D&C 46:1-10

Section 45 was excellent in content, but it was so long, I can’t believe that we got through it. The IM gives the background as follows: “Challenges to the Lord’s newly restored Church were many and varied. The foundation years saw Satan’s power unleashed in continued efforts to thwart the kingdom of God. Evil spirits were marshaled to destroy the Prophet Joseph Smith and all who aligned themselves with Christ’s Church. But the heavens had been opened, and God had revealed to is prophet-leader the designs and tactics of the enemy. Speaking of these tactics, the Prophet Joseph Smith said: ‘A man must have the discerning of spirits before he can drag into daylight this hellish influence and unfold it unto the world in all its soul-destroying, diabolical, and horrid colors; for nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God. Thousands have felt the influence of its terrible power and baneful effects. Long pilgrimages have been undertaken, penances endured, and pain, misery and ruin have followed in their train; nations have been convulsed, kingdoms overthrown, provinces laid waste, and blood, carnage and desolation are habiliments in which it has been clothes.’ On 8 March at Kirtland, Ohio, the Prophet received section 46, a revelation which would assist the Saints in dragging into daylight Satan’s plan by describing the true gifts of the Holy Spirit.” I have to be honest, the whole concepts of the “gifts of the Spirit” is very difficult for me to understand so I might not have much insight to contribute to this section. DJR has some interesting insight saying, “this revelation was given through the Prophet Joseph Smith in Kirtland, Ohio, on March 8, 1831, just one day after the revelation recorded in section 45 was given. Section 46 is probably best known for its listing of several gifts of the Spirit. As we study these spiritual gifts, you may wish to pay particular attention to which ones you may already have and which ones you feel you would like to strive to obtain, according to the invitation of the Lord in verse 8. Before we study these spiritual gifts as listed in verses 13-25, we will deal with a few other matters. Verse 2 is very important to anyone who has the stewardship to conduct meetings in the Church. While we know that there are guidelines and policies that are provided by the Church for the conducting of meetings, it is vital that those in charge listen to and follow the promptings of the Spirit as they preside and conduct.”

46:1-6 - The Lord introduces himself then says, “But notwithstanding those things which are written, it always has been given to the elders of my church from the beginning, and ever shall be, to conduct all meetings as they are directed and guided by the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless ye are commanded never to cast any one out from your public meetings, which are held before the world.” DJR gives a little bit more context for the reason that this might have been the practice at this time saying, “At this time in the early history of the Church, a standard routine or pattern had not yet developed for the holding and conducting of church meetings. However, a practice of not admitting the public (unless they were serious investigators) to church meetings had become commonplace. The Lord addresses this issue directly in these verses.” We are also told not to “cast any one out” from our meetings that are already members or that are seeking the kingdom. Looking at this in the blatantly obvious act of kicking someone out of your meetings, seems absurd, but are there subtle ways that we violate God’s counsel and make others not welcome at our meetings? I deal with this issue pretty regularly as I have friends who have felt unwelcomed at church. We don’t have to literally tell someone to leave, or physically escort them from the building to make them feel like they are intruding, that’s why I think it’s so important to make an effort to help people feel like they are welcome and wanted, because they are. The IM teaches, “John Whitmer records in his history that ‘in the beginning of the Church, while yet in her infancy, the disciples use to exclude unbelievers which caused some to marvel and converse of this matter because of the things written in the Book of Mormon. Therefore, the Lord deigned to speak in this subject, that his people might come to an understanding, and he said that he had always given to his elders to conduct all meetings as they were led by the Spirit.’ After the Lord gave this revelation this practice of forbidding non-members to attend the sacrament services ceased.” There was one teaching that I really liked that said something like, “If the back row of our sacrament meeting doesn’t smell like cigarette smoke then we aren’t doing our jobs as member missionaries.”

46:7-10 - Verses 7 and 8 say, “But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils. Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given.” Again, the concept of being spiritually deceived is really confusing for me. DJR comments “Did you notice in verse 8, above, that the Lord invites us to seek these spiritual gifts? While each member of the Church has been given at least one gift, we are invited to seek additional gifts, choosing those that would be ‘best’ for us. This can be a very important part of our personal spiritual growth and progression. We should obviously avoid seeking for those that could be damaging for us- for instance for the gift of tongues so that we can show off in testimony meeting or whatever.” I think the warning of misusing or desiring to misuse gifts of the Spirit is what the Lord is talking about at the end of verse 8 to remember “for what they are given,” for what purpose and how to use them. The IM quotes Elder Marion G. Romney as teaching, “By the statement in the revelation on spiritual gifts, ‘… it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether they be of God,… and to others the discerning of spirits,’ it appears that there are some apparently supernatural manifestations which are not worked by the power of the Holy Ghost. The truth is there are many which are not. The world today is full of counterfeits. It has always been so. Away back in the days of Moses, when Aaron’s rod became a serpent, then Pharaoh’s wise men, sorcerers and magicians’… cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents… Isaiah warned against seeking ‘… unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter…’ the Saints were cautioned by the Lord to walk uprightly before him, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that they might ‘… not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men;…’ These citations not only sustain the proposition that there are counterfeits to the gifts of the Spirit, but they also suggest the origin of the counterfeits. However, we are not required to rely alone upon their implications, plain as they are, for the Lord states specifically that some of the counterfeits ‘… are of men, and others of devils.’ Some of these counterfeits are crude and easily detected, but others closely simulate true manifestations of the spirit. Consequently, people are confused and deceived by them. Without a key, one cannot distinguish between the genuine and the counterfeit.” Honestly, I’m completely lost, I don’t understand any of this, I don’t understand how Satan can mimic a gift of the Holy Ghost.