Hi Gramps,
I was wondering if you could expand a little on spiritual gifts. Before I was LDS, I didn’t have much religion but I knew there was something else out there. I have always been able to know before hand if someone close to me is going to die, or if someone close to me is about to be born. I just know it. Also, I’ve always been able to empathize really well with other people, as well as a few other things that wouldn’t seem normal to many. In my patriarchal blessing it says that I am “closer to the veil” than others. Could this be the reason I’m able to have these certain gifts?
Nichole
Dear Nichole,
The prophet Joseph Smith acknowledged our belief in spiritual gifts in the 7th Article of Faith: ” We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.” Paul in his letters to the Corinthian saints talks about the various gifts of the spirit that are given and indicated they all come from the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12: 4) Later in the same chapter he states: 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.” Moroni adds his testimony concerning spiritual gifts in Moroni 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; 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 aevery good gift cometh of Christ.”
Each of us may receive many spiritual gifts as we diligently seek them through faith and are worthy to receive them. These gifts are to be used for the benefit of man in bringing him closer to our Savior and to the building up of His Kingdom here on the earth. Spiritual gifts are given to both men and women, not just holders of the Priesthood. As we receive these gifts we need to be wise in how they are used and remember why they are given.
Elder Dallin Oaks of the Twelve gave an excellent talk concerning spiritual gifts at the Womens Conference held at Brigham Young Universtiy on March 28, 1986 and can be found in the September 1986 Ensign. In his talk he states: “In summary, the Spirit of Christ is given to all men and women that they may know good from evil, and manifestations of the Holy Ghost are given to lead earnest seekers to repentance and baptism. These are preparatory gifts. What we term spiritual gifts come next. Spiritual gifts come to those who have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. As the Prophet Joseph Smith taught, the gifts of the Spirit “are obtained through that medium” [the Holy Ghost] and “cannot be enjoyed without the gift of the Holy Ghost. … The world in general can know nothing about them.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith)
Elder Oaks warned us to be mindful that “Satan-inspired and man-made counterfeits of spiritual gifts have been present throughout our religious history.” Pharoah’s priests were able to duplicate feats performed by Moses. In the early history of the Church, Hiram Page was told that the revelations he received through his “seer stone” were not of Christ but that he had been decived by Satan. He was told that he did not have the gift of revelation at that time. Bishops of the Church and to those that have been appointed to watch over the Church have been given the gift of discernment to know whether these gifts are of the spirit or Satan’s counterfeits.
Gramps
