Thoughts on Deborah the prophetess in Judges 4

At the time of Deborah, the Israelites were oppressed by Jabin, king of Canaan and his general Sisera, who commanded 900 iron chariots.

4 ¶ And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. (Judges 4:4-9)

When we hit this story, we love that Deborah is a prophetess, but it is not very clear to us how.

Recently, however, it hit me that this whole story tells at least one big instance of her prophetic gift at work.

She summons Barak from Kedesh-Naphtali and tells him, “Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded…?”  This is interesting language. It is as if she is telling him something that she knows he already knows, but in the story it is as if this is the first he’s heard of it (or at least Barak doesn’t say anything about knowing something about it already).  

What Deborah’s language tells us is that Barak had already had promptings or impressions or dreams that the Lord wanted him to save Israel, and that Deborah’s summons was confirming revelation that he really was supposed to do this. The Lord had revealed to her that it was supposed to be Barak.  I don’t know whether the Lord also revealed to her that Barak already knew or whether she just trusted that the fact this had been shown her meant he already knew too. 

But I love that she talks to him with complete assurance that he already knows this stuff. There’s no pussy-footing around the fact they both know. There’s no saying, “So, I had this weird dream. I think you’re supposed to do this.” No, she says, “Hasn’t the Lord said…?”

Also, she knows how many people are supposed to fight alongside Barak—ten thousand—and she knows what tribes they are from—Naphtali and Zebulun—and she knows where they are supposed to gather—Mount Tabor—and she knows how Sisera is going to die—by the hand of a woman. It’s like she’s already seen the battle happen, which very well could have happened in a grand, sweeping vision or prophetic dream.

Later, in v14, once the army is gathered, she also knows the day the battle will happen, and she lets Barak know that too, also with language that assumes he has been shown this too.

When she prophesies that Sisera will be sold into the hands of a woman, the reader tends to think, “Oh, that woman must be Deborah, since she’s going into battle at Barak’s side.” But then we get the surprise that it is Jael who kills Sisera, and by reading about how Jael is associated with Sisera, it becomes clear that Sisera and Jael’s family were actually in some sort of league with each other. So we are treated to the surprise that Sisera was killed by one of his allies, not an enemy. That is not what anyone would have expected, and prophecy is like that. It will tell something that is unexpected.

One of the things this story about Deborah tells me is that calls from prophets don’t come out of the blue. The Lord will give individuals some indication that they are soon to do a work, and then the call from the prophet confirms this revelation. This is how the individual knows he or she is not just making it up, and the response of the individual shows the prophet that the individual has been prepared by the Lord. This is why it is important to have the Spirit with us so that we are open to the revelation God has for us, whether it is how to deal with our challenges or whether it is an upcoming course change we need to be ready for, or a work we are to do.

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Warnings against Hypocrites, with Attention to Spiritual Manifestations

D&C 50 was given in response to Joseph Smith’s inquiry about various spiritual manifestations and phenomena among the new members in Kirtland. The strange and indecorous nature of these things caused members to wonder what was of God and what was fake.

6 But wo unto them that are deceivers and hypocrites, for, thus saith the Lord, I will bring them to judgment.

7 Behold, verily I say unto you, there are hypocrites among you, who have deceived some, which has given the adversary power; but behold such shall be reclaimed;

8 But the hypocrites shall be detected and shall be cut off, either in life or in death, even as I will; and wo unto them who are cut off from my church, for the same are overcome of the world.

9 Wherefore, let every man beware lest he do that which is not in truth and righteousness before me. (D&C 50:6-9)

This gives us part of the answer from the Lord—there were some members who were faking spiritual manifestations, and their performance was deceiving others and giving Satan power. There were also false manifestations (from a source not of God).

The Church’s publication, “Revelations in Context” has a chapter called “Religious Enthusiasm Among Early OhioConverts,” and it gives some historical perspective on how the religious culture of the day contributed to the problem.

As part of the Second Great Awakening, people thirsted for more from religion than was in their churches, so there was a surge in religious zeal, and revival meetings were part of that, with great interest in spiritual manifestations. People responded to preaching passionately, with prophesying, shouting, crying, dancing, shaking, rolling, etc. Christians at large were divided over these manifestations—some were suspicious and others saw them as genuinely from God. The Mormon message about spiritual gifts appealed to many people who were taught in Ohio.

The story of Levi Hancock can help illuminate the problems and worries these manifestations created in the church. Levi heard news of the Mormon missionaries, and a bare recitation of what they were preaching gave him a wonderful feeling such that he decided to go listen because he could feel it was the truth. He was baptized, but he and the other converts in Kirtland were soon left without experienced leadership. They had no experience in the church, few Books of Mormon, and no exposure to Joseph Smith’s previous revelations about church order. Some started to introduce elements of enthusiastic worship.

Then three elders of the Church came, and their manner of doings in worship services was very strange (See the linked article for more details). Levi was perplexed and worried he was not as pure as them because they seemed honest and sincere, but Levi’s manifestations were very different from theirs.

So we see one problem with false (wrong sourced) or faked manifestations is that they make sincere and worthy members feel insecure about their own spiritual status and worthiness. When this sort of thing persists and isn’t corrected, it causes sincere members to expect manifestations of a false type and overlook the true manifestations. That is exactly what Satan would like. He would love church members to miss the true manifestations and look for something else so he can suggest all sorts of crazy, dramatic, non-edifying things and have people accept them uncritically.  He would also like to convince members it is okay to pretend they had a manifestation when they haven’t. And the more dramatic, the better, especially if it is to prove how pure and Spirit-led they are and increase their status and reputation in the church. The lie Satan would tell is, “There’s no way anyone can tell whether you are faking it or telling the truth. They are predisposed to think you’re telling the truth anyway, so go ahead.”

Thus, the above verses directly address the issue of hypocrites pretending to spiritual manifestations. The Lord knows who is faking it or pretending and who is not. He warns that hypocrites will be detected, which crushes Satan’s lie of “no one can tell.” The Lord also warns hypocrites they will be cut off and brought to judgment. Someone who prefers to pretend to spiritual manifestations or listens to manifestations from a false source will definitely miss the real ones that would guide and warn them. Eventually they will do something so obviously wrong they must be corrected and receive discipline, but by then it may be very difficult for them to humble themselves and repent, since they will have built their self esteem, worth, and ego on their “enhanced spirituality.”  That’s what brings them to be cut off from the church, if they can’t humble themselves.

What about those who were fooled by the hypocrite and false manifestations? Verse 7 says, “such shall be reclaimed.” The rest of D&C 50 gives helpful principles about how the Spirit preaches the truth, edifies, brings light, is understandable, and many other principles to help increase discernment so that members can chase darkness away.

Verse 9 has a warning for everyone to beware, lest they do something “not in truth and righteousness.” Thus we are to be completely honest and upright and never to pretend to spiritual manifestations and share nothing that does not shed light and edify. We may have manifestations that are for our own edification alone and which are not meant to be shared.

Having had some experience with these things, I am personally grateful for these verses.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell on Christmas

For some neat perspective on Christmas, here are some great quotes from the Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book:

He before whom a few gifts were laid in that lowly manger has spread so many gifts before us, thereby providing an unending Christmas. In fact, from Him for whom there was no room at the inn there comes to the faithful so many blessings “that there shall not be room enough to receive [them]”! (Malachi 3:10) (The Christmas Scene, p5, as quoted on p45)

God’s gifts, unlike seasonal gifts, are eternal and unperishable, constituting a continuing Christmas which is never over! These infinite gifts are made possible by the “infinite atonement.” (The Christmas Scene, p4, as quoted on p44)

The larger Christmas story is clearly not over. It is not solely about some other time, some other place, and some other people. It is still unfolding, and we are in it!” (The Christmas Scene, p11, as quoted on 45)

Yes, we still wish Christmas were more deeply felt and lasted longer, but the visibly increased goodwill nevertheless reminds us, if only briefly, of what could be everlastingly. For a few days, the first and second commandments are more pondered and observed. (The Christmas Scene, p2, as quoted on p44)

I love that perspective that God's gifts continue like an unending Christmas and that the goodwill and kindness we see in the season shows us a brief picture of heaven.

I recommend reading these to your family at the end of Christmas day.

What gifts do you need?

I ran across this block of verses recently and it really touched me:

7 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; for some are of men, and others of devils.

8 Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given;

9 For verily 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, that ask and not for a sign that they may consume it upon their lusts. (D&C 46:7-9)

The major payload for me here was that the Lord wanted me to seek the best spiritual gifts.  And if you’re wondering what the best spiritual gifts are, they are always the ones that you and I really need right now.

We’re to walk uprightly and consider the end of our salvation, and spiritual gifts can help us overcome the bumps in the road, the obstacles, the storms, the whirlpools, and so on.

I’d venture to suggest that everyone who is reading right now has some sort of difficulty they are facing.  Can you think of what spiritual gift you need to get through that?   Once you know what you need, pray for it. 

One of the purposes of spiritual gifts is that they are one of the many means Heavenly Father uses to save us and to enable us to be His instruments to save others.  They are not to flatter our egos or an excuse to think we are better than others. They are meant to save us, and if we need saving, then we certainly have nothing to boast about.

The rest of section 46 talks about various spiritual gifts: testimony, belief, knowing the differences of administration, suiting mercies to the conditions of men, knowing the diversities of operations, wisdom, knowledge, faith to be healed, faith to heal, working miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues and interpretation…

But I’m realizing there are so many more spiritual gifts.  If you need patience, you can pray for that. If you need endurance and stamina, pray for that. If you need an open mind, or a loving heart, or nurturing skills, or a calm demeanor, or cheer, or industriousness and love of work, or creativity..  

Whatever you need, pray for it.

New perspective on the prodigal son Luke 15:11-18

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I was reading the Sunday school manual on the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 and some of the questions asked in it set me on a whole different train of thought that I’d never considered before.

“In the parable of the prodigal son, what did the younger son do with his inheritance?”

Obviously he wasted it, but this got me thinking about how this parable was supposed to be analogous to our brothers and sisters who are lost from the kingdom of God.  I started to wonder, “What does the inheritance really represent?”  In what way do our lost brothers and sisters take their inheritance and run off?

Let’s look at v11-12:

11 ¶And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

An interesting thing we can see here is that the father doesn’t just give the younger son his portion; he seems to give a portion to the older son as well.  We’re used to thinking the younger son was wrong to demand his inheritance, but what if he wasn’t?  (Odd thought, I know, but hear me out.)

On earth, inheritance is distributed upon the death of the father, so a request for inheritance before death is like a request that the father just lay down and die.   But in terms of our Heavenly Father, we can’t receive our inheritance upon His death because He is immortal. So there has to be a distribution of inheritance upon some other basis besides death, so in that respect, the parable is quite analogous to spiritual realities.

The fact that the father divided the living between the two sons makes me think that the younger son’s request might have been a good one and the younger son’s fault lay in not staying. 

It is also interesting to me where the italics are in that verse. The italicized portions represent words that were added by translators to make the translation flow better according to English grammar.  But occasionally it is interesting to try to read the verses without those italicized words and see if the meaning changes ways that have significance.  Without the italics we get “give me the portion of goods that falleth. And he divided unto them living.”  It suggests that the younger son was interested in the less important part of the inheritance.  It also suggests that part of the inheritance was living, or life, which makes me think of eternal life.  (Is eternal life part of our inheritance as members?  Yes..)

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

Wasting can happen when one spends profligately, but it can also happen if property is neglected and allowed to fall into disrepair until it is in no condition to be used.  I think this coincides with how our lost brothers and sisters neglect their testimonies and neglect to obey the commandments such that their faith slowly decreases until their knowledge is only a ghost of what it was before.

I’m also intrigued by the repetition of that word “living” in that verse and the contrast between the father’s living and riotous living.  It suggests we compare what we know of the quality of a faithful life with a life completely devoted to the pleasure of the flesh. Which one renews and which one wastes the substance of eternal things?

The next few verses are very interesting because of how the focus is so much on hunger and food and the quality of food.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, (Luke 15:11-18)

What does this hunger represent?  Could this be a famine of hearing the word of the Lord?  Did the famine just conveniently arise once all his substance had been wasted or was it actually there all the time and he never knew until all his own resources were exhausted?

I suspect that the job of feeding the swine was meant to represent something like teaching the commandments of men mingled with scripture, since they aren’t very wholesome or filling.  The swine may represent the unclean gentiles who are content with empty platitudes and what we might call doctrinal twinkies, but notice that the younger son can’t fill his belly with those things.  The pigs might be perfectly happy with that stuff, but having tasted the real nourishment, the younger son can’t stomach it.

Thus, we see what really brings the prodigal son to himself. He realizes he is starving, starving for the truth that he can’t get anywhere else but from his father.  We learn from this parable that some of our lost brothers and sisters leave because they think there are other ways to be saved, other gospels with efficacy besides that of Christ’s, other ways to live fully.  Sooner or later, they are brought to realize the spiritual poverty of all other ways in comparison and then they have a reason to make their way back.  But they have to have tasted the goodness before they left.

Now, the prodigal is not the only one who has trouble.  Remember the elder son?  He got his inheritance too, but even though he stayed, it hasn’t done him much good either. His complaint to his father upon the return of the younger son is “these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends” (v29).

Who prevented the elder son from using his inheritance?  Would his father have gotten irked at him if he had asked for a goat or a fatted calf every so often?  The eldest son’s trouble is that he thinks his father is too stingy to let him use his inheritance. The eldest son has wasted his inheritance in a different way by never using it.  From a spiritual perspective, how many feasts on the word and celebrations could he have enjoyed but didn’t?

For those of us who stay faithful, the eldest son is a warning to us to beware of ingratitude. In the midst of our service we must not forget the privileges we have inherited by becoming sons and daughters in God’s kingdom.  It is worth it to ask the question “When do we inherit and how early can we begin enjoying our inheritance?  Are we only limited to enjoying it after our resurrection or can we begin enjoying it and rejoicing over it earlier than that?”

Also consider the things we learn about our inheritance from what the father does in the parable to reinstate the younger son – he tells his servants to bring the best robe and put it on, to put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.   The robe might symbolize being clothed in temple robes. The ring may have been a signet ring that gave him authority to transact business for his father and therefore might symbolize the priesthood. What might the shoes represent?  All this the elder son would have a right to enjoy too, if he would.

We have the privilege of feasting on the word, of making use of the inheritance our Heavenly Father has divided to each of us, even a piece of eternal life we can feel through the ministrations of the Holy Ghost.  We all have spiritual gifts, we all have a portion of the Spirit, we all are given access to priesthood blessings, and more.  These are all reasons to rejoice and celebrate with our friends in the gospel.  And too, there is the rejoicing we can feel as we repent and feel the forgiveness that comes from God.  Also, consider the father tells the eldest son “you are ever with me.”  To be with the Father is no small blessing. Again, to have the constant companionship of the Spirit is a big part of our inheritance.  So how much do we appreciate that?

The Command to Pray Without Ceasing, Mosiah 26:39

Here are some of the conditions in the church under Alma the Elder once the church was set in order:

And they did admonish their brethren; and they were also admonished, every one by the word of God, according to his sins, or to the sins which he had committed, being commanded of God to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all things. (Mosiah 26:39, emphasis added)

It seems the church was commanded by God to pray without ceasing.  I see no reason why this commandment would be invalid today.

I think as members of the church we are inclined to dismiss not only the command to pray unceasingly, but we tend to dismiss examples of people who prayed unceasingly.  For instance, whenever the story of Enos comes up, how many of us have heard teachers say, “Now, do we have to pray as long as Enos did?  No…” which pretty much invalidates the lesson of Enos’ example and essentially does what Satan does—teaching men to not pray.

There are more scriptures that teach about praying always.

Jesus taught about praying always: “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1) “And [Jesus] commanded them that they should not cease to pray in their hearts.” (3 Nephi 20:1)

The apostles recognized the importance of praying always: “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:4)

When Paul talks about the armor of God, right afterward he mentions prayer: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18)

Nephi wrote about how important it was to pray always and especially before doing anything for the Lord: “But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.” (2 Nephi 32:9)

Praying always is integral to resisting temptation. 

Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work. (D&C 10:5)

We’ll never know how safe we can really be if we don’t try it.  Constant prayer will shield us from temptation by making a way for us to escape carnal desires that beset us, helping us feel like sin is incompatible with our identity.  With this understanding we can see why Jesus would castigate the Pharisees about how their prayers didn’t match their actions:

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. (Matt. 23:14)

Jesus was so disgusted because prayer would have helped the Pharisees resist the temptation to be selfish and greedy, but they sinned anyway.  Praying a lot wasn’t the problem.  It was sinning anyway that was the problem, sinning in spite of prayer.

Constant prayer can bring riches of the Spirit that are greater than any material things we could ever own.

Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing—yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof. (D&C 19:38)

I suspect that we have no idea what the height and breadth and depth of the spiritual blessings that the Lord can pour out on us, how quickly our pale outlook on life might turn golden and sparkling, how our deep soul-hunger might fill to fatness and satisfaction, how our uncertainties might turn into rock-hard stability and trust even when from the outside it might look like we’d fall apart any minute.

We are promised that if we pray always the Lord will pour out his Spirit upon us (rather than dribbling or dripping it).

Elder Perry was asked in an interview with New Era staff members in the January2004 issue how we can pray always. He said:

Carry a prayer in your heart. You don’t have to express it out loud all the time, but there are very few hours in the day when you don’t need guidance and direction in the course that you would want to follow. It is a wonderful, satisfying thing to know that the Lord is there. And He is there “24/7,” as they say. He is always available to us.

I really like that thought that there are very few hours in the day that we don’t need help from God.  I suppose then it is a matter of thinking about each thing we do in terms of how we might need the Lord’s help with it, then exerting our faith that it is worth praying about, then asking and thanking.

Have you tried praying always?  If so, what experiences have you had with it?

What Kind of Spiritual Gifts are Differences of Administrations and Diversities of Operations?

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. (1 Cor. 12:4-7)

That bit about diversities of administrations and operations has always puzzled me a bit, so today I decided to do some research and pondering on it to see if I could become a little more clear on it. 

First, I thought it might be helpful to look up definitions of “administration” and “operation.”   There were some definitions that didn’t seem to apply, but the following did.

Administrations – methods of tending to or managing the affairs of some group of people (usually financial affairs, but in the case of the church it can be spiritual affairs, both individual and collective); the act of governing or exercising authority

So differences of administration might be various ways that leaders tend and minister to individual members and to the whole congregation.  We can see differences of administrations between two different leaders in the church.  One bishop may do something or minister in a particular way, and then his successor may do it a bit differently.  When they are both led by the Spirit, the different ways they administer to the congregation are spiritual gifts to the church, appropriate for the needs of the people at that time.   And some things are church policy and other things are left to leader discretion as guided by the Spirit.

Another way we might see diversity of administrations at work is when we hear stories of people who have reached the end of their endurance and pray for a specific service and then have their prayer answered when someone else is inspired to perform that service for them, whether it is a sudden phone call, a unexpected meal delivered, a visit, a kind word, a plate of cookies, or whatever.  The Spirit knows of those diverse needs and inspires people to act to fill them.

I can remember an experience I had when I was the recipient of this myself.  It was two years ago when my husband was out of the country for a month for work.  I was struggling with feelings of depression and loneliness during that period, and one night as I went jogging in the dark I felt very down.  I wondered if anyone cared about me.  (My head knew that people did, but it was hard to convince my heart of that.) I wondered if Heavenly Father knew what I felt.  It was maybe five minutes later that I passed someone else who was jogging the other way.  It was so dark I didn’t see their face or even catch much of a glimpse of what they were wearing.  As I passed them, they exclaimed “Michaela!”  I only know it was a man’s voice.  It is hard to describe the effect that simple greeting had on me.  We were still so new in the ward that I didn’t think anyone remembered me yet, so it was a bit of a happy shock.  Someone—I didn’t know who—knew me and recognized me.  They could have only said “hi,” but instead they called me by name, and it brought me to a realization that Heavenly Father did see me, even if I couldn’t see Him.  Heavenly Father knew what I was feeling and how to help.  It was as if an angel had greeted me.

Who would have thought that running by someone in the dark and calling them by name would make such a difference?  That is such a strange way of ministering to person’s pain.  But it worked on me!

What are other places differences of administrations are needed?  I suppose parents need this gift to know how best to reach each of their children and their different personalities, or to know what privileges each child is ready for, or to know what each child is capable of doing as they develop. 

What about diversities of operations?

Operations – a planned activity involving many people performing various actions; a process or series of actions; procedure; process or manner of functioning; the performance of some composite cognitive activity.

We can see diversities of operations when we consider how the Spirit works on people, with different strokes for different folks.  There are so many ways we can feel the Spirit, and elsewhere Paul explained this:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Gal. 5:22-23)

I used to think that Paul just meant that list to enumerate all the qualities that will appear in our lives from having the Spirit, but I recently learned that these are also ways that different people may feel the Spirit.  The Spirit can also be experienced as:

·      tingles all over

·      thrills

·      warmth

·      a still small voice

·      inspiration and knowledge

·      enthusiasm

·      a sense of safety

·      comfort

·      compelling desire to do good or say good words

We don’t have to feel these all at the same time; it may be one or more, depending on the situation and what the Spirit knows you need.  The point is that it is all to profit us, meaning it is calculated to help us grow spiritually.

When I first began to recognize the Spirit, it was in tingles and thrills from hearing truth, but I’ve also felt warmth, the still small voice, inspiration, love, joy, gentleness, faith, and compelling good desires.  Not all at once, but at various times.

Diversity of operations can also refer to the type of spiritual manifestations we respond to.  As an example, if you read a large number of conversion stories, there are a variety of factors that attract people to the church.  Some may be drawn in by the valiant example of one member.  Others may be drawn by love shown to them by members they associate with.  Some hear about a church doctrine and are intrigued enough to ask about it.  Others have some sort of spiritual manifestation by dream or vision that prepares them in advance to receive the gospel.  Others are brought in because the doctrine fills a crying need in their life because of a personal crisis.  Some accept sudden invitations to come to church or meet the missionaries.  These are all different ways that the Spirit works on people to interest them in the gospel.

We can begin to see why Paul would want to discuss spiritual gifts and the different types if the Corinthian saints were confused about the different ways different leaders were doing things.  They may have felt that there was the one true way and deviation meant apostasy.  They may have been confused about reports of spiritual feelings different from what they had individually experienced and wondered if they or the other were at fault.   

Isn't it neat that we can identify these gifts in the church today?  Do you have any experiences you can share of these gifts in your life?

Enoch becomes a Seer

And he heard a voice from heaven, saying: Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people, and say unto them—Repent, for thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off; (Moses 6:27)

When the Lord calls Enoch to be a prophet, the first wrongdoing the Lord wants Enoch to testify of against man is that “their hearts are waxed hard, their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off.” Enoch is eventually told to anoint his eyes with clay and then wash them, with the promise that he would see. Other people have noted how this washing becomes a symbol of washing the world out of Enoch’s eyes. The result:

And he beheld the spirits that God had created; and he beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye; and from thenceforth came the saying abroad in the land: A seer hath the Lord raised up unto his people. (Moses 6:36)

This seems to be how the Lord works to encourage others to see also—He raises up a seer to be a good example of the benefits of seeing afar off. He shows men how natural eyes (of the natural man) can’t see. Enoch’s seer eyes could see the spirits God created, whether embodied or not, I suppose. He could also see things not visible to the natural eye. This could be coming events as consequences of actions, the past from a truer perspective, the evidences of God’s hand, the coming promises that would be fulfilled, and more.

What things do you “see” because our current prophet's example? What do you "see" as a member that others around you don’t see with their “natural” eyes?

Wherefore Enos prophesied also

Seth lived one hundred and five years, and begat Enos,
and prophesied in all his days, and taught his son Enos in the ways of God; wherefore Enos prophesied also. (Moses 6:13)

This has a great principle in it. We can pass spiritual gifts on to our children if we use them our whole lives and teach our children the ways of God. I know I learned how to bear testimony from the example my parents set and from what they taught me.

What spiritual gifts did your parents model for you?

Gifts from God to us

With the Christmas gift-giving season upon us, I decided to do some scripture study about the gifts that God gives to us.

God gives certain gifts to everyone

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Ephesians 4:7-8)

Certain gifts God gives to everyone is their agency, the light of Christ so that they know good from evil, coverage of their sins by the atonement of Christ (conditional upon repentance), and unconditional resurrection.

My parents actually followed this principle in their Christmas gift-giving; there were always a few presents that they gave to each of us alike.

And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. (Eccl. 3:13)

When you think of how Heavenly Father designed our brains so that our bodies can feel satisfied when we eat and drink enough, that is a great gift. He could have made us so that didn’t happen. Also, the satisfaction we feel when we have done a good job at something—that is a gift from God too.

God gives many different gifts according to our individuality

10 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.
11 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.
12 To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby. (D&C 46:10-12)

Think of all the spiritual gifts that the church is blessed with! Prophecy, visions, healing, faith to be healed, revelation, tongues, interpretation of tongues, knowledge, wisdom, discernment, charity, faith, testimony, belief, working miracles, and so much more!

God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, that has not been revealed since the world was until now; (D&C 121:26)

What a fascinating gift the gift of the Holy Ghost is! It is such a special thing the Lord wants us to have.  There are things we learn and things we feel through its influence that are so majestic, so awe-inspiring, so wondrous, that words simply fail to express it adequately, and only someone else who has experienced it too can understand.

Every elder, priest, teacher, or deacon is to be ordained according to the gifts and callings of God unto him; and he is to be ordained by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is in the one who ordains him. (D&C 20:60)

This made me think about priesthood ordinations in a different way. I hadn’t thought that they were a gift from God. This verse calls it “the gifts and callings of God unto him” which makes me think that gift and calling may be synonymous to the Lord. Even though I don’t hold the priesthood, I have been given callings, and when I think of how they have blessed my life, I see that my callings are gifts to me. My calling as ward organist and choir pianist is a gift of music and my calling as a cub scout den leader is a gift of working with, associating with, and teaching children. I consider all my callings fun gifts and I'm not ashamed to say that I had to grow into the fun-ness thereof.

Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you… (D&C 78:11)

This phrase occurs so many times in the Doctrine and Covenants. Commandments are a gift too, and in so many ways! They are gifts because

• Learning about them expands and refines our understanding of right and wrong.
• They represent an opportunity for us to exercise our agency.
• They present us with a choice to keep them or not.
• They have blessings attached to them that the Lord wants us to have.
• Inevitably we learn that we can’t keep the commandments on our own and we need the Lord’s help, so we learn to trust in the Lord.
• When we follow them we are kept safe from bad things that tend to happen without them.
• They help us become more like God. Doing them helps us do the things the Lord does.
• Even if we try to ignore them, inevitably we are brought to a recognition of our need for the atonement of Christ and the necessity of repentance, by which we can discover the joy of our redemption. (And then we still get to keep the commandments!)

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God. (D&C 14:7)

And all these gifts come from God, for the benefit of the children of God. (D&C 46:26)

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Cor. 9:15)

Eternal life is the final gift God wants to give us. We have our whole lives to look forward to it and the Holy Ghost as a down payment of it. Surely there are spiritual gifts we must seek now that will help us prepare for this great gift.

What should we want?

Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given; (D&C 46:8, emphasis added)

And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing. (Moroni 10:30, emphasis added)

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. (1 Cor. 13:2)

Even if I were to have the best blog in the world and do all I’m asked to do at church.. Even if I were superwoman (which I’m not) and could move mountains, if I don’t have charity, I’m nothing. Hmm. I think I need to pray more for charity.

Things to remember about the gifts God gives us

Thou shalt be diligent in preserving what thou hast, that thou mayest be a wise steward; for it is the free gift of the Lord thy God, and thou art his steward. (D&C 136:27)

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (1 Timothy 4:14)

For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift. (D&C 88:33)

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1 Peter 4:10)

We learn from these scriptures:

• to be diligent in preserving our gifts from God
• to not neglect our gifts from God
• to receive and rejoice in our gifts from God
• and to give to others liberally like God has given us

What other scriptures do you know of that tell of the gifts that God has given us? Will you share them? What gifts from God are you feeling particularly thankful for right now? What is something you are doing to diligently preserve a gift from God?