Spiritual Gifts

Last week Carrie had an opportunity to invite one of our close friends and neighbors to the Draper Utah Temple Open House and during their visit they discussed spiritual gifts, or the gifts of the spirit. As I reflected on the topic of their conversation that day, I remember my own desire to better understand these gifts.

I suppose in many respects a temple is the natural place for such a conversation. As preface to the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, the Savior appeared to the apostles. Luke recorded the following:

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. (Luke 24:49-53).

Listings of Spiritual Gifts

The spiritual gifts are mentioned by Paul in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 12. They are also discussed in the Book of Mormon in Moroni 10 as well as in Doctrine and Covenants 46. In fact, Moroni 10 is a particularly important chapter since it conveys Moroni’s last recorded words in the Book of Mormon (see If You Only Had a Few Words to Share, What Would You Share?). Some of these gifts include:

• Faith
• Testimony
• Belief
• Prophecy
• Healing and being healed
• Wisdom and knowledge
• Tongues and the interpretation of tongues
• Revelation and visions
• Beholding angels and discerning spirits
• Miracles
• Administration and discernment

Years ago a friend pointed out that there are important differences between the three scriptural references to the gifts of the spirit. When I actually compared the three accounts, I realized the importance of comparing and contrasting the scriptures, something a Hebrew teacher also once taught me. He called it an ancient method of teaching and learning. I learned something important that day and decided to spend more time studying this topic.

Gifts Endless in Number and Infinite in Variety

While studying, I came across this reference to the spiritual gifts by Bruce R. McConkie and thought it significant:

Spiritual gifts are endless in number and infinite in variety. Those listed in the revealed word are simply illustrations of the boundless outpouring of divine grace that a gracious God gives those who love and serve him. “All have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man [who is true and faithful] 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.) “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.” (Moroni 10:8. See also 1 Corinthians 12:4-7.)¹

There appears to be no finite number of spiritual gifts the Lord may choose to bestow upon an individual and they are infinite in variety and are all given by the “manifestations of the Spirit of God”. Only a few of these gifts are visibly manifest. For example, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught:

We believe that the Holy Ghost is imparted by the laying on of hands of those in authority, and that the gift of tongues, and also the gift of prophecy are gifts of the Spirit, and are obtained through that medium; but then to say that men always prophesied and spoke in tongues when they had the imposition of hands, would be to state that which is untrue, contrary to the practice of the Apostles, and at variance with holy writ; for Paul says, “To one is given the gift of tongues, to another the gift of prophecy, and to another the gift of healing;” and again: “Do all prophesy? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?” evidently showing that all did not possess these several gifts; but that one received one gift, and another received another gift—all did not prophesy, all did not speak in tongues, all did not work miracles; but all did receive the gift of the Holy Ghost; sometimes they spake in tongues and prophesied in the Apostles’ days, and sometimes they did not. The same is the case with us also in our administrations, while more frequently there is no manifestation at all, that is visible to the surrounding multitude; this will appear plain when we consult the writings of the Apostles, and notice their proceedings in relation to this matter. Paul, in 1st Cor. 12, says, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant;” it is evident from this, that some of them were ignorant in relation to these matters, or they would not need instruction. . . But suppose the gifts of the Spirit were immediately, upon the imposition of hands, enjoyed by all, in all their fulness and power, the skeptic would still be as far from receiving any testimony except upon a mere casualty as before, for all the gifts of the Spirit are not visible to the natural vision, or understanding of man; indeed very few of them are.²

Deny Not the Gifts

Over the years, I read a number of references to a talk about the gifts of the spirit given by George Q. Cannon. Every time I read excerpts from his message, it was if he was speaking to me individually. Since I couldn’t find the address available in electronic format, one day I decided to visit the Church Archives in Salt Lake City and made a copy of the talk. The following are excerpts from President Cannon’s message “Spiritual Gifts.”

After reading from 1 Corinthians 12, President Cannon taught:

These were the instructions that Paul gave to the Corinthian church in the day in which he lived concerning spiritual gifts. His writings are full of exhortations to the people whom he was the instrument in the hands of God of bringing to the knowledge of the Gospel, concerning the importance of exercising faith in God in order to receive the blessings that were peculiar to those who obeyed the Gospel of Jesus. The Savior Himself, as well as all His Apostles of whose labors we have an account, endeavored to impress the people with the importance of their relationship to the Almighty through their obedience to the Gospel of the Son of God. Miraculous powers were promised, and gifts of the most precious character. These were to be enjoyed by those who bowed in submission to the requirements of the Gospel. The followers of the Lord were distinguished among the people with whom they labored for the possession of these powers. They were peculiarly blest; and while they did not work signs and perform miracles in order to convince people that they were the servants of God, nevertheless they possessed the power, and they exercised it on many occasions. They exhorted, as Paul does in that which I have read to you, those who became members of the Church of Christ to seek earnestly for these different gifts, impressing upon them to the extent of their ability that these were within the reach of every faithful man and woman who embraced the Gospel.³

He went on to state that “for nearly sixty-four years . . . the constant effort of the Elders who have gone out to preach the Gospel has been to convince the people that these gifts were within their reach by obeying the Gospel which the Lord had revealed.” However,

Many men in their unbelief say, “If God be God, why does He not reveal Himself to men? Why does he not show His face? Why does he not give tangible evidence of His existence? Why does He leave us to walk in the dark, groping hither and thither to find the light? If He be the Being that the Scriptures say He is, why does He not reveal Himself with greater plainness unto mankind and dissipate these doubts, remove this darkness and end these controversies and this contention?”

Skeptics ask these questions. But those who have faith in God understand that this is a state of probation; that we are sent purposely to have our faith tested and developed. By the exercise of faith, a knowledge of God can be obtained as well as the blessings and gifts of God, so that men need not walk in darkness and in doubt. He can receive the evidences from the Lord, by the exercise of faith, that will convince him of the existence of his Father in Heaven, and also of His willingness to hear and answer the prayers and supplications which are addressed to Him in sincerity. It is for this purpose that these gifts are bestowed; that those who do obey the commandments of God shall have privileges, blessings and powers that those who do not take this course cannot have. The bestowal of these is to create a distinction between the people of God and those who are not His people; to give them that superiority which the enjoyment of these gifts bring.

Be Ye Therefore Perfect

In his closing remarks on this subject, President Cannon expounded upon the purpose of spiritual gifts:

This has come in our day. Yet we find, even among those who have embraced the Gospel, hearts of unbelief. 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? How many of you ask the Father, in the name of Jesus, to manifest Himself to you through these powers and these gifts? Or do you go along day by day like a door turning on its hinges, without having any feeling upon the subject, without exercising any faith whatever; content to be baptized and be members of the Church, and to rest there, thinking that your salvation is secure because you have done this? I say to you, in the name of the Lord, as one of His servants, that you have need to repent of this. You have need to repent of your hardness of heart, of your indifference, and of your carelessness. There is not that diligence, there is not that faith, there is not that seeking for the power of God that there should be among a people who have received the precious promises we have. Instead of the sick being healed, why, it is as much as you can do to get faith to believe that the administration of an elder will be attended with effect. 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 placed in His Church for His people. I say to you that it is our duty to avail ourselves of the privileges which God has placed within our reach. If we have done wrong, repent of our wrong and feel after God, and not be satisfied till we have found Him, and He hears and answers us, and He speaks by His divine power in our hearts, bearing testimony to us in such a manner as cannot be doubted that He hears us, that He is near to us, and that He is watching over us and ready to bestow upon us all the blessings that are necessary for our happiness here and hereafter.

I feel to bear testimony to you, my brethren and sisters, just as these prophets have done, that God is the same today as He was yesterday; that God is willing to bestow these gifts upon His children. I know that God is willing to heal the sick, that He is willing to bestow the gift of discerning of spirits, the gift of wisdom, of knowledge and of prophecy, and other gifts that may be needed. If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect. Have I imperfections? I am full of them. What is my duty? To pray to God to give me the gifts that will correct these imperfections. If I am an angry man, it is my duty to pray for charity, which suffereth long and is kind. Am I an envious man? It is my duty to seek for charity, which envieth not. So with all the gifts of the Gospel. They are intended for this purpose. No man ought to say, “Oh, I cannot help this; it is my nature.” He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to give strength to correct these things, and to give gifts that will eradicate them. If a man lack wisdom, it is his duty to ask God for wisdom. The same with everything else. That is the design of God concerning His Church. He wants His Saints to be perfected in the truth. For this purpose He gives these gifts, and bestows them upon those who seek after them, in order that they may be a perfect people upon the face of the earth, notwithstanding their many weaknesses, because God has promised to give the gifts that are necessary for their perfection.

Let us seek for these gifts. Let us be exhorted this day in this Tabernacle, and bear in mind that these gifts are for us; and let us seek for them with all our might, mind and strength. I pray God that this may be the feeling in every heart. If there be those that have not obeyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to them I would say, go to God in secret and ask Him in the name of Jesus concerning these things; and I tell you, as a servant of God, He will give you a testimony, and you will know that this is the truth. You will be ready then to obey the ordinances of life and salvation and to enter into the Church which He has established on earth. I pray God to bless us all this day and throughout our future lives, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Temple

I suppose it is appropriate to end where I began – the temple. I close this post by referring to a talk by David B. Haight already referenced on this blog.⁴ A number of years ago Elder Haight urged people to come to the House of the Lord. Referring to spiritual gifts he taught:

A temple is a place in which those whom He has chosen are endowed with power from on high—a power which enables us to use our gifts and capabilities with greater intelligence and increased effectiveness in order to bring to pass our Heavenly Father’s purposes in our own lives and the lives of those we love.⁵

Although each of us has at least one spiritual gift, perhaps the temple is the place where those gifts are added upon.

Sources:

1. McConkie, Bruce R. A New Witness for the Articles of Faith. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1985. 371.↩
2. Smith, Joseph Fielding, comp. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1938. 243.↩
3. Cannon, George Q. “Spiritual Gifts”. The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star. No. 16 & 17, Vol. LVI, Monday, April 16 & 23, 1894.↩
4. See Temple Endowment Understood by Revelation.↩
5. Haight, David B. “Come to the House of the Lord.” May 1992. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1 February 2009.↩

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