Transcript Seek Earnestly the Best Gifts

Objective
To
help class members identify
OBJECTI
gifts of the spirit, seek to obtain
them, and use them to serve others.
Seek Ye Earnestly the
Best Gifts
Lesson 15
by Dennis N. Roberts
Fresh Crab and French Bread
By Garnee Faulkner
Spiritual Gifts / Define
Mormon Doctrine:
 Spiritual blessings or abilities that are given
by Christ through the Holy Ghost
 Though predicated upon obedience, they
are gifts because they are freely given and
freely available
Spiritual Gifts / Identify #1
 Knowledge (D&C 46:13)
 Belief in testimonies of Savior (D&C 46:14)
 Knowledge of differences of administration
(D&C 46:15
 Discernment to know diversities of operation
(D&C 46:16)
 Wisdom of knowledge (D&C 46:17-18)
 Faith to be healed (D&C 46:19)
 Faith to heal (46:20)
Spiritual Gifts / Identify #2
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Working of miracles (D&C 46:21)
Prophecy, viewing visions (D&C 46:22)
Discernment of spirits (D&C 46:23)
Speaking in tongues (D&C 46:24)
Interpretation of tongues (D&C 46:25)
Knowing Jesus Christ is Son of God
Knowing Book of Mormon is true
Spiritual Gifts / Identify #3
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Gift of testimony
Gift of receiving revelations
Gift of judgment
Gift of wisdom
Gifts of teaching, exhortation, preaching
Beholding angels, discerning spirits
Gift of translation
Gift of “seership”
Spiritual Gifts / Identify #4
Elder Bruce R. McConkie
“Spiritual gifts are endless in number and
infinite in variety. Those listed in the
revealed word are simply illustrations.”
Elder Marvin J. Ashton
many “…less conspicuous gifts…”
Spiritual Gifts / Identify #5
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Gift of asking
Gift of listening
Gift of hearing and using still, small voice
Gift of avoiding contention
Gift of being agreeable
Gift of seeking what is righteous
Gift of not passing judgment
Spiritual Gifts / Identify #6
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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
Spiritual Gifts / Purpose
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Bless us to do good
Strengthen us
Edify us towards peace
Guide us toward eternal life
Enlighten us
Encourage us
Unify us
Help us serve others
Help us avoid being deceived
President Boyd K. Packer
“All inspiration does not come from
God. The evil one has the power to tap into
those channels of revelation and send
conflicting signals which can mislead and
confuse us. There are promptings from evil
sources which are so carefully counterfeited
as to deceive even the very elect.”
Prophet Joseph Smith
"In order to have the power to distinguish between
truth and error and to interpret properly a dream
or vision, one must have a pure heart and a
contrite spirit and be living a righteous life.”
“Satan's mission is to deceive,
and he can, and does, give
revelation to those who permit
themselves to fall into his power.
Lying spirits are going forth in
the earth. There will be great
manifestations of spirits, both
false and true.”
D&C 46: 7-9
7
But yethat
are commanded
indeceived
all things to
8 …and
ye may not be
askye
of earnestly
God, whothe
giveth
and that
seek
bestliberally;
gifts, always
which the Spirit
testifies
you even
remembering
for what
theyunto
are given;
so I would that ye should do in all
9 For
verilyof
I say
untothat
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holiness
heart…
mayare
not be
given
for the
seduced
bybenefit of those who love
me and keep all my commandments,
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and him
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seeketh so to do; that all
2)benefited
or doctrines
devils,
may be
thatofseek
or that ask
or the
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men…
of me,3)that
ask commandments
and not for a sign
they may consume it upon their lusts.
Question 1
“…for there are
many gifts…”
D&C 46:11
How do we obtain
spiritual gifts?
Opening the windows of heaven
(with a constant connection)
Covenants & Promises
Children
Of
Men
Heavenly
Father
Endowment & Gifts
...whenever the Holy Ghost takes up its residence in a person, it
not only cleanses, sanctifies, and purifies him…,
but also imparts to him some gift, intended for the benefit of
himself and others. No one who has been born of the Spirit and
who remains sufficiently faithful, is left destitute of a spiritual gift.
(Orson Pratt)
Question 2
“…and to every man
is given a gift by
the Spirit of God.”
D&C 46:11
Do you know what your
spiritual gifts are?
Finding our Spiritual Gifts
Covenants & Promises
Children
Of
Men
Revelations
Experiences
Patriarchal Blessings
Heavenly
Father
Question 3
“…seek ye earnestly
the best gifts…”
D&C 46:8
Why should we seek
spiritual gifts?
President
George Q. Cannon
How many of you, my brethren and
sisters, 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? …
President
George Q. Cannon
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?
President
George Q. Cannon
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.
President
Cannon continues
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.
President
Cannon concludes
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.“
(Millennial Star, 23 Apr 1894, p260)
How does this apply to me?
Have I identified my gifts?
OBJECTI
Have I sought the best gifts?
Have I employed them to bless
myself and others?
Next Week
Lesson 16
“Thou Shalt Offer Up Thy
Sacraments Upon My Holy Day”
(Member Study Guide page 10)