#15 Seek ye earnestly the best gifts

D&C 46; 1Cor. 12 &13, Moroni 10:8-18

Have you ever been known to say “I don’t have any gifts or talents”? Then this lesson is for you! I had a great analogy given to me about flowers and how even though there are many kinds and colors they are all wonderful, but there was so much fun doctrine here that I really just want to jump right in with it.

So if you have said that you don’t have any gifts or talents here are 2 quotes for you.
The 1st is by Orson Pratt (D&C institute manual p100) “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 it’s influence, but also imparts to him some gift, intended for the benefit of himself and others.

2nd quote by Marvin J. Ashton (ensign Nov. 1987 p20) “We must remember that to every man is given a gift by the spirit of God. It is our right and responsibility to accept our gifts and to share them. God’s gifts and powers are available to all of us.”

All of us, really? P314 Mormon doctrine: “The gifts of the spirit are bestowed upon men. Their receipt is always predicated upon obedience to law, but because they are freely available to all the obedient, they are called gifts. They are signs and miracles reserved for the faithful and for none else.”

The key to these quotes in attaining these gifts is we have to yield ourselves to the spirit and accept them. If we go around saying “I don’t have a gift” or “I just haven’t got mine yet” then we are either not accepting our gifts, or we just don’t know how to figure out what they are. I am choosing to be an optimist today therefore we are going to go with the latter, that we just don’t know where to start knowing what they are and how to find them. We will discuss this as length in a minute but first I want to discuss more doctrine to keep us on the right track with our discussion.

Doctrine:
Can we ask for a particular gift or more gifts?
D&C 46: 8, 28, 30 We should covet them, we should seek for more but we need to ask “in the spirit” meaning ask the Lord what gifts we should have or need; asking according to the will of God. An example of this is if I want the gift of Teaching knowledge and I get it and I use that knowledge for anything other than building up God’s Kingdom then it could be to my own condemnation.

46:31 also if I was given the gift of teaching by the spirit and I taught how and what I wanted rather than listening to what the Lord wanted, that could also be to my condemnation.

So to sum it up-don’t pray for new gifts just to have them. You have to have every intention of using the gifts before they will be given to you. Not to mention if your gift isn’t supposed to be the gift of weeping, because there are already too many weepers—you many not get it, unless the Lord thinks you need it for His purposes.

This brings us to why we have gifts: 46:26 That all may be benefitted.
Orson Pratt (D&C institute manual section 46) gives us more detail on this verse. “These spiritual gifts are distributed among the members of the church, according to their faithfulness, circumstances, natural abilities, duties, and callings; that the whole (church, ward, family) may be properly instructed, confirmed, perfected and saved”

Meaning every person in our ward will have different gift so that we can all edify each other in different ways through different calling. As we take new callings we may get new gifts that will be enhanced by the gifts we already have or develop completely new ones that will take our lives in a whole new place.

The last reason I want to tell you is given by President George Q. Cannon (Millenial Star April 1894 p 260-261) He (the Lord) gives these gifts and bestows them upon those who seek after them, in order that they may be a perfect people upon the face of the earth, notwithstanding their many weaknesses, because God has promised to give the gifts that are necessary for their perfection.”

So we can ask for and receive gifts for our perfection to conquer weaknesses.
Write on your paper 2 weaknesses, now as we pull out of our bowl some of the gifts of the spirit and discuss them try to write down a gift of the spirit you could take to the Lord in prayer and ask Him if you can have this gift to conquer the weakness on your paper and see if you don’t get it. I looked up gifts of the spirit in the following books and our scriptures and these are among those that lie in our bowl. We will answer the following questions on the board concerning the gift that is pulled out, maybe that will be your answer maybe not.
Gifts of the spirit:
To know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
Gift to believe on others words
Gift to know the differences of administration
Gift to know the diversities of operations
Gift of the word of wisdom
Gift of the Word of Knowledge
Gift of being able to teach with knowledge and /or wisdom
Gift of Faith
Gift of Faith to be healed
Gift of Faith to heal
Gift of working miracles
Gift of prophesy
Gift of discerning of spirits and ministering of angels
Gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues
Gift to discern all gifts
Gift of knowing B Of M is true
Gift of receiving revelations
Gift of having a testimony
Gift of judgment
Gift of preaching
Gift of declaring the gospel
Gift of viewing visions
Gift of translation
Gift of asking
Gift of listening
Gift of hearing and using the still small voice
Gift of being agreeable
Gift of avoiding vain repetition
Gift of seeking that which is righteous
Gift of not passing judgment
Gift of looking to God for guidance
Gift of being a disciple
Gift of caring for others
Gift of being able to ponder
Gift of offering prayer
Gift of bearing a mighty testimony
Gift of receiving the Holy Ghost
Gift of friendship
Gift of being positive
Gift of being generous
Gifts of ________ ( woodworking, quilting, cooking, organizing, loving etc)
Basically all good things can be gifts, because we know all good things come from God all these gifts and more are part of His being or make-up and we are made after his image and countenance.
Questions to ask with each gift pulled out of bowl:
1-How can I know what gift I have or if I have this particular gift?
The things I gravitate to, natural abilities, patriarchal blessings, strong desire for
2- How can I develop this gift?
Asking Lord, Learning from others who already have it, callings, practice,
3- What can I do to continually bless others with my gift?
Serve others, give things away, use it, offer services (not wait to be asked)
4- How can I use this gift to conquer weaknesses?
Use gift to gain confidence, rid yourself of fear, knowledge is key to unlocking many things
5- How can I show thanks to Father in Heaven for this gift?
Verbally, servings fellow man, learning new things, teaching others what I know
I have a testimony of Gifts of the spirit, I know there are many out there, I know I could go through every person in this room and we could all name a gift that we each have because we all have gifts we are all needed in our families and wards to build up the Lords kingdom and be perfected that we may dwell with Him. I know that we can receive as many gifts as we want and are allowed according to the Lord’s will. I know that we can conquer weaknesses through them, in the Name of Jesus Christ Amen.