Introduction
The spring weather has become beautiful! How many of us have either begun planting flowers or vegetables, or are soon going to do so? What will you plant? There are likely to be many different items being planted, all of which may be useful and beautiful.
Once the planting is done, there is still lots of work to do, right? (We continually have to cultivate our gardens.) Likewise, the gifts of the Spirit are varied and we must cultivate them in our lives.
Gifts of the Spirit
Read D&C 46:13-25. Then discuss the accounts of Newel Knight administering to Philo Dibble, Amanda Smith receiving revelation on how to treat her injured son, and the Prophet Joseph Smith prophesying of Dan Jones’s missionary service from Our Heritage. What spiritual gifts were manifested in these accounts?
Everyone who receives the Gift of the Holy Ghost receives at least one gift of the Spirit. Read D&C 46:11.
These lists in the Doctrine and Covenants and 1 Corinthians are not exhaustive lists of the Gifts of the Spirit. Elder 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 of the Quorum of the Twelve 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).
As I consider the gifts of the Spirit as described in the scriptures, they seem mighty and powerful, and I fear I might be presumptuous to identify one and tell the Lord I want it. But I feel very comfortable with this list offered by Elder Ashton. To borrow Paul’s phrase, I covet these gifts!
God gives gifts of the Spirit to benefit His children
To strengthen and bless us individually
Read D&C 46:9 with class members. In what ways can the gifts of the Spirit help us individually? What gifts have been of special value to you?
I am encouraged by the phrase in this verse that these gifts are not just given to those who “keep all my commandments,” but also to those who “seek so to do.”
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve taught that gifts of the Spirit “can lead us to God. They can shield us from the power of the adversary. They can compensate for our inadequacies and repair our imperfections” (“Spiritual Gifts,” Ensign, Sept. 1986, 72).
To help us serve others
Read D&C 46:11–12, 26, then the following quote:
Elder Orson Pratt of the Quorum of the Twelve said, “Spiritual gifts are distributed among the members of the Church, according to their faithfulness, circumstances, natural abilities, duties, and callings; that the whole may be properly instructed, confirmed, perfected, and saved” (Masterful Discourses and Writings of Orson Pratt, comp. N. B. Lundwall [1953], 571).
How has a particular spiritual gift helped you bless others? How have you been blessed by the spiritual gifts of others?
To help us avoid being deceived
Read D&C 46:8. Satan tries to deceive God’s children by offering counterfeit gifts. How can the gifts of the Spirit help us avoid evil influences or deception?
We should seek and cultivate the gifts of the Spirit
How do we know what gifts we have been given? What if we feel like we don’t have a gift that we need? Read D&C 46:8; compare 1 Corinthians 12:31 and 1 Corinthians 14:1.
Read D&C 46:31-33. Each verse contains a key to discovering and cultivating these gifts:
31 – Exercise these gifts in the name of Jesus, never for our own aggrandizement.
32 – Give thanks for the gifts God has given us.
33 – Practice virtue and holiness at all times. And in today’s world, that takes a lot of practice!
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).
Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained how his mother applied the principle of seeking gifts of the Spirit: “Having lost her husband, my widowed mother was incomplete. How she prayed for what she needed to fulfill her responsibility to raise her three small children! She was seeking, she was worthy, and she was blessed! Her prayers were answered in many ways, including the receipt of spiritual gifts. She had many, but the ones that stand out in my memory are the gifts of faith, testimony, and wisdom. She was a mighty woman in
Conclusion
The gifts of the Spirit are given to bless us, and allow us to bless others. I suggest that the most important gift we should seek after is the gift of a solid, motivating testimony of Jesus Christ. As we gain this gift, then every aspect of our lives is shaped by our faith in Him and desire to follow his commandments. Then every other gift becomes a way for us to become more perfect and to help our brothers and sisters build their faith in the Savior too.
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