Sunday, February 16, 2014

Doctrine and Covenants 46:10-26

"And again, verily I say unto you, I would that ye should always remember, and always retain in your minds what those gifts are, that are given unto the church.
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.
To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.
To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.
To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.
And again, to some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know the differences of administration, as it will be pleasing unto the same Lord, according as the Lord will, suiting his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men.
And again, it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether they be of God, that the manifestations of the Spirit may be given to every man to profit withal.
And again, verily I say unto you, to some is given, by the Spirit of God, the word of wisdom.
To another is given the word of knowledge, that all may be taught to be wise and to have knowledge.
And again, to some it is given to have faith to be healed;
And to others it is given to have faith to heal.
And again, to some is given the working of miracles;
And to others it is given to prophesy;
And to others the discerning of spirits.
And again, it is given to some to speak with tongues;
And to another is given the interpretation of tongues.
And all these gifts come from God, for the benefit of the children of God."
Doctrine and Covenants 46:10-26


The selection is pretty long today, but I think it is important.  As I was reading this, I was thinking how cool it is that God gives us all gifts to help us in life... but then I realized how much more than that it is.  In the second verse of the selection it tells us that everyone gets a gift, which is awesome.  No one is left out.  But then, about why, it goes on to say that we're all given different ones, that all may be profited thereby.  It isn't just to help us out individually in life, but it is to help others... and the way the gifts are given is encouraging us to be interdependent.  I have this gift, so I can help with this, and you have that gift, so you can help with that.  We don't have all the gifts, and so we need to help each other.  It's a little bit similar to an educational theory put forward by Howard Gardner, who says that we are all intelligent and talented, but in different ways.  So, if you use the same measurement for everyone, you are only going to find people who are intelligent in one way, but there are so many other ways to be intelligent.  And I think that it is true, with intelligence, with spirituality, and with life in general... because God wants us to work together.  We have strengths and weaknesses so that we can help and be helped.  Today, let's recognize and develop our gifts, and thank God for helping us with life... but let's also take the time to look at the people around us differently.  To realize that every single one of them is brilliant, and blessed, and spiritually powerful... we all are.  Let's find the intelligence and the spirituality and the goodness in the people around us, and let's help each other.  Part of building Zion is seeing each other as valuable.  Let's work on that.

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