6/26/2017 - Section 46:1-10

June 26, 2017

Section 46:1-10

Spiritual Gifts How To, Journal Personal,

The historical background given in the student manual is quite interesting. John Whitmer records in his history that ‘in the beginning of the Church, while yet in her infancy, the disciples used to exclude unbelievers which caused some to marvel and converse of this matter because of the things written in the Book of Mormon (3 Nephi 18:22-24). Therefore, the Lord deigned to speak on 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 led by the Spirit.’  After the Lord gave this revelation this practice of forbidding non-members (I can see how a non-member intent on causing trouble might have started this practice) to attend the sacrament services ceased. Hopefully, the spirit of that meeting will calm agitated hearts. Along with giving guidelines for conducting Church services, the Lord also gives instructions as to how to seek the gifts of the spirit. P 98: “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 His 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.” There are several sections already that have addressed problems that have come from church members receiving false revelation for the church. This section gives them more knowledge, which is also greater power—and shows us all the way to seek, and take advantage of, the Lord’s influence in our own lives.

V 7: “…ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally…” We can, if we ask, have the Lord’s influence in all we do. We shouldn’t reserve our requests only for testimonies—we should daily request His spirit to help us with the large and small specifics of each day. “…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…doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits , or doctrine of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men and other of devils.” Doing the right thing is not enough. I must do the right thing with the right spirit. I often go back to our days in Highland Utah when I was the Young Women’s President in our ward. I was very efficient in my calling and worked to consider each girl and what I could do for them. But I did so in a very business-like way. More focused prayer and more thoughtful thankfulness would have helped me to be more effective. There is a big difference between efficient and effective—it is a difference in feeling. We had a very good program there, but had I prayed to do more with the proper spirit, we would have had more young women feeling well loved instead of merely well cared for. That was a time when Alex was having terrible struggles in her life. Instead of forcing myself each day to get up and put one foot in front of the other, I should have started my day asking to be specifically guided and supported by the spirit--that would have given me a much higher path to follow. I now try to remember those times where I should have been closer to the Lord, for after we survived that very long struggle, the difficult times of life certainly did not vanish—but those are can be our ‘graduate courses’ in life. I don’t want my graduate work to be simple survival, I want it to be a time of learning, and growth, and discovering deeper truths.  V 8-9: “…seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given;    for verily (truly)…they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do; that all may be benefited that seek or that ask of me…”  We don’t have to be perfect to seek the Lord’s personal help, we merely have to have the desire and the faith and make our requests with the commitment that we will follow the advice we receive, and as v 7 reminds me—to do all this with prayer and thanksgiving. Sometimes, in the middle of a difficult ‘life assignment’, I forget to be thankful for it. That is something I am going to start working on…beginning this morning.

5/3/2021 – D&C46:1-12

In referring to sections 46-48 the study guide suggests: write down impressions you receive. Then you might ask, as Elder Richard G Scott suggested, “Is there more I should know?” Evidently, Elder Scott wrote an article for the Nov 2009 Ensign: “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance”.   I think I’ll look that up as soon as I finish with my morning studies in Section 46.

At this point in time, the saints were gathering in Kirtland in significant numbers. In New York, and here in Kirtland, they have experienced quite a bit of harassment from those outside the church. The people of Kirtland are feeling that their town is being over-run, and possibly taken over by these new comers. The members of the church certainly felt this antagonism, and evidently excluded those not in the church from coming to their meetings—which, I’m sure, didn’t help the situation at all.

That’s one problem. But then another problem is that a great number of the leaders of the church have been called on missions. Many of the people who had joined the church, had done so because of the powerful spiritual influence they had felt.  Satan took this as an excellent time to introduce false spiritual experiences---some of the saints were falling to the ground or writhing like a snake in their meetings. Joseph went to the Lord who gave an answer that is just as valid today as it was in that day.

In v 5 the Lord tells us them, and us, that “ye shall not cast any out of your sacrament meetings who are earnestly seeking the kingdom—I speak this concerning those who are not of the church.”

In v 7 He continues to teach us: 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…” 

To me, it seems that doing the right thing is not quite enough. We must do the right thing with the proper spirit. The Lord tells us often to use our heart, might, mind and strength. As I try to apply these words to myself, I think back to my time as the Young Women’s President in Highland Utah. I felt I was very effective in running the organization smoothly. But as I look back, I feel that with more prayer and thankfulness, I could have been much more helpful to the girls. I don’t look back on that as a negative time, although it was certainly a time of anxiety as Alex was working her way through teenage-hood. But if I had included my young women in my prayers as much as I included Alex, I think it would have made a very positive, and very big difference…which might have been even more helpful for Alex. 

He goes on to tell us that the gifts of the spirit are for our benefit: “…seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remember for what they are given; for verily [truly] I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do; that all may be benefited that seek or that ask of me…” (v 9)

Elder Robert D Hales said: “These gifts are given to those who are faithful to Christ. They will help us know and teach the truths of the gospel. They will help us bless others. They will guide us back to our Heavenly Father”. 

The study manual suggests that we ponder over what our spiritual gifts are—and how we can use them for the benefit of others.  I find that I do best as I ask the Lord to help me hear Him, and as I learn just how He communicates with me. I have promised that when I feel that He is speaking to me—as when I get a sudden, specific thought—I will immediately try to act on that thought. And I’m finding that the more I do that, that  more good thoughts come to me. I think I’m learning, and I find I am doing much more to step outside myself to help others.

He then goes on to remind us that there are many gifts of the Spirit. He tells us: “For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.” (v11) He goes on to tell us that these gifts are given “that all may be profited thereby” (v 12).

From here He goes into much more detail. But I believe I will stop here. I want to be able to linger as He details many of the gifts of the Spirit, for I will have the time to do that tomorrow morning.