Gospel Principles
Unit 7: Perfecting Our Lives
Chapter 34: Developing Talents
Comments and Resources

"Go to, then, you who are gifted: cultivate your gift.  Develop it in any of the arts and in every worthy example of them.  If you have the ability and the desire, seek a career or employ your talent as an avocation or cultivate it as a hobby.  But in all ways bless others with it.  Set a standard of excellence." (Boyd K. Packer. "The Arts and the Spirit of the Lord." Ensign, Aug 1976. p. 65.)

During the study of this topic, we will learn how the Lord expects you to use your talents to build up your talents to build up his kingdom.

Resources
Gospel Principles, chapter 34.
A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, chapter 21.

Topical Guide: <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/tg/contents> 
               Talents

 

Concept 1: We All Have Different Talents and Abilities

'We all have special talents and abilities given to us by our Heavenly Father.  When we were born, we brought these talents and abilities with us (see chapter 2, "Our Heavenly Family").  Each of us has been given at least one special talent.

We All Have Different Talents and Abilities

The prophet Moses was a great leader, but he needed Aaron, his brother, to help as a spokesman  (Exodus 4:14-16 "14. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, [Is] not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well.  And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.  
15. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.  
16. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, [even] he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.).  

 Some of us are leaders like Moses or good speakers like Aaron.  Some of us can sing well or play an instrument.  Others of us may be good in sports or able to work well with our hands.  Other talents we might have are understanding others, patience, cheerfulness, or the ability to teach others.

Discussion

Identify talents of the people you know.'


Concept 2: We Should Use and Improve Our Talents

'Our Heavenly Father has said it is up to us to receive the gifts he has given us (D&C 88:33 "For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?  Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.").   This means we must develop and use our talents.  Sometimes we think we do not have many talents or that other people have been blessed with more abilities than we possess.  Sometimes we do not use our talents because we are afraid that we might fail or be criticized by others.  We should not hide our talents.  We should use them.  Then others can see our good works and glorify our Heavenly Father (Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.").

Discussion

Why should we improve our talents?'


Concept 3: How Can We Develop Our Talents?

'There are certain things we must do to develop our talents.  First, we must discover our talents. We should evaluate ourselves to find our strengths and abilities.  Our family and friends can help us do this.  We should also ask our Heavenly Father to help us learn about our talents.

Second, we must be willing to spend the time and effort to develop the talent we are seeking.

Third, we must have faith that our Heavenly Father will help us, and we must have faith in ourselves.

Fourth, we must learn the skills necessary for us to develop our talents.  We might do this by taking a class, asking a friend to teach us, or reading a book.

Fifth, we must practice using our talent.  Every talent takes effort and work to develop.  The mastery of a talent must be earned.

Sixth, we must share our talent with others.  It is by our using our talents that they grow (Matthew 25:29 "For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.").

All of these steps are easier if we pray and seek the Lord's help.  He wants us to develop our talents, and he will help us.

Discussion

Name a talent or a skill you possess.  How can a person develop this talent or skill?  How have you developed your talents or skills?'



Concept 4: We Can Develop Our Talents in Spite of Our Weaknesses

'Sometimes the Lord gives us weaknesses so we will work hard and overcome them.  With his help, our weaknesses can become our strengths (Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.").   Beethoven composed his greatest music after he was deaf.  Demosthenes overcame weak lungs and a lisp to become one of the greatest orators of all time.

Some great athletes have had to overcome handicaps before they have succeeded in developing their talents.  Shelly Mann was such an example.  "At the age of five she had polio. . . . Her parents took her daily to a swimming pool where they hoped the water would help hold her arms up as she tried to use them again.  When she could lift her arm out of the water with her own power, she cried for joy.  Then her goal was to swim the width of the pool, then the length, then several lengths.  She kept on trying, swimming, enduring, day after day after day, until she won the gold medal for the butterfly stroke--one of the most difficult of all swimming strokes" (Marvin J. Ashton, in Conference Report, Apr. 1975, p. 127; or  The Time Is Now Ensign, May 1975, p. 86).

Heber J. Grant overcame many of his weaknesses and turned them into talents.  He had as his motto these words: "That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing is changed, but that our power to do is increased" (Gospel Standards, p. 355).

Discussion

How did Ether 12:27 say weak things can be made strong?'



Concept 5: The Lord Will Bless Us If We Use Our Talents Wisely

'President Joseph F. Smith said, "Every son and every daughter of God has received some talent, and each will be held to strict account for the use or misuse to which it is put" ("The Returned Missionary," Juvenile Instructor, Nov. 1903, p. 689).  A talent is one kind of stewardship (responsibility in the kingdom of God).  The parable of the talents tells us that when we serve well in our stewardship we will be given greater responsibilities.  If we do not serve well, our stewardship will eventually be taken from us. (See Matthew 25:14-30 below.)

We are also told in the Scriptures  that we will be judged according to our works (Matthew 16:27 "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.").  By developing and using our talents for other people, we perform good works.

The Lord is pleased when we use our talents wisely.  He will bless us if we use our talents to benefit other people and to build up his kingdom here on earth.  Some of the blessings we gain are joy and love from serving our brothers and sisters here on earth.  We also learn self-control.  All these things are necessary if we are going to be worthy to live with our Heavenly Father again.

Discussion

Read and discuss the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30.

"14. For [the kingdom of heaven is] as a man travelling into a far country, [who] called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
 15. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
 16. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made [them] other five talents.
 17. And likewise he that [had received] two, he also gained other two.
 18. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
 19. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
 20. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
 21. His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
 22. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
 23. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
 24. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 
 25. And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, [there] thou hast [that is] thine.
 26. His lord answered and said unto him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 
 27. Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
 28. Take therefore the talent from him, and give [it] unto him which hath ten talents.
 29. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
 30. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Additional Scriptures 
James 1:17 (gifts come from God) 
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 

D&C 46:8-9; 1 Timothy 4:14 (develop gifts) 
D&C 46:8-9 
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;
 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 asign that they may bconsume it upon their lusts. 
1 Tim. 4:14  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 

2 Corinthians 12:9 (weak things made strong) 
 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

Revelation 20:13; 1 Nephi 15:33; D&C 19:3 (judged by our works) 
Revelation 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 

1 Nephi15:33  Wherefore, if they should die in their wickedness they must be cast off also, as to the things which are spiritual, which are pertaining to righteousness; wherefore, they must be brought to stand before God, to be judged of their works; and if their works have been filthiness they must needs be filthy; and if they be filthy it must needs be that they cannot dwell in the kingdom of God; if so, the kingdom of God must be filthy also. 

D&C 19:3  Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his works at the end of the world, and the last great day of judgment, which I shall pass upon the inhabitants thereof, judging every man according to his works and the deeds which he hath done. 

Hebrews 13:21 (show good works)'
  21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 


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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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