The Seventh Article of Faith:
We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
Because of Faith and our Obedience and Devotion to Him, certain special spiritual blessings are given to us.
These blessings are called the Gifts of the Spirit. These blessings are reserved for the faithful and no one else. As I have said, they are reserved for the Obedient.
The Gifts come from Jesus Christ and through the Agency of the (light of Christ), through which the Holy Ghost operates.
The Gifts are given to us to have peace in this life, to enlighten our minds, to encourage us in our missions and purposes here and to guide us towards Eternal Life in the world to come.
These gifts prove that the Lords Church and Kingdom is here and that it is true. They will stand as long as the earth will stand as long as the saints continue to progress towards Exaltation.
When that perfect day comes, the need for these gifts will end. They will not be needed.
Spiritual gifts are present among the Saints, Apostles, prophets, and miracles are found in the true Church of Jesus Christ.
Until that perfect day:
1 CORINTHIANS 12: 31, 8-10
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
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:
Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles wrote, “Spiritual gifts are endless in number and infinite in variety.” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith (1985), 371.
There are many, many gifts but I will name some more.
The gift of revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the gift of others to believe the testimony of them who gained this revelation.
The gift of knowing that the Book of Mormon is true, the gift of judgment, knowledge and wisdom that the Words of Wisdom is true.
The gift of visions and the beholding’s of angels and ministering of spirits.
The gift to ponder; looking to God for direction.
The gift to hear and respond to the still, small voice.
The gift to be calm, which includes the ability to curb anger and to be temperate rather than contentious.
The gift to study and to listen.
Doctrine and Covenants 46: 10-11
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.
To find the gifts we have been given, we must pray and fast. Often patriarchal blessings tell us the gifts we have received and declare the promise of gifts we can receive if we seek after them.
Discover your gifts and to seek after those that will bring direction to your life’s work and that will further the work of heaven. During our time here on earth, we have been charged to develop the natural gifts and capabilities Heavenly Father has blessed us with.
President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) taught, “All members of the Church should seek for the gift of prophecy, for their own guidance” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols. [1953], 1:201).
One of the greatest gift of all is to have Charity.
1 CORINTHIANS 13: 1-5
1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 “Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil”
The gifts of the Spirit can guide us in our lives and we can be strengthened spiritually and temporally.
They can also help us in being deceived.
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