The main guide for this research can be found at A Guide to Spiritual Gifts

Friday, January 18, 2008

Latter Day Saints (Mormom) View of Spiritual Gifts

The LDS writings on spiritual gifts fall very close to what might be called an orthodox Protestant position, although one that is very liberal in what might qualify as a spiritual gift.


Official Church Documents


The Book of Mormon

The starting point for LDS doctrine is the Book of Mormon. In this case the information on spiritual gifts is easy to find. It is in Moroni 10, which is the last chapter in the last book of the Book of Mormon. If you have a copy, just turn to the last page to find the following verses. You can also find them in context from the LDS website: Moroni 10:7-19. This passage is mostly a rewording of part of I Corinthians 12 with a few twists. The same nine gifts are here in the same order. I have them highlighted in red so that you can see the changes. For example, "discerning of spirits" in I Corinthians becomes "beholding of angels and ministering spirits" in Moroni.


7) And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.
8) And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. 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.
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 every good gift cometh of Christ.
19) And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that all these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand, only according to the unbelief of the children of men.


Other verses from the book of Mormon that mention spiritual gifts include,

Alma 9:21 Having been visited by the Spirit of God; having conversed with angels, and having been spoken unto by the voice of the Lord; and having the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and also many gifts, the gift of speaking with tongues, and the gift of preaching, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the gift of translation;

3 Nephi 29:6 Yea, wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord, and that shall say the Lord no longer worketh by revelation, or by prophecy, or by gifts, or by tongues, or by healings, or by the power of the Holy Ghost!

Mormon 9:7 And again I speak unto you who deny the revelations of God, and say that they are done away, that there are no revelations, nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking with tongues, and the interpretation of tongues;


Doctrine and Covenants

There is a 24 verse passage from the Doctrine and Covenants D&C 46:10-33 that is very similar to the section from Moroni 10. One noticable difference here is that the gifts of faith and healing have been combined into the two gifts of "the faith to heal" and "the faith to be healed."

D&C 107:92 appears to say that the President of the Church has all of the gifts.


Church Manuals

Lesson 34: Spiritual Gifts,” Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood: Basic Manual for Priesthood Holders, Part B, 281

Lesson 15: “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”, Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, 81

Chapter 22: "The Gifts of the Spirit,” Gospel Principles, 141

Lesson 3: "Gifts of the Spirit,” The Latter-day Saint Woman: Basic Manual for Women, Part B, 18



Articles

This article on The Spiritual Gift of Being Quick to Observe By Elder David A. Bednar, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, appears to find a new gift in Mormon 1:2. There is also a discussion here of the gift of discernment.

Gifts of the Spirit
By Elder Robert D. Hales, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

“I Have a Question: How does one acquire specific spiritual gifts?”
By Arthur R. Bassett, professor of humanities, Brigham Young University Ensign, Mar 1994, 52–54.

There are Many Gifts
By Elder Marvin J. Ashton, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Spiritual Gifts
By By Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

How to Receive Spiritual Gifts
By Lane Johnson, Assistant Editor, Ensign, Dec 1975, 46–47

Gifts of the Spirit
Elder James A. Cullimore, Assistant to the Council of the Twelve


Other quotations:

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 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).



Powered by ScribeFire.

No comments: