To download past handouts, go to: highlandvalleysundayschoolnotes2012.blogspot.

com

Some gifts of the Spirit: knowing by revelation that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; believing the testimony of others who have received this revelation; testimony; knowing that the Book of Mormon is true; receiving revelations; judgment; knowledge; wisdom; teaching; exhortation; preaching; teaching; declaring the gospel; ministry; faith to heal; faith to be healed; working of miracles; PROPHECY; viewing visions; beholding angels; beholding ministering spirits; speaking with tongues; the interpretation of languages; translation; seership; asking; listening; hearing and using a still, small voice; being able to weep; avoiding contention; being agreeable; avoiding vain repetition; seeking that which is righteous; not passing judgment; looking to God for guidance; being a disciple; caring for others; being able to ponder; offering prayer; bearing mighty testimony; receiving the Holy Ghost; CHARITY; friendship; awareness of other peoples needs; singing; encouraging; understanding children; making others feel comfortable; being cheerful; thinking deeply; complimenting others; working hard; visualizing the beauty of a finished product; cleaning; cooking; organizing; patience; love; understanding; the ability to endure; discernment; administration
(Mosiah 8:16; Alma 9:21; D&C 5:4; 43:3-4; Romans 12:6-8; Mormon Doctrine, 314; Marvin J. Ashton, There Are Many Gifts, CR Oct. 1987; Henry B. Eyring, Where is the Pavilion?, CR Oct. 1012; McConkie & Ostler, Revelations of the Restoration, 363)

#1 When the Relief Society was founded, Joseph Smith warned the sisters in April 1842: "If any have a matter to reveal, let it be in your own tongue. Do not indulge too much in the gift of tongues, or the devil will take advantage of the innocent. You may speak in tongues for your own comfort but I lay this down for a rule that if any thing is taught by the gift of tongues, it is not to be received for doctrine" (Teachings: Joseph Smith, Chapter 33) #2 In the April 1900 general conference, President Joseph F. Smith warned: There is perhaps no gift of the spirit of God more easily imitated by the devil than the gift of tongues. When two men or women exercise the gift of tongues by the inspiration of the spirit of God, there are a dozen

perhaps that do it by the inspiration of the devil. So far as I am concerned, if the Lord will give me the ability to teach the people in my native tongue, or in their own language to the understanding of those who hear me,
that will be sufficient gift of tongues to me.
(CR April 1900, 41)

#3 Joseph F. Smith continued to deemphasize speaking in tongues as a spiritual manifestation and blessing: "I also want to say to you who are in the habit of desiring to hear the gift of tongues and the interpretation thereof, to seek better things." Instead, he emphasized tongues as a legitimate gift only for missionaries. "There is where the gift of tongues comes in, and where it is very useful" (Millennial Star, 15 Nov. 1906).

#4 President David O. McKay: The occasion was a conference held at Huntly, New Zealand, a thousand people assembled. Before that time I had spoken through interpreters in China, Hawaii, 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, my brothers and sisters, in my native tongue and pray that you may have the gift of interpretation of tongues. We will ask Brother Melra 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 Cristy, who was a student of the 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 Bother Melra 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 interpretation. President George Albert Smith and Brother Milton 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 testimo-

nies notarized. So it is the gift of interpretation rather than the gift of tongues, that was remarkable. (BYU Devotional, 8 Oct. 2952) #5 Elder Bruce R. McConkie: 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).

#6 Elder Marvin J. Ashton: "One of the great tragedies of life, it seems to me, is when a person classifies himself as someone who has no talents or gifts. When, in disgust or discouragement, we allow ourselves to reach depressive levels of despair because of our demeaning self-appraisal, it is a sad day for us and a sad day in the eyes of God. For us to conclude that we have no gifts when we judge ourselves by stature, intelligence, grade-point average, wealth, power, position, or external appearance is not only unfair but unreasonable. (CR Oct. 1987) #7 In 1997, the presidency of the Relief Society wrote: Many of us already have spiritual gifts, but we sometimes fail to recognize them. We may think they are reserved for people with special needs or callings. For the same reason, we may neglect to earnestly seek spiritual gifts, even though they have been promised to us. The Savior tells us, Ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally that all may be benefited that seek or that ask of me. (D&C 46:7, 9)
(Seeking the Best Gifts, Ensign, Jan. 1997)

#8 1 Cor. 12:12- For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 15: If the foot shall say, Because I am not

the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 21-22: And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 27: Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 29-31: Are all apostles? are all proph-

that we could be completely independent in our spiritual journey. But it is in the plan of God for us to need the gifts of others, as well as our own gifts. We are all one body with its several parts. So never should we bemoan the fact that we have different gifts than someone else--it is meant to be that way. Our job is to seek out our own, and use them with charity. (CR Oct. 2012) #12 Elder Henry B. Eyring: We must each take upon ourselves the lifelong challenge to find and develop our spiritual gifts for the benefit of others. How do we discover them? When we find that we have done something that has benefited someone, that is a clue that there is a gift there. We may find we possess the gift of friendship, the gift of awareness of other people's needs, the gift of singing, the gift of encouraging, the gift of teaching, the gift of testimony, the gift of understanding children, the gift of making others feel comfortable, the gift of being cheerful, the gift of thinking deeply, the gift of complimenting others, the gift of working hard, the gift of visualizing the beauty of a finished product, the gift of cleaning, the gift of cooking, the gift of listening, the gift of reading aloud, the gift of organizing...as Elder McConkie said, the number of spiritual gifts is infinite. And remember that we must all seek the gift to love others--all others--or our gifts are useless. Every person is different and has a different contribution to make. No one is destined to fail. (Ibid.)

ets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do
all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. #9 1 Cor. 13: 1-3 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. 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. 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.
#10 What is charity? It is love so centered in righteousness that the possessor has no aim or desire except for the eternal welfare of his own soul and for the souls of those around him. (see 2 Ne. 26:30; Moro. 7:47, 8:25-26;

Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, by Bruce R. McConkie, 2:378)

#11 Elder Henry B. Eyring: The purpose of the gifts is to serve each #13 The gifts of God are as diverse as are other, to knit us together. If it were those to whom they have been given. Like fingerprints, they are individual and not so, each of us would have been distinctive. The genius of this is that is binds endowed with all of the gifts, so

us together as a community of Saints, every- things, and to give gifts that will eradicate one having something to contribute that no them (Millennial Star, 23 Apr. 1894, 260). one else can do as well. Each of us is in a #16 Well might it be asked, Of all the gifts position to bless and to be blessed. (McConkie and Ostler, Revelations of the Restoration, 368-9) of the Spirit which are the "best" or the ones most to be desired? To which we readily an#14 Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: swer, The gift or gifts most needed in your It is an immensely satisfying thing circumstances and situation. The best gift is to be needed in the body of Christ. the gift best suited to enable you to bless Whether I function as an eye or arm those with whom you have been called to is irrelevant; the fact is I am needed labor. To the young mother, it may be pain this most majestic organism, and the body tience, love, and understanding; to the aged is imperfect without me. A popular singer woman, the ability to endure; to the newly made a small fortune reminding us that called missionary, the gift of tongues; to the people who need people are the luckiest bishop, the gift of discernment; to the people in the world. In the Church of Jesus teacher, knowledge; to the priesthood Christ of Latter-day Saintsthe restored ec- leader, the gift of administration, and so clesiastical body of Christpeople do need forth. people and everyone is welcomed. This in(McConkie and Ostler, Revelations of the Restoration, 363-4) cludes (in Pauls assertion) not only the attractive, talented, comely members, but those of us who seem to have fewer gifts and face greater challenges, those who receive less honor and attention. In the Church of Jesus Christ more abundant honor is given to these. Every member matters, and the less favored member most of all (see 1 Cor. 12:23-24).
(Belonging: A View of Membership, Ensign, Apr. 1980)

#15 President George Q. Cannon: If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect. 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

D&C LESSON 15 OUTLINE On table: Wrapped gift with ingredients for treats inside. I have a wonderful neighbor whose family went through several sets of missionaries and even came to our ward several years ago. In the end, they decided to join another church here in Ramona. The reason she gave me was that in her church meetings they have manifestations of spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues and people being overtly overcome with the Spiritthings she did not see in our meetings. ~Do you think gifts of the Spirit were probably being manifest in that sacrament meeting? (incidentally, it was a fast & testimony meeting) ~What is the purpose of spiritual gifts? (to benefit those who have faith) ~Is the purpose ever to produce faith in those who dont believe? I think my friend wanted to see such things before she would believe. D&C 46:9 & 63:9 ~Was the gift of tongues common in the early church? (yes) There has been a gradual de-emphasizing of this gift over the years, as we can see in these next quotations: Quotations 1-3 Of course, there is also the gift of interpretation of tongues, and I really like an example of it expressed by President David O. McKay: Quotation #4
~How many gifts are there? (Youll notice Ive listed in the beginning of the handout those I found while preparing this lesson. But the answer is infinite.) Quotation #5 Heres where we get into the meat of this lesson. Remember last week we talked about the Law of Consecration. ~According to that law, to whom does everything in this world and the universe belong? (Heavenly Father) ~By the same token, from whom does every good gift that we are blessed with come? ~Does everyone have spiritual gifts? (A man who has none of the gifts has no faith; and he deceives himself, if he supposes he has. (HC 5:218) ) So, we cannot even take pride in our good characteristics, can we? All are gifts from a loving Father in Heaven. All we ought to be is grateful and humble. ~Does each of us have an important contribution to make in this life? Quotation #6 Quotation #7 In a discussion of spiritual gifts, we must turn to Paul in the New Testament. Ive included

these scriptures in:

Quotation #8 ~And what is the more excellent way? (using all theses gifts with charity)

Lets read the first three verses in chapter 13, which is quotation #9 in the handout. ~What is charity? Quotation #10 ~Why are our gifts worthless without charity? For what purpose are they given to us? (that all may be benefited, D&C 46:9, not just ourselves) Quotation #11 ~And how do we discover our gifts? (Patriarchal blessings is one source) Quotations 12-14 Now...these gifts are also part of the repentance process. When we are told to preach naught but repentance (D&C 19:21) thats because everything the gospel teaches is designed to change us, to make us able to dwell with our Father in Heaven. President George Q. Cannon tells us how spiritual gifts enable us to repent in: Quotation #15 ~Besides those gifts which will help us overcome our weaknesses, what other gifts should we seek? Quotation #16 You may have noticed this gift just sitting here throughout the lesson. There are three possible responses you could have to it: 1. You could just ignore it, and after the closing prayer get up and go about your business. But that might hurt my feelings, as I think it hurts Heavenly Father when we ignore the gifts He has provided for our benefit here on earth. 2. You could open it up and see whats inside. In this case many might see the contents but not know what to do with them. So youd probably just shrug and go about your business. 3. Whats your third option? To humbly and gratefully ask the giver what you should do with it. Spiritual gifts require effort to ask and learn how to use them. In this case, you would learn how to make caramels to share with everyone. And I hope youll all enjoy my efforts in your behalf. That we may discover our gifts and not be afraid to use them for the benefit of others is my prayer.