Contributed
by: Michelle- In sometimes sunny Darmstadt Germany! skrub5@greennet.deI just had a little box template and cut out one for each of the
Gifts of the Spirit. Then I copied the gifts on a paper and put them in the boxes and
wrapped the boxes in
different wrapping papers. As I went through the lesson I just let people open their boxes
and then we would talk about those specific gifts.
Contributed by: Ann
Gifts
Intangible Gifts:
"We believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost
being enjoyed now, as much as it was in the Apostles’ days; … we also believe in
prophecy, in tongues, in visions, and in revelations, in gifts, and in healings; and that
these things cannot be enjoyed without the gift of the Holy Ghost" (History of the
Church, 5:27).
President Marion G. Romney commented on this
statement by the Prophet:
"Thus one who has never received the gift of
the Holy Ghost cannot possibly work miracles by his power.
"Now, we know that there is but one way to
obtain the gift of the Holy Ghost. That way is through the prescribed ordinances of
baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and the laying on of hands for the gift of
the Holy Ghost" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1956, p. 72; or Improvement Era, June
1956, p. 424).
Quotations and
Gifts
Spiritual Gifts: The Gift of
Prophecy
Reed Smoot, United States senator from
Utah, 1903 to 1933, was a small boy when he heard Brigham Young make a prophecy that was
literally fulfilled years later:
"Brigham Young came to Provo and, at a conference meeting,
said that the day would come when the human voice could be heard from New York to San
Francisco. …
"Reed’s mother had taken him to this meeting, and on
the way home he said (referring to what President Brigham Young had said), ‘Now
that’s a big lie. That’s absolutely impossible. It couldn’t be.’ His
mother, who was a woman of very great faith, told her son, ‘Yes, you’ll live to
see the fulfillment of what the President has said today.’ He did not believe it.
Time went by and while he was in the United States Senate, a broadcasting system was built
so you could speak from New York City to San Francisco. One of his colleagues in the
Senate had charge of this enterprise and when it was completed and they were to celebrate
the event, he invited Senator Smoot to come to New York City and be the first man to speak
over the completed network, which he did, and his voice was heard clearly and distinctly
across the continent.
"Thus he lived to literally fulfill the promise by President
Brigham Young in Provo years before" (Bryant S. Hinckley, The Faith of Our Pioneer
Fathers [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1956], p. 207).
The Gift of Faith to Be Healed
This story appeared in the Dutch Star
shortly after the visit of President Joseph F. Smith to Holland in 1906.
"It was on the 7th day of August, 1906, that President Smith
and party arrived in Rotterdam, having come from the boat in Antwerp two days before.
There was living in that city a boy of eleven years of age, John Roothoff by name, who had
suffered greatly for a number of years with his eyes. His mother was a faithful member of
the Church as also was the boy, who was slowly losing his sight and was unable to attend
school. The boy said to his mother: ‘The Prophet has the most power of any missionary
on earth. If you will take me with you to meeting and he will look into my eyes I believe
they will be healed.’ According to his desire he was permitted to accompany his
mother to the meeting. At the close of the meeting, as was the custom, President Smith
moved towards the door and began to shake hands and speak encouragingly to the people as
they passed from the hall. As John Roothoff approached him, led by his mother and his eyes
bandaged, President Smith took him by the hand and spoke to him kindly. He then raised the
bandage slightly and looked sympathetically into the inflamed eyes, at the same time
saying something in English which the boy did not understand. However, he was satisfied.
President Smith had acted according to the boy’s faith; and according to his faith it
came to pass. When he arrived home, he cried out with great joy: ‘Mama, my eyes are
well; I cannot feel any more pain. I can see fine now, and far too.’ Following this
event the boy was able to attend school again" (Life of Joseph F. Smith, comp.
Joseph Fielding Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1969], p. 397).
The Gift of Revelation
Eliza R. Snow and some friends, including
the Prophet Joseph Smith, were discussing the Resurrection and the relationship of people
on earth to their Father in Heaven. Shortly after this conversation, Eliza wrote the words
to the hymn "O My Father." Wilford Woodruff, the fourth President of the Church,
said this about the hymn:
"With regard to our position before we came here, I will say
that we dwelt with the Father and with the Son, as expressed in the hymn, ‘O my
Father,’ that has been sung here. That hymn is a revelation. … There are a great
many sisters who have the spirit of revelation. There is no reason why they should not be
inspired" (Millennial Star, 9 Apr. 1894, p. 229).
Quotation
"Our gifts and opportunities differ;
some are more visible and impactful. … We all have at least one gift and
an open invitation to seek ‘earnestly the best gifts.’ (D&C 46:8.)" (Neal A.
Maxwell, in Conference Report, Oct. 1976, p. 15; or Ensign, Nov. 1976, p. 14).
Spiritual Gifts
Testimony of Jesus Christ
Faith in the testimony of others
Wisdom
Knowledge
Faith to heal
Faith to be healed
Miracles
Prophecy
Discerning of spirits
Speaking in tongues
Interpretation of tongues
M2L2 Index
Lesson Help
Home |