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Latter-day Saints are promised the Gifts of the Spirit to guide and assist them. This inspiring audiotape has been prepared to describe the many gifts available and to teach how to obtain them.
In the tape, well-known author and theologian Duane S. Crowther explains twenty-six choice gifts offered to those who seek to keep the Lord's commandments. These are grouped as gifts of knowledge, of faith, of communication, of church administration, and of salvation and exaltation.
After discussing seven purposes spiritual gifts can fill in your life, he shows from the scriptures that you are commanded not only to know about these gifts but to earnestly seek them to aid you in serving the Lord.
This tape has the power to change your life! To diligently seek the spiritual gifts, you need to approach God in fervent prayer. Written especially for those for whom this is a new and challenging experience, the tape gives you detailed suggestions teaching you how to pray and penetrate the veil by applying a broad assortment of counsel and instructions from the scriptures and Church leaders.
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A Commandment: Seek Spiritual Gifts
1. Key passages list basic gifts of the Spirit:
A. 1. Corinthians 12:1-11.
B. Moroni 10:5-18.
C. D & C 46:8-12, 13-26.
2. Spiritual gifts are truly gifts, and can't be earned:
A. The Holy Ghost bestows them when He sees fit to do so.
B. A person may receive more than one gift.
3. We are commanded to seek spiritual gifts:
A. Seek ye earnestly the best gifts. (D & C 46:8)
B. Desire spiritual gifts. (1 Cor. 14:1)
C. Covet earnestly the best gifts. (1 Cor. 12:31)
D. The seven purposes spiritual gifts serve in our lives:
1. to benefit those who love God.
2. to prevent man from being deceived by false doctrine.
3. to bless the entire membership of Christ's Church.
4. to cause man to walk uprightly before God.
5. to cause man to commune with God.
6. to cause man to consider the end of his salvation.
7. to characterize those who are true believers.
References to Memorize
4. Basic spiritual gifts summary passages:
A. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
B. Moroni 10:5-18
C. D&C 46:8-26
5. Seek spiritual gifts:
A. D&C 46:8
B. 1 Corinthians 14:1
C. 1 Corinthians 14:12
D. 1 Corinthians 12:31
A Listing of the Spiritual Gifts
6. Four gifts of knowledge:
A. A testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ revealed through His personal manifestation.
B. A testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ through belief in the witness of others.
C. Godly knowledge--knowledge of both secular and sacred things. (D & C 128:14)
D. Godly wisdom--the inspired use of knowledge. (Al. 37:35)
7. Five gifts of faith:
A. Faith--a hope for unseen things which are true. (Hebrews 11:1, Alma 32:21)
B. Faith to heal others--special powers of healing.
C. Faith to be healed--overpowering confidence that one's infirmities can be cured through Christ's power.
D. Miracles--power to perform deeds beyond man's understanding and ability. (Moroni 7:33-37)
E. Helps and governments--revealed counsel and divine assistance in solving one's personal problems.
8. Ten gifts of communication:
A. Revelation--communication from God to man.
B. Prophecy--revealed ability to foretell events and to understand and interpret prophecies made by others. (1 Cor. 14:1, 3-4, Revelation 19:10)
C. Speaking in tongues--ability to speak in an unknown language. (1 Cor. 14:4, 22)
D. Interpretation of tongues--ability to understand a language unknown to the hearer.
E. Speaking.
F. Writing.
C. Translating.
H. Teaching.
I. Expounding the Scriptures.
J. Bearing testimony.
9. Three gifts of church administration:
A. Administration--inspired guidance in performing priesthood and Church leadership functions.
B. Diversities of Operations--inspired ability to discern the true objectives of groups, activities, events, causes and programs, and to be aware of what is going on.
C. Discerning of Spirits--inspired ability to discern the attitudes, traits and objectives of individuals and spirit visitors.
10. Four gifts of salvation and exaltation:
A. Repentance--inspired guidance in correcting one's life and turning from sin to righteousness. (Alma 13:30. Romans 2:4)
B. Charity--the pure love of Christ, directed towards Him and towards His people.
(Moroni 7:47)
C. Hope--inspired desire and expectation of attaining salvation and eternal life.
(Moroni 7:41, Titus 3:7)
D. Eternal Life--being saved and exalted in the heavenly kingdom of God; the greatest of all the spiritual gifts. (D & C 6:13. Moses 1:39, 2 Ne. 25:23)
11. Wilford Woodruff's counsel:
A. We should obtain the Holy Spirit, get acquainted, listen, and then obey. (Wilford Woodruff, Leaves From My Journal (Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor Office, 1881), pp. 86-87.)
12. Oliver B. Huntington's counsel:
A. If you obey the commandments and live a pure life, the Holy Ghost will influence your thoughts, words and actions; bring forgotten things to mind; and reveal new principles and doctrines. (Oliver B. Huntington, Eventful Narratives, (Salt Lake City: Juvenile Instructor Office, 1887), p. 84.)
Six Steps Towards Seeking Spiritual Gifts
13. Step 1: have a strong desire:
A. Those who hunger and thirst shall be filled by the Holy Ghost. (3 Ne. 12:6)
14. Step 2: choose your goals by the Spirit:
A. Draw near to God, seek Him diligently, then ask. (D & C 88:63)
B. Ask in Spirit to receive in Spirit. (D & C 46:28)
C. Other counsel for choosing a goal by inspiration:
1. Choose a specific time to begin.
2. Eliminate routine distractions.
3. Prepare by praying in advance.
4. Avoid actions which exclude the Spirit.
5. Know about the gifts of the Spirit in advance.
6. Seek the Spirit by fasting.
7. Resist evil thoughts.
8. Seek inspiration at church. (D & C 86:62; 6:32)
9. Actually talk with God.
10. Ask your close relatives for help.
11. Learn the methods by which the Holy Ghost communicates.
15. Step 3: seek spiritual gifts to serve God: (Morm. 9:27-28; 1. Cor. 14:12; 3 Ne. 18:7)
16. Step 4: strive humbly for the blessings of the Spirit: (D & C 5:24, 28; Al. 13:27-29)
17. Step 5: be free from sin: (Al. 37:15-17; D & C 121:37)
18. Step 6: ask in mighty prayer for help:
A. Ask in faith.
B. Believe you will receive an answer.
C. Keep the commandments. (1 Ne. 15:11)
D. Pray for what is right. (3 Ne. 18:20)
E. Pray for what is necessary. (D & C 88:64-65; 2 Ne. 32:7-8)
F. Pray with real intent. (Moro. 7:9)
G. Give thanks unto God. (Phil. 4:6; Al. 7:23)
H. Pray in "mighty prayer." (Jude 20: Al. 8:10; Enos 1: Lk. 6:12)
Conclusion:
19. The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (1 Cor. 2:9-11)
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