisely, we need to know what the are, how we can develop them, and how to recognize Satan's imitations of them.

Discussion

What are the reasons the Lord has given us spiritual gifts?'


Concept 2: Gifts of the Sprit (part 1)

'The Gifts of the Spirit

The Scriptures  mention many gifts of the Spirit.  These gifts have been given to members of the true Church whenever it has been on the earth (Mark 16:16-18 "16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be dammed.  
17. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 
18. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.").  
The Gifts of the Spirit include the Following:


The Gifts of Tongues (D&C 46:24 "And again it is given to some to speak with tongues.)

Sometimes it is necessary to communicate the gospel in a language we have not learned.  When this happens, the Lord can bless us with the ability to speak that language.  Many missionaries have received the gift of tongues when there was a great need for it.  For example, Elder Alonzo A. Hinckley was a missionary in Holland who understood and spoke very little Dutch even though he had prayed and studied hard.  When he returned to a home he had visited before, a lady opened the door and spoke to him very angrily in Dutch.  To his amazement he could understand every word.  He felt a strong desire to bear his testimony to her in Dutch.  He began to speak, and the words came out very clearly in Dutch.  But when he returned to show his mission president that he could speak Dutch, the ability left him.  Many faithful members have been blessed with the gift of tongues.  (See Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 2:32-33).


The Gift of Translation (D&C 5:4 "And you have a gift to translate the plates; and this is the first gift that I bestow upon you; and I have commanded that you should pretend to no other gift until my purpose is fulfilled in this; for I will grant unto you no other gift until it is finished.")

If we have been called by the leaders of the Church to translate the word of the Lord, we can receive a gift to translate the word of the Lord, we can receive a gift to translate beyond our natural ability.  As with all gifts, we must live righteously, study hard, and pray to receive it.  When we do these things, the Lord causes us to feel a burning inside concerning the correctness of the translation  (D&C 9:8-9  "8. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.  
9. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.)  
Joseph Smith had the gift of translation when he translated the Book of Mormon.  This gift came to him only when he was in tune with the Spirit.

The Gift of Wisdom  (D&C 46:17 "And again, verily I say unto you, to some it is given, by the Spirit of God, the word of wisdom.")

Some of us have been blessed with the ability to understand people and the principles of the gospel as they apply in our lives.  We are told"

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
"For let not that man think he shall receive anything of the Lord".  (James 1:5-7)

The Lord said, "Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you" (D&C 6:7)


The Gift of Knowledge (D&C 46:18 "To another is given the word of knowledge, that all may be taught to be wise and to have knowledge.")

Everyone who becomes like Heavenly Father eventually knows all things.  The knowledge of God and his laws is revealed by the Holy Ghost  (D&C 121:26 "God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world was until now.")  We can not be saved if we are ignorant of these laws (D&C 131:6 "It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.").

The Lord revealed, "If a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come" (D&C 130:19).  The Lord has commanded us to learn as much as we can about his work.  He wants us to learn about the heavens, the earth, things that happen or will happen, things at home or in foreign lands  (D&C 88:78-79  "78. Teach ye diligently and my graces shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand; 
79. Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms.").  
However, there are those who try to gain knowledge by their own study alone.  They do not ask for help of the Holy Ghost..  They are those who are always learning but never arrive at the truth (2 Timothy 3:7 "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.").  When we receive knowledge by revelation from the Holy Ghost, his Spirit speaks to our minds and our hearts and we feel the truth burn within us (D&C 8:2 "Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.").

Discussion

What kind of things should we learn about?  (D&C 90:15 "And set in order the churches, and study and learn, and become acquainted with all good books, and with languages, tongues and people.") 
2 Nephi 9:28-29  "28. O that cunning plan of the evil one!  O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men!  When they are learned they think they are wise and they harken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profited them not.  And they shall perish.  
29.  But to be learned is good if they harken unto the counsels of God."
D&C 88:118 "And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; and seek learning, even by study and also by faith."

What is the right way to gain knowledge?'



Concept 3: Gifts of the Spirit Part 2

The Gifts of Teaching Wisdom and Knowledge (Moroni 10:9-10 "9. For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom; 10. And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit.")

Some people are given a special ability to explain and testify of the truths of the gospel.  This Gift can be used when we teach a class.  It can be used by parents to teach their children.  This gift also helps us instruct other so they can understand the gospel.

Discussion

Why must we have the Spirit of the Lord to teach?  (D&C 42:14 "And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach.").


The Gift of Knowing That Jesus Christ Is the Son of God (D&C 46:13 "To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.")

This has been the gift of prophets and apostles who have been called as special witness of Jesus Christ.  However, others are also given this gift.  Every person can have a testimony.  It usually comes through the whisperings of the Holy Spirit but may come in a dream or vision.  Elder Orson F. Whitney saw a vision of the Savior in Gethsemane.  He saw the great suffering of the Savior, and it caused him to weep.  Then the Savior took him into his arms and blessed him.  (See Bryant S. Hinckley, The faith of Our Pioneer Fathers, pp.221-13).


The Gift of Believing the Testimony of Others (D&C 46:14 "To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.")

By the power of the Holy Ghost we may know the truth of all things.  If we want to know whether someone else is speaking the truth, we must ask God in faith.  If the thing we are praying about is true, the Lord will speak peace to our minds (D&C 6:22-24 "22. Verily, verily, I say unto you if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.  
23. Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter?  What greater witness can you have than from God?  
24. And now, behold, you have received a witness; for if I have told you things which no man knoweth have you not received a witness?).  
In this way we can know when someone else, even the prophet, has received revelation.  Nephi asked the Lord to let him see, feel, and know that his father's dream was true  (1 Nephi 10:17-19 "17. And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God--and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come--I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.  
18. For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.  
19. For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.). 

Discussion

How can we receive a testimony that another person is speaking the truth?'




Concept 4: The Gifts of The Spirit Part 3.

The Gift of Prophecy (D&C 46:22 "And to Others it is given to prophesy;")

Those who receive true revelations about the past, present, or future have the gift of prophecy.  Prophets have this gift, but we too can have it to help us govern our own lives (1 Corinthians 14:39 "Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.").  We may receive revelations from God for ourselves and our own callings, but never for the Church or its leaders.  It is contrary to the order of Heaven for a person to receive revelation for someone higher in authority.  If we truly have the gift of prophecy, we will not receive any revelation that does not agree with what the Lord has said in the Scriptures  (see Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 3:203-4).


The Gift of Healing (D&C 46:19-20 "And again, to some it is given to have faith to be healed; 20. And to others it is given to have faith to heal.")

Some have the faith to heal, and other have the faith to be healed.  We can all exercise the faith to be healed when we are ill (D&C 42:48 "And again, it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed.")   Many who hold the priesthood have the gift of healing the sick.  Others may be given a knowledge of how to cure illness. 

Discussion

D&C 42:43-44  "43. And whosoever among you are sick, and have not faith to be healed, but believe, shall be nourished with all tenderness, with herbs and mild food, and that not by the hand of an enemy.  
44. And the elders of the church, two or more, shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name; and if they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live unto me."

What should we do when we are ill?


The Gift of Working Miracles (D&C 46:21 "And again to some it given the working of miracles.")

The Lord has blessed his people many times in miraculous ways.  When the Utah pioneers planted their first crops, a plague of locust nearly destroyed them.  The pioneers prayed that the Lord would save their corps, and he sent sea gulls to devour the locust.  When we need help and ask in faith, if it is for our good the Lord will work miracles for us (Matthew 17:20 "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."; D&C 24:13-14 "13. Require not miracles, except I shall command you, except casting out devils, healing the sick, and against poisonous serpents, and against deadly poisons; 
14. And these things ye shall not do, except it be required of you by them who desire it, that the Scriptures  might be fulfilled; for ye shall do according to that which is written.").


The Gifts of Faith (Moroni 10:11 "And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;")

The brother of Jared had great faith.  Because of his faith, he received other gifts.  His faith was so great that the Savior appeared to him (see Ether 3:9-15 <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/ether/3/9-15#9>).  Without faith, no other gift can be given.  Moroni promises, "Whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him" (Mormon 9:21).  We should seek to increase our faith, find out our gifts, and use them.

Some people lack faith and deny these gifts of the Spirit actually exist.  Moroni says to them: 

"And again I speak unto you who deny the revelations of God, and say that they are done away, that there are no revelations, nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking with tongues, and the interpretations of tongues;
"Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read Scriptures ; if so, he does not understand them" (Mormon 9:7-8).'




Concept 5: We Can Develop Our Gifts

'The Lord has said: "For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.  To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby" (D&C 46:11-12).

To develop our gifts, we must find out which gifts we have.  We do this by praying and fasting.  We should seek after the best gifts (D&C 46:8 "8 Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given;").  Sometimes patriarchal blessings will tell us which gifts we have been given.

We must be obedient and faithful to be given our gifts.  We then should use these gifts to do the work of the Lord.  They are not given to satisfy our curiosity or to prove anything to us because we lack faith.  Our gifts are to be used to build up the kingdom of God and to strengthen our testimonies.

Discussion

How can we discover our spiritual gifts?
How might Satan tempt us to misuse them?'



Concept 6: Satan Imitates the Gifts of the Spirit

'Satan can imitate the gifts of tongues, prophecy, visions, healings, and other miracles.  Moses had to compete with Satan's imitations in Pharaoh's court (see Exodus 7:8-22).  Satan wants us to believe in his false prophets, false healers, and false miracle workers.  They may appear to be so real to us that the only way to know is to ask God for the gift of discernment.  The devil himself can appear as an angle of light  (2 Nephi 9:9 "And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness.").  

Satan wants to blind us to the truth and keeps us from seeking the true gifts of the Spirit.  Mediums, astrologers, fortune tellers, and sorcerers are inspired by Satan even if they claim to follow God.  Their works are abominable to the Lord (Isaiah 47:12-14 " 12 Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. 
  13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. 
  14 Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.";  
Deuteronomy 18:9-12 "  9  When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 
  10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 
  11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 
  12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.").  We should avoid all associations with the powers of Satan.

Discussion

How can we discern between the true gifts of the Spirit and Satan's imitations?'



Concept 7: We Must Be Careful with Our Gifts of the Spirit

'The Lord said, "A commandment I give unto them, that they shall not boast themselves of these things, neither speak them before the world; for these things are given unto you for your profit and for salvation." (D&C 84:73).  We must remember that spiritual gifts are sacred.

The Lord only ask one thing in return for giving us these gifts.  He says, "Ye must give thanks  unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with"  (D&C 46:32).

Discussion

How do we keep our spiritual gifts sacred?

Additional Scriptures 

3 Nephi 29:6-7 (fate of those who deny gifts) 
  6 Yea, wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord, and that shall say the Lord no longer worketh by revelation, or by prophecy, or by gifts, or by tongues, or by healings, or by the power of the Holy Ghost! 
  7 Yea, and wo unto him that shall say at that day, to get gain, that there can be no miracle wrought by Jesus Christ; for he that doeth this shall become like unto the son of perdition, for whom there was no mercy, according to the word of Christ! 


Moroni 10:7-19  (gifts depend on faith)
  7 And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever. 
  8 And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them. 
  9 For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom; 
  10 And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 
  11 And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 
  12 And again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles; 
  13 And again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things; 
  14 And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits; 
  15 And again, to another, all kinds of tongues; 
  16 And again, to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues. 
  17 And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as he will. 
  18 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ. 
  19 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that all these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand, only according to the unbelief of the children of men. 

1 Corinthians 12 (spiritual gifts)
Holy Ghost reveals Jesus is the Christ Spiritual gifts are present among the saints Apostles, prophets, and miracles found in the true Church. 

Acts 10 (a gift given at baptism) 
An angel ministers to Cornelius Peter in a vision is commanded to take the gospel to the Gentiles Gospel taught by witnesses Holy Ghost falls upon Gentiles. 

D&C 46:9-26 (gifts of the Spirit).
  9 For verily I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do; that all may be benefited that seek or that ask of me, that ask and not for a sign that they may consume it upon their lusts. 
  10 And again, verily I say unto you, I would that ye should always remember, and always retain in your minds what those gifts are, that are given unto the church. 
  11 For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. 
  12 To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby. 
  13 To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world. 
  14 To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful. 
  15 And again, to some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know the differences of administration, as it will be pleasing unto the same Lord, according as the Lord will, suiting his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men. 
  16 And again, it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether they be of God, that the manifestations of the Spirit may be given to every man to profit withal. 
  17 And again, verily I say unto you, to some is given, by the Spirit of God, the word of wisdom. 
  18 To another is given the word of knowledge, that all may be taught to be wise and to have knowledge. 
  19 And again, to some it is given to have faith to be healed; 
  20 And to others it is given to have faith to heal. 
  21 And again, to some is given the working of miracles; 
  22 And to others it is given to prophesy; 
  23 And to others the discerning of spirits. 
  24 And again, it is given to some to speak with tongues; 
  25 And to another is given the interpretation of tongues. 
  26 And all these gifts come from God, for the benefit of the children of God. 


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Moroni 10:4-5
"4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 
  5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

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