What are your gifts and talents? Some may answer that they are musically gifted, intellectually gifted or athletically gifted. Others may see themselves gifted in speech or in their ability to lead. The gift of cooking, car mechanics, sewing, running or other more obvious gifts like these are important. But the gifts that come from the spirit can be harder to identify within ourselves and are more precious. I hope that today you can think on the spiritual gifts you possess as well as those that you can seek for in order to bless the lives of those you love and your own.
These gifts come "according to the faith" in our hearts. As we demonstrate our faith, these gifts come to us through "manifestations of the Spirit of God unto man." They come "unto man severally, according as [Christ] will." We are told that "every good gift cometh of Christ." So as we look to Christ, ask in faith for a spiritual gift, and then consistently work for it the Lord will provide us with that gift according to His will.
Moroni expresses in the very last chapter of the Book of Mormon that "there are many" spiritual gifts. It would also be beneficial to read your patriarchal blessing to identify gifts you have and should develop. You can also ask a trusted friend or family member what gifts they see that you possess and gifts you could obtain. Searching through the scriptures I have discovered these gifts of the spirit to be mentioned.
Spiritual Gifts
1) Teaching or receiving of the word of wisdom
2) Teaching or receiving of the word of knowledge
3) Exceedingly great faith (principle of action)
4) Faith to heal or be healed
5) Ability to work mighty miracles
6) Ability to prophesy concerning all things
7) Beholding of angels and ministering spirits
8) Speaking/Understanding all kinds of tongues
9) Interpretation of tongues and divers tongues
10) Spirit of Revelation
11) Gift of the Holy Ghost
12) Translation
13) Testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
14) Belief on other's testimonies
15) Understanding of differences of administration
16) Knowledge of the diversities of operations
17) Discerning of spirits
18) Being a seer
19) Salvation
20) Peacemaker------ Shall be called the children of God
21) Humility
22) Virtue
23) Hope
24) Charity
25) Patience
26) Those that mourn------Shall receive comfort
27) Meekness----------Shall inherit the earth
28) Poor in Spirit--------- The Kingdom of Heaven is theirs
29) Hunger and thirst after righteousness----- Shall be filled
30) Merciful-----Shall obtain mercy
31) Pure in heart------shall see God
32) Take persecution for righteousness sake-------The Kingdom of Heaven is theirs
33) Have reviling, persecution and evil spoken against you falsely for Christ's sake-------rejoice, great is your reward in heaven, you stand with the prophets of old.
(Moroni 10, Alma 9:21, D&C 46, Matt 5)
In Moroni 10:24 we are told that "if the day cometh that the power and gifts of God shall be done away among you, it shall be because of unbelief." Therefore it is so important that we protect and nourish our faith as we seek spiritual gifts. These gifts can tether us to Jesus Christ and weaken the offenses of Satan in our lives.
Elder Juan Pablo Villar of the seventy said that "Our muscles grow when we use them. I have come to realize that spiritual gifts behave in the same way. They need to be exercised to grow...It is more likely that He (God) will give us opportunities to develop those gifts rather than just granting them to us without spiritual or physical effort. If we are in tune with the spirit, we will learn to identify those opportunities and then act upon them."
We will be able to see more clearly the attacks of the adversary and utilize the spiritual gifts given to us as protection of our faith in "God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives and our children." (Alma 46:12) I encourage you to search the scriptures and find a gift of the spirit you wish to develop with the desire to serve others and build God's kingdom in preparation for His return. The Lord has said that "he that asketh in spirit, shall receive in spirit...ye must give thanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with." (D&C 46:28&32)
Challenge: List the spiritual gifts you possess. List spiritual gifts you desire to develop.
(ponder this yourself, read your patriarchal blessing, ask family or friends about the gifts they see in you or gifts you can work on developing). Select one gift to work this New Year to obtain through prayer and living worthy of that gift.
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