Gifts Of The Spirit

[GWB_esq]

I'm a lifelong member and a returned missionary. I've always been under the impression that the speaking in tongues as I've observed at pentecostal churches is not in keeping with church doctrine and the Biblical directives contined in Corinthians. Recently I read in a "this day in church history" that I receive about early church leaders speaking in tongues in non-foreign mission contexts. There was a translation as the Bible directs but I fail to see the use in such speaking. I would prefer to think of speaking in tongues as the new missionary in Paris suddenly conversing in French despite limited or no preparation in said language. If such a gift existed and was seemingly common among the church in early times, why is such not seen in our meetings today, with appropriate translation?

[NeuroTypical]

If such a gift existed and was seemingly common among the church in early times, why is such not seen in our meetings today, with appropriate translation?

Just speculation, but maybe the explanation is similar to why there was a huge burst of angelic visitations and manefestations surrounding the birth of Christ, but not so much before or after.

Consider - we hear about angels doing the following:

* Visiting Zacharias, commanding him to name his son John

* Visiting Mary before she was overshadowed by the Holy Ghost

* Coming to Joseph in a dream, after he found her with child

* Appearing to the shepherds

* Warning Joseph to flee away from danger with his family

* Keeping watch on Jesus' family as Herod tried to have them killed

I guess this isn't really an answer, just a different way to think about the question. If angels were so commonplace around 33 b.c., how come we hear so little about them in other periods, or today?

We can guess a few sensible reasons why new dispensations are marked with miraculous things like angels and displays of tongues. I don't know that any revelation has settled the matter for us, though.

LM

[Sheelah]

In the same vein as LM's reply. The church was in its infancy back then and required more divine help in getting started and keeping things going. Today a missionary can go to the MTC and in a few weeks be conversed enough to go out into the mission field. I see no particular reason for such missionaries to speak with the gift of tongues in that case. There may be odd instances where it could happen though.

Our Father, just like our parents here on earth, will help until we have sufficiently learned enough to take care of ourselves... more than that would not be to our betterment.

[HiJolly]

I'm a lifelong member and a returned missionary. I've always been under the impression that the speaking in tongues as I've observed at pentecostal churches is not in keeping with church doctrine and the Biblical directives contined in Corinthians. Recently I read in a "this day in church history" that I receive about early church leaders speaking in tongues in non-foreign mission contexts. There was a translation as the Bible directs but I fail to see the use in such speaking. I would prefer to think of speaking in tongues as the new missionary in Paris suddenly conversing in French despite limited or no preparation in said language. If such a gift existed and was seemingly common among the church in early times, why is such not seen in our meetings today, with appropriate translation?

I think it is due to the Saint's own lack of faith, or at least the kind of faith that makes this possible. This was fairly common in the 1800's and only died out in the last 100 years. Brigham Young was the first I know of to speak in tongues in Church history.

HiJolly

[jadams_4040]

I'm a lifelong member and a returned missionary. I've always been under the impression that the speaking in tongues as I've observed at pentecostal churches is not in keeping with church doctrine and the Biblical directives contined in Corinthians. Recently I read in a "this day in church history" that I receive about early church leaders speaking in tongues in non-foreign mission contexts. There was a translation as the Bible directs but I fail to see the use in such speaking. I would prefer to think of speaking in tongues as the new missionary in Paris suddenly conversing in French despite limited or no preparation in said language. If such a gift existed and was seemingly common among the church in early times, why is such not seen in our meetings today, with appropriate translation?

We beleive in the speaking of tongues as per say, but what good does speaking in tongues do when none else can understand whats being said? these pentacostal churches do not understand what the supposed tongue reciting person is saying either. And the use of the speaking in tongues is not for the purpose of as you mentioned, speaking french to a french person.

[HiJolly]

We beleive in the speaking of tongues as per say, but what good does speaking in tongues do when none else can understand whats being said? these pentacostal churches do not understand what the supposed tongue reciting person is saying either. And the use of the speaking in tongues is not for the purpose of as you mentioned, speaking french to a french person.

jadams,

You may be correct Biblically speaking, but many in the modern church have likened this to our need in our time. Many who have served missions have reported divine assistance in speaking in foreign tongues. I accept both these forms of speaking in tongues as a witness of the spirit. The witnesses may be of different things, but they are both of God. IMO.

HiJolly

[NeuroTypical]

And the use of the speaking in tongues is not for the purpose of as you mentioned, speaking french to a french person.

Of course it is.

From the Gospel Principles manual:

The Gift of Tongues (D&C 46:24)

Sometimes it is necessary to communicate the gospel in a language we have not learned. When this happens, the Lord can bless us with the ability to speak that language. Many missionaries have received the gift of tongues when there was a great need for it. For example, Elder Alonzo A. Hinckley was a missionary in Holland who understood and spoke very little Dutch even though he had prayed and studied hard. When he returned to a home he had visited before, a lady opened the door and spoke to him very angrily in Dutch. To his amazement he could understand every word. He felt a strong desire to bear his testimony to her in Dutch. He began to speak, and the words came out very clearly in Dutch. But when he returned to show his mission president that he could speak Dutch, the ability had left him. Many faithful members have been blessed with the gift of tongues. (See Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 2:32–33.)

The Gift of Interpretation of Tongues (D&C 46:25)

This gift is sometimes given to us when we do not understand a language and we need to receive an important message from God. For example, President David O. McKay had a great desire to speak to the Saints in New Zealand without an interpreter. He told them that he hoped that the Lord would bless them that they could understand him. He spoke in English. His message lasted about forty minutes. As he spoke, he could tell by the expression on many of their faces and the tears in their eyes that they were receiving his message. (See Answers to Gospel Questions, 2:30–31.)

The Gift of Translation (D&C 5:4)

If we have been called by the leaders of the Church to translate the word of the Lord, we can receive a gift to translate beyond our natural ability. As with all gifts, we must live righteously, study hard, and pray to receive it. When we do these things, the Lord causes us to feel a burning inside concerning the correctness of the translation (see D&C 9:8–9). Joseph Smith had the gift of translation when he translated the Book of Mormon. This gift came to him only when he was in tune with the Spirit.