10:5-19

10:5-8 - As I was trying to learn more about gifts of the Spirit, which is what Moroni talks about next, I listened to chapter 22 of the Gospel Principles manual entitled "The Gifts of the Spirit." While discussing how Satan "imitates the gifts of the Spirit" the manual teaches, "Satan can imitate the gifts of tongues, prophecy, visions, healings, and other miracles. Moses had to compete with Satan's imitations in Pharaoh's court. Satan wants us to believe in his false prophets, false healers, and false miracle workers. They may appear to be so real to us that the only way to know is to ask God for the gift of discernment." This was hit home to me when I read Moroni 10:5 "and by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." There are 174 citations for this verse and most are very powerful, though I have not had time to read them all but I'd like to quote from a great one by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf in the October 2006 general conference address entitled, "The Power of a Personal Testimony," he teaches, "When we bear testimony, we declare the absolute truth of the gospel message. In a time when many perceive truth as relative, a declaration of absolute truth is not very popular, nor does it seem politically correct or opportune. Testimonies of things how 'they really are' are bold, true, and vital because they have eternal consequences for mankind. Satan wouldn't mind if we declared the message of our faith and gospel doctrine as negotiable according to circumstances. Our firm conviction of gospel truth is an anchor in our lives; it is steady and reliable as the North Star. A testimony is very personal and may be a little different for each of us, because everyone is a unique person. However, a testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ will always include these clear and simple truths: God lives. He is our loving Father in Heaven, and we are His children. Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and the Savior of the world. Joseph Smith is the prophet of God through whom the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored in the latter days. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. President Gordon B. Hinckley, his counselors, and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are the prophets, seers, and revelators in our day. As we acquire a deeper knowledge of these truths and of the plan of salvation by the power and the gift of the Holy Ghost, we can come to 'know the truth of all things.'" I loved this because it covers the vital points of gospel doctrine, of course it's President Thomas S. Monson who presides today, but that was an incredible example of testimony, pure testimony, and the power that accompanies the bearing of it. In an October 2004 general conference address entitled "I Stand at the Door and Knock," Elder Ronald T. Halverson said "I invite you to... do whatever it takes to earnestly seek truth, to know God the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ." He begins by telling of a time when a friend asked him about the church, he "responded by telling him of the Restoration, that God the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith and that through him the priesthood and authority of God were restored to the earth. I bore witness that I knew assuredly that what I had told him was true. There was a long pause as I watched him ponder what I had said. Then, knowing that he was internalizing what he had heard, I leaned over and said: 'You can know as surely as I know that what I have borne witness to is true. If you will ‘ask God, the Eternal Father,… with a sincere hearts, having faith in Christ, (I promise you that) he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost (you) may know the truth of all things.’” Another powerful example of the knowledge of truth and the powerful witness that we can bear when we have it. It goes right into the “gifts of God,” I wonder why it goes from gaining a knowledge of the truth to gifts of the Spirit. Maybe it is a gift of the Spirit to know the truth, and as we gain the gift of knowledge of the truth, then we begin to gain other gifts. I didn’t and kind of still don’t understand the concept of the gifts of the Spirit, I had always thought that the gifts of the Spirit were talents that God gave us in order to help us succeed in this life and that having these talents was through no doing of our own, we couldn’t gain them, we couldn’t lose them, it was just something we were born with, and I guess in a way that that’s true, but for the most part it’s not. Yes, I think that we are all born with at least one gift of the Spirit, but it can be lost to us if we misuse it or neglect its care. I also think that we can acquire new gifts of the Spirit as we strive towards perfection. This was very encouraging for me to learn, I know that I have some, just like everyone else, and I’m grateful for that, but there are many that I lack and it can be painful to me because I don’t want to be without those attributes or gifts, I want to be who the Savior wants me to be. I remember reading that meekness and temperance are gifts of the Spirit and oh how I want those gifts. It’s a process, as I try to become more Christ-like, but to hear that it is possible for me to obtain those gifts, through the grace of God, that is comforting to me, gives me hope. Interestingly, I listened to an October 2009 general conference talk entitled “Our Perfect Example” in which President Henry B. Eyring taught “That ought to help you understand why any believing Latter-day Satin is an optimist about what lies ahead for him or her, however difficult the present may be. We believe that through living the gospel of Jesus Christ we can become like the Savior, who is perfect. Considering the attributes of Jesus Christ should quash the pride of the self-satisfied person who thinks he or she has no need to improve. And even the most humble person can take hope in the invitation to become like the Savior.” The possibility to become more like the Savior is so amazing and hope inspiring that it’s worth holding onto the optimism and doing the work to slowly but surely gain the gifts of the Spirit, the ones that the Savior has, which is all of them, and to become better, happier, and more joyful in Christ. The IM quotes Elder Bruce R. McConkie as teaching “(The purpose of spiritual gifts) is to enlighten, encourage, and edify the faithful so that they will inherit peace in this life and be guided toward eternal life in the world to come. Their presence is proof of the divinity of the Lord’s work; where they are not found, there the Church and kingdom of God is not. The promise is that they shall never be done away as long as the earth continues in its present state, except for unbelief, but when the prefect day comes and the saints obtain exaltation, there will be no more need for them. As Paul expressed it, ‘When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.’ Faithful persons are expected to seek the gifts of the Spirit with all their hearts. They are to ‘covet earnestly the best gifts,’ to ‘desire spiritual gifts,’ ‘to ask of God, who giveth liberally.’ To some will be given one gift; to others, another; and ‘unto some it may be given to have all those gifts, that there may be a head, in order that every member may be profited thereby.’” If everyone is given at least one spiritual gift, and the gifts can only be gone off the face of the earth because of unbelief, then yes, gifts of the Spirit can be lost from a person because they refuse to see it or nurture it. The IM continues by quoting Elder Marvin J. Ashton as teaching, “Let us review some of these less-conspicuous gifts: the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost.” Wow, there are a lot of gifts there, subtle ones, most of which I do not possess. I wonder how much easier my life would be if I had all those gifts, but I guess that’s not the purpose of this life, to have it easy or to have all the gifts, the purpose is to work for them, to value them and to grace closer to God in their pursuit and use. The IM continues by quoting President Boyd K. Packer as teaching, “I must emphasize that the word ‘gift’ is of great significance, for a gift may not be demanded or it ceases to be a gift. It may only be accepted when proffered. Inasmuch as spiritual gifts are gifts, the conditions under which we may receive them are established by him who offers them to us. Spiritual gifts cannot be forced, for a gift is a gift. They cannot, I repeat, be forced, nor bought, not ‘earned’ in the sense that we make some gesture in payment and expect them to automatically be delivered on our own terms. There are those who seek such gifts with such persistence and each act moves them further from them. And in that persistence and determination they place themselves in spiritual danger. Rather we are to live to be worthy of the gifts and they will come according to the will of the Lord. Brigham Young said something in his day that surely applies to ours: ‘There is no doubt, if a person lives according to the revelations given to God’s people, he may have the Spirit of the Lord to signify to him His will, to guide his duties in his temporal as well as his spiritual exercises. I am satisfied however, that in this respect, we live far beneath our privileges.’ Spiritual gifts belong to the Church and their existence is one of the great and abiding testimonies of the truth of the gospel. They really are not optional with the Church. Moroni taught that if they were absent then ‘awful is the state of man.’… We are to seek to be worthy to receive these gifts according to the way that the Lord has directed. Now, I say that again- we are to seek for spiritual gifts in the Lord’s way.” I think it’s interesting that President Young said we live far beneath our privileges, what does that mean? I think he’s saying that if we keep the commandments, the Lord will guide our lives and His will should be unfolded to us through the Holy Ghost, and that happens, but for the most part, we could be and do and have so much more revelation and guidance and gifts through the Holy Ghost.

10:9-19 - Some of the gifts Moroni mentions are being about to “teach the word of wisdom… teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit… exceedingly great faith… the gifts of healing… that he may work mighty miracles… that he may prophesy concerning all things… the beholding of angels and ministering spirits… all kinds of tongues… the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues.” Chapter 22 in the Gospel Principles manual goes through many of these gifts, and others, and it’s very interesting, I wanted to quote them here, but I don’t have the time, but go read that chapter, it’s very enlightening. If these are some of the gifts, then the IM asks “How can we experience gifts of the Spirit?” It quotes Elder Gene R. Cook as teaching, “One of the great processes you go through in life is to discover yourself, to find those gifts and capacities God has given you. He has given you great talents, the smallest part of which you have just begun to utilize. Trust the Lord to assist you in unlocking the door to those gifts. Some of us have created imaginary limits in our minds. There is literally a genius locked up inside each of us. Don’t every let anyone convince you otherwise.’ I love this! It’s like Einstein’s saying, something like “Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish based on its ability to climb a tree then it’s going to spend its like thinking it’s an idiot.” I really do believe that there is so much potential inside each one of us and that if we can even begin to fathom the smallest part of it, our worlds would be changed forever. The IM continues by quoting Elder Parley P. Pratt as teaching, “The gift of the Holy Spirit adapts itself to all these organs or attributes. It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all the natural passions and affections, and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity. It develops beauty of person, form, and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.” In the beginning of this statement, it seemed to me that it was saying that the Holy Ghost changes to fit us, but in fact, what I think its saying, is that the Holy Ghost changes us to fit God. The person who abounds in gifts of the Spirit is Christ-like in character, radiates beauty from the inside out, and enlivens the physical body to its fullest capacity available. I really like that, I want that, I want those things. I’m going to have to work on being worthy for more gifts of the Spirit as well as be worthy for the Lord’s help in magnifying the ones that I already have.