(My clarifications are in italics)
Oaks, Dallin H. "Spiritual Gifts," BYU Speeches 1986
Faith is a spiritual gift. We know too little about spiritual gifts.
Moroni says all spiritual gifts come by the Spirit of Christ (or are transmitted through the medium of the Light of Christ). "This is the means that we have to judge right and wrong and when we are enlighten by this spirit ALL may seek spiritual gifts."
"While the Spirit of Christ is the means by which spiritual gifts are transferred to men and women such gifts come by the power of the Holy Ghost"
We need to distinguish between a Manifestation of the Holy Ghost and the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Manifestations of the Holy Ghost
"When a person has enough faith, they can have a manifestation of the Holy Ghost...such a manifestation might even include seeing heavenly beings."
"The spirit of Christ is given to every person to help them know good from evil.
Manefestations of the Holy Ghost are given to lead easrnest seekers to repentance and baptism.
These are preparatory gifts, what we call spiritual gifts come next."
The Gift of the Holy Ghost
"Spiritual gifts come to those who have received the Gift of the Holy Ghost."
"Joseph Smith taught, "The gifts of the spirit are obtained through that medium, the Holy Ghost and cannot be enjoyed without the gift of the Holy Ghost. The world in general can know nothing about them.'"
The gift of the Holy Ghost is conferred upon men and women, so are spiritual gifts. As Bruce R McConkie declared, "Where spiritual things are concerned, as pertaining to all the gifts of the spirit, with reference to the recite of revelation, gaining of testimonies, and the seeing of visions, in all matters that pertain to godliness and holiness and are brought to pass as a result of personal righteousness, in all these things men and women stand in a position of absolute equality before the Lord. He is no rejector of persons or of sexes and he blesses those men and women who seek Him and serve him and keep His commandments."
Spiritual Gfts
"Spiritual gifts do not come visibly, automatically and immediately to those who have received the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Joseph Smith taught that most of these gifts are not visible to the natural vision or understanding of man and that it requires time and circumstances to call these gifts into operation."
"The receipt of spiritual gifts is predicated on faith, obedience and personal righteousness."
"Those who 'know' must be responsible to share their testimonies. Only in this way can they give those who 'believe' on their words something to lean upon as they too move towards eternal life." (D&C 46)
Misusing Spiritual Gifts
"When Spiritual gifts are applied to that for which God does not intend. They prove an injury, a snare and a curse instead of a blessing." Joseph Smith
Faith to be Healed and Faith to Heal and the Priesthood
This gift has an obvious relationship to priesthood administration to the sick it has additional significance as well, since both men and women can pray for and exercise faith that a love one may be healed. "Pray for one another that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16 ) Also in D&C, we are counseled to call on the elders of the church to bless and anoint them and "the prayer of faith will save the sick...These scriptures stress the importance of faith in the performance and recite of that [priesthood administration.]"
"We still have much to learn about the power of the priesthood in the healing of the sick and the spiritual gift of faith to heal and faith to be healed. What is clear is that the healing of the sick is an appropriate subject for the exercise of the power of the priesthood. It is also the subject of two separate gifts of the spirit. This mingling of priesthood powers and spiritual gifts is also evident in another spiritual gift. 'and again, to some is given the working of miracles.' Miracles are obviously worked through the power of the priesthood, but the prayer of faith is also at work here. 'For if there be no faith among the children of men, God can do no work among them. ' (Ether 12) The working of miracles is described as as spiritual gift. Again we have much to learn about the functions of the priesthood, the gifts of the spirit and the power of faith."
"Since spiritual gifts come by the power of the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost comes by the laying on of hands by those holding the priesthood, the priesthood is always a factor in spiritual gifts. But spiritual gifts (which is priesthood power) obviously bless the lives of those who do not the priesthood themselves."
"Moroni speaks of the spiritual gift of beholding of angels and ministering spirits." Mary had such an experience.
Personal revelation and the ministering of angels
A more familiar gift of the spirit is personal revelation. Alma described the universal character of this spiritual gift in Chapter 32:23 as follows, "And now he imparted his word by angels to man, ye not only men but women also, now this is not all. Little children do have words spoken unto them many times which confound the wise and the learned."
Personal Revelation and Prophecy with women
"There is a choice example of personal revelation in the Genesis 21. Rebecca went to inquire of the Lord. In this instance the Lord spoke to Rebecca... Though she was the wife of a prophet and patriarch, Rebecca herself inquired of the Lord and the Lord instructed her directly in a matter of great personal concern to her, to the children she would bear and to generations unborn. Elder Bruce R McConkie concluded, 'The Lord gives revelation to women who pray to Him in faith."
Gift of Prophecy
"The Bible has many references of women who had or would have the gift of prophecy. 'It shall come to pass in the last days, sayeth God, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams, and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out my spirit and they shall prophesy'" (Joel 2 and Act 2:17-18)
How can a woman have the gift of prophecy when she does not hold the priesthood?
That question has confused some because the noun prophet is used in several different senses... The priesthood office occupied by the President of the church is unique... the spiritual gift of prophesy is quite different. "Every other man who has the testimony of Jesus is a prophet."- Joseph Smith. Paul taught "He that prophsieth speaketh unto man to edification, exhortation and comfort." Thus in the sense used in speaking of spiritual gifts, a prophet is one who testifies of Jesus Christ, teaches God's word and exhorts God's people. In a scriptural sense, to prophesy means much more than to foretell the future." President Joseph Field Smith declared, "All members should seek for the gift of prophecy, for their own guidance, which is the spirit by which the world of the Lord is understood and His purposes made known."
It is important to understand the distinction between A prophet who has the spiritual gift of prophesy and THE prophet who has the prophetic office. Some who have had the gift of prophecy have forgotten this distinction.... (Miriam and Aaron are an example of this).
False Spirits and the Power of Discernment
Satan uses counterfeits to deceive men and women. Being righteous and prayerful helps us to not be seduced or deceived by evil spirits. "He that speaketh whose spirit is contrite, whose language is meek and edifieth, the same is of God if he obey mine ordinances. In contrast, he that is overcome and bringeth not forth fruits even according to this pattern is not of me. "(D&C 52) "that which doeth not edify is not of God and is darkness."
"These gifts come by the power of the Holy Ghost and are available to every member of the church, both male and female. We should seek after spiritual gifts. They can Lead us to God and shield us from the power of the adversary. They can compensate for our inadequacies and repair our imperfections."
"If any of us is imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect. No man aught to say, 'Oh, I can not help this. It is my nature. He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to give us strength to correct these things and to give gifts that will eradicate them. If a man lack wisdom, it is his duty to ask God for wisdom. The same it is with everything else. That is the design of God concerning His church. He wants His saints to be perfected in the truth. For this purpose He gives these gifts and bestows them upon those who seek after them, in order that they may be a perfect people upon the face of the earth. " George Q. Cannon
"Having lost her husband, my widowed mother was incomplete. How she prayed for what she needed to fulfill her responsibility to raise her three small children. She was seeking, she was worthy and she was blessed. Her prayers were answered in many ways including the receipt of spiritual gifts. She had many, but the ones that stand out in my memory are faith, testimony, and wisdom. She was a might woman in Zion. A great example of a scripture she loved, 'Lehi's promise to his son Jacob that God shall consecrate thine affections for thy gain'"
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