John Whitmer reported: "Some had visions and knew not what they saw, some would fancy to themselves that they had the sword of Laban, and would wield it as expert as a light dragon, some would act like an Indian in the act of scalping, some would slide or scoop on the floor, with the rapidity of a serpent, which they termed sailing in the boat to the Lamanites, preaching the gospel. And many other vain and foolish manoevers that are unseeming and unprofitable to mention. . . . These things grieved the servants of the Lord, and some conversed together on this subject, and others came in and we were at Joseph Smith, Jr. the Seer, and made it a matter of consultation, for many would not turn from their folly, unless God would give a revelation." (Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p134)
Reading 1 – Doctrine and Covenants 46:2
Reading 2 – Doctrine and Covenants 46:7
Reading 3 – Doctrine and Covenants 46:8-9
Reading 4 – Joseph Smith taught: "We believe in the gift of the Holy
Ghost being enjoyed now, as much as it was in the Apostles' days; we believe
that it [the gift of the Holy Ghost] is necessary to make and to organize the
Priesthood, that no man can be called to fill any office in the ministry without
it; we also believe in prophecy, in tongues, in visions, and in revelations, in
gifts, and in healings; and that these things cannot be enjoyed without the
gift of the Holy Ghost. We believe that the holy men of old spake as they were
moved by the Holy Ghost, and that holy men in these days speak by the same
principle; we believe in its being a comforter and a witness bearer, that it
brings things past to our remembrance, leads us into all truth, and shows us of
things to come; we believe that 'no man can know that Jesus is the Christ, but
by the Holy Ghost.' We believe in it [this gift of the Holy Ghost] in all its
fulness, and power, and greatness, and glory; but whilst we do this, we believe
in it rationally, consistently, and scripturally, and not according to the wild
vagaries, foolish notions and traditions of men." (TPJS, p99)
Reading 5 - Elder Orson Pratt taught the following about
gifts of the Spirit: "...whenever
the Holy Ghost takes up its residence in a person, it not only cleanses,
sanctifies, and purifies him, in proportion as he yields himself to its
influence, but also imparts to him some gift, intended for the benefit of
himself and others. No one who has been born of the Spirit and who remains
sufficiently faithful, is left destitute of a spiritual gift. A person who is
without a spiritual gift has not the Spirit of God dwelling in him, in a
sufficient degree, to save him; he cannot be called a Saint, or a child of God;
for all Saints who constitute the Church of Christ, are baptized into the same
Spirit; and each one, without any exception, is made a partaker of some
spiritual gift....
"Each member does not receive all of these gifts; but
they are distributed through the whole body [of the Church], according to the
will and wisdom of the Spirit.... Some may have all these gifts bestowed upon
them, so as to understand them all, and be prepared to detect any spurious
gifts, and to preside over the whole body of the Church, that all may be
benefited. These spiritual gifts are distributed among the members of the
Church, according to their faithfulness, circumstances, natural abilities,
duties, callings; that the whole may be properly instructed, confirmed,
perfected, and saved." (Masterful Discourses of Orson Pratt, pp539-541)
Reading 6 – Doctrine and Covenants 46:13-25
Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve said
that this gift (knowing the differences of administration) is "used in
administering and regulating the church" (A New Witness for the Articles
of Faith, p278)
Reading 7 – Elder Howard W. Hunter said: Wisdom is the
quality of being wise, of discerning in judging soundly with respect to what is
true and false, the ability to deal sagaciously with facts as they relate to
life and conduct. Sometimes intelligence is used synonymously with wisdom. If
we were speaking mathematically, we would say that knowledge plus the proper
use of knowledge equals wisdom. Knowledge, then, becomes one of the steps by
which wisdom is attained. Intelligence and wisdom quicken knowledge. (The Teachings
of Howard W. Hunter, edited by Clyde J. Williams [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft,
1997], 175.)
Brigham Young said, "The people… hunt me almost to
death, saying, “Won't you lay hands on this sick person? Won't you go to my
house over yonder?” and so on. I am sent for continually, though I only go
occasionally, because it is the privilege of every father, who is an Elder in
Israel, to have faith to heal his family, just as much so as it is my privilege
to have faith to heal my family; and if he does not do it he is not living up
to his privilege. It is just as reasonable for him to ask me to cut his wood
and maintain his family, for if he had faith himself he would save me the
trouble of leaving other duties to attend to his request. (Journal of Discourses,
26 vols. [London: Latter-day Saints' Book Depot, 1854-1886], 3: 46.)
Reading 8 - Heber J. Grant said, “I bear my witness to you
that if a record had been made of all those who have been afflicted, those who
have been given up to die, and who have been healed by the power of God since
the establishment of the Church of Christ in our day, it would make a book much
larger than the New Testament. More miracles have been performed in the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints than we have any account of in the days of
the Savior and His Apostles. Today, sickness is cured by spiritual power … The
dead have been raised. My own brother was announced to be dead, but by the
prayer of faith he lives and presides over one of the stakes of Zion. I know,
as I know I live, that the healing power of Almighty God … is in the Church of
Christ of which you and I are members.” (Conference Reports, October 6, 1910,
p. 119)
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith declared that “all members of
the Church should seek for the gift of prophecy, for their own guidance, which
is the spirit by which the word of the Lord is understood and his purpose made
known.” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 3 vols., Salt Lake City, Deseret
Book Co., 1953, 1:201.)(Quoted by Elder Dallin Oaks “Spiritual Gifts,” Ensign,
Sept. 1986, 71)
Reading 9 - Stephen L. Richards wrote: "First, I
mention the gift of discernment, embodying the power to discriminate, which has
been spoken of in our hearing before, particularly as between right and wrong.
I believe that this gift when highly developed arises largely out of an acute
sensitivity to impressions—spiritual impressions, if you will—to read under the
surface as it were, to detect hidden evil, and more importantly to find the
good that may be concealed. The highest type of discernment is that which
perceives in others and uncovers for them their better natures, the good
inherent within them. It is the gift every missionary needs when he takes the
gospel to the people of the world. He must make an appraisal of every
personality whom he meets. He must be able to discern the hidden spark that may
be lighted for truth. The gift of discernment will save him from mistakes and
embarrassment, and it will never fail to inspire confidence in the one who is
rightly appraised. (Where Is Wisdom? [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1955],
199 - 200.)
Joseph Smith said:
"Be not so curious about tongues; do not speak in tongues except
there be an interpreter present; the ultimate design of tongues is to speak to
foreigners, and if persons are very anxious to display their intelligence let
them speak to such in their own tongues. The gifts of God are all useful in
their places, but when they are applied to that which God does not intend, they
prove an injury, a snare, and a curse instead of a blessing." (HC, 5:31)
Reading 10: President David O. McKay tells the following
story: "The occasion was a
conference held at Huntley, New Zealand, a thousand people assembled. Before
that time I had spoken through interpreters in China, Hawaii, Holland, and
other places, but I felt impressed on that occasion to speak in the English
language. In substance I said, 'I have never been much of an advocate of the
necessity of tongues in our Church, but today I wish I had that gift. But I haven't.
However, I am going to speak to you . . . in my native tongue and pray that you
may have the gift of interpretation of tongues. We will ask Brother Stuart
Meha, who is going to interpret for me, to make notes, and if necessary he may
give us a summary of my talk afterwards.'
"Well, the outpouring of the gift of tongues on that
occasion was most remarkable. Following the end of my sermon Brother Sid
Christy, who was a student of Brigham Young University, a Maori, who had
returned to New Zealand, rushed up and said, 'Brother McKay, they got your
message!'
"Well, I knew they had by the attention and the nodding
of their heads during the talk. I said, 'I think they have but for the benefit
of those who may not have understood or had that gift, we shall have the sermon
interpreted.'
"While Brother Meha was
interpreting that or giving a summary of it in the Maori language some of the
natives, who had understood it, but who did not understand English, arose and
corrected him in his interpretations.
"President George Albert Smith and Brother Rufus K.
Hardy visited New Zealand several years after that event, and Brother Hardy,
hearing of the event, brought home testimonies of those who were present, and
he took the occasion to have those testimonies notarized. So it is the gift of
interpretation rather than the gift of tongues, that was remarkable."
(quoted in Latter-day Prophets & the Doctrine & Covenants, 2:126)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught: “Spiritual gifts are endless
in number and infinite in variety. Those listed in the revealed word are simply
illustrations” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, 371).
Elder Marvin J. Ashton said some “less-conspicuous gifts”
include “the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and
using a still, small voice; … the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of
being agreeable; … the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not
passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a
disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the
gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift
of receiving the Holy Ghost” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1987, 23; or Ensign,
Nov. 1987, 20).
Reading 11 - Elder Bruce R. McConkie declared in Nauvoo at
the dedication of the Monument to Women: "Where spiritual things are
concerned, as pertaining to all of the gifts of the Spirit, with reference to
the receipt of revelation, the gaining of testimonies, and the seeing of
visions, in all matters that pertain to godliness and holiness and which are
brought to pass as a result of personal righteousness-in all things men and
women stand in a position of absolute equality before the Lord. He is no
respecter of persons nor of sexes, and he blesses those men and those women who
seek him and serve him and keep his commandments." (Ensign , Jan. 1979, p.
61)
President George Q. Cannon taught: “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” (Millennial Star, 23 Apr. 1894,
260).
