7th Article of Faith

[pam]

There have been many investigators using this website to get some basic doctrinal information about the Church. Each week I will post an Article of Faith so that the discussion of each can be done. Keep in mind..this is based on LDS doctrine and debating of that will not be tolerated. Let's try and make this more personal. Copy and paste is wonderful but reading personal testimony and understanding of this doctrinal subject is far more meaningful.

We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth

[Still_Small_Voice]

My patriarchal blessing speaks of a few of my spiritual gifts. Lately it seems this question has come again and again to my mind. Am I developing my spiritual gifts?

I find one way to develop some of the talents Heavenly Father has blessed me with is to give time to spiritual matters. Are we giving ourselves time and opportunities to have spiritual experiences?

Does anyone have any experience with how they have discovered their spiritual gifts that they would like to share? What are you doing to find and develop your spiritual talents?

[pam]

I was looking up some references at lds.org and found this wonderful talk about all of this.

LDS.org - Ensign Article - Gifts of the Spirit

[rameumptom]

Elder George Q. Cannon said:

How many of you . . . are seeking for these gifts that God has promised to bestow? How many of you, when you bow before your Heavenly Father in your family circle or in your secret places contend for these gifts to be bestowed upon you? How many of you ask the Father, in the name of Jesus, to manifest Himself to you through these powers and these gifts? Or do you go along day by day like a door turning on its hinges, without having any feeling upon the subject, without exercising any faith whatever; content to be baptized and be members of the Church, and to rest there, thinking that your salvation is secure because you have done this? . . . 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. If a man lack wisdom, it is his duty to ask God for wisdom. The same with everything else. That is the design of God concerning His Church. He wants His Saints to be perfected in the truth. For this purpose He 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’” (Millennial Star, April 1894, pp. 260 -261, as quoted in Student Manual, pp. 101-102).

[PapilioMemnon]

The nature of gifts we should seek are the spiritual ones; they are the best gifts! There are many of them; we should prayerfully try to identify the gift or many gifts the Lord blessed us with, and remember for the purpose they were given (To built His kingdom & bless others). If we keep an eye single to the glory of God, we won't misuse them!

Peace, charity, tenderness, kindness, mercy, joy, long-suffering, faith, hope, .... and many more, not the visible types though, nonetheless are also precious gifts!

LINKS:

Articles of Faith 1: 7

http://speeches-files.byu.edu/freefiles/provider1/type1/9316HALE.pdf

http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1987.htm/ensign%20november%201987.htm/there%20are%20many%20gifts.htm

CES Fireside 2006 - Eyring