Gifts of the Spirit

We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth. – Articles of Faith 1:7

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in the gifts of the Spirit as found in 1 Corinthians 12. The seventh Article of Faith lists some of these. Why these specific gifts and not others? I’m really not sure, but let’s look at each one. I will share how each one has affected me in my life.

Gift of Tongues

The gift of tongues gives the ability to speak in languages not known. However, this doesn’t mean that what they say is intelligible (see the section on interpretation of tongues).

I have not been in a meeting where several people have received this gift. I have experienced this gift. When I went on a mission in 1987, I was assigned to the Chile Santiago South mission. The mission is in a Spanish-speaking country, and I didn’t know any Spanish. I knew a little French from high school. I entered the MTC for eight weeks of missionary training, including Spanish.

When my missionary group left for our mission, we boarded a plane in Miami. The pilot welcomed everyone in Spanish. We looked at each other and went, “What did he say?” Talk about a humbling experience. It was also a frightening one. We thought we knew the language; we were wrong.

Fast forward 24 hours. I’m in my first area with my trainer. My companion and I are going to our first appointment. We were in a little town called Paniahue. It is a rural town with a rural population. They spoke more slowly than the pilot and understood me. I had been praying for help, and my prayer was answered with understanding. However, my speaking wasn’t the best.

I spent four months there, speaking Spanish every day. On my last morning, we had breakfast at a member’s home. They had a daughter about 14 years old. I was speaking, and she said, “Elder, no le entiendo” (Elder, I don’t understand what you’re saying). I was deflated. I thought I had the language down.

I learned that the gift of tongues required more than just faith and prayer. After that statement that morning, I spent more time studying the language. I prayed for help, and about two months later I was receiving compliments on my Spanish. I thanked the Lord for helping me.

Fast forward to today (almost 40 years later). We have been to Mexico several times. I have tried to stay current with Spanish. I don’t know if people are being nice, but I have been told that I speak well. I know that the gift of tongues I was blessed with on my mission has stayed with me.

The Gift of Prophecy

When we think of prophecy, we mainly think of prophets foretelling the future to a group of people or the world. For me, I have seen the gift of prophecy in another way.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has Patriarchs. These men have been called to give special blessings (called Patriarchal blessings) to the church’s members. These blessings are God’s personal communication to the member about the gifts they have a right to and blessings that may come their way.

At 18, I received my Patriarchal Blessing. The Patriarch laid his hands on my head and began the blessing. I picked out certain blessings and promises, but until I received my printed blessing, I wasn’t able to see all that was said.

I won’t go into everything I was promised, but one section relates to the gift of prophecy. The blessing says I would marry and be sealed to a “beautiful handmaiden”. After Cheryl and I were married, we read our blessings and found that her Patriarch declared her to be a “beautiful handmaiden.” Does this mean we were always meant to be together? I don’t know. What I do know is that the prophecy in my blessing was fulfilled. That prophecy has blessed me ever since.

The Gift of Revelation

The gift of revelation is one that every member has been given. Jesus instructed us to “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Luke 11:9). This verse invites us to receive personal revelation.

Peter also had a similar experience. In Matthew 16:13-19, Jesus asks what the people are saying about him. The disciples give their responses. Jesus then asks, “But whom say ye that I am?” Peter responded: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Christ tells Peter, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

This is the gift of revelation. The Holy Ghost bears witness to the truth. In the Book of Mormon, Moroni states, “And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:5). The promise is that we can receive truth from God, not just man.

I have recounted in other posts times when the Holy Ghost has revealed truth to me. I believe the Holy Ghost also reveals truth in smaller ways; ways we call inspiration. It’s that nudge to visit someone; that feeling to take another route; the urge to say something in a discussion. All these are gifts of revelation we receive.

The Gift of Visions

The gift of visions is another gift we normally associate with prophets. The scriptures are full of examples of prophets having visions. The restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ started with a vision Joseph Smith received.

However, like the gift of revelation, every child of God can receive visions. Accounts of non-prophets receiving visions are available.

I will admit that I have had a couple of visions in my life. They haven’t been earth-changing visions. They have been for my benefit. They have strengthened my faith in Jesus Christ and my testimony of God’s plan.

The Gift of Healing

Jesus performed many miracles when He was on the earth. Several, if not a majority, of these were healing. However, healing wasn’t only gifted to Him. The Apostles healed; the Old Testament prophets healed. Stories of healing are found throughout the restoration. Healing has always been available to the faithful who believe in Christ.

Does one have to receive a blessing from God’s chosen to be healed? I don’t think so. I believe that we can be healed by faith. I know stories of someone who needed healing to be at a crucial event. No administration from God’s chosen occurred, yet healing was gifted.

We often think of healing as being something physical. However, this gift also applies to our souls. Christ comes with “healing on His wings” (Malachi 4:2). He who paid the price for our sins heals us when we call upon Him sincerely for forgiveness.

The healing of our souls is something I am very aware of. Having gone through an addiction, its depressing effects, and how it weighs you down, I know I was injured. Repenting with a broken heart and a contrite spirit helped me achieve forgiveness. The weight was lifted; I was made whole. I was spiritually healed.

Interpretation of Tongues

This gift is tied to the gift of tongues. Joseph Smith stated, “Be not so curious about tongues, do not speak in tongues except there be an interpreter present; the ultimate design of tongues is to speak to foreigners, and if persons are very anxious to display their intelligence, let them speak to such in their own tongues. The gifts of God are all useful in their place, but when they are applied to that which God does not intend, they prove an injury, a snare and a curse instead of a blessing” (emphasis added, History of the Church, 5:31–32; from “Gift of the Holy Ghost,” an editorial published in Times and Seasons, June 15, 1842, pp. 825–26; Joseph Smith was the editor of the periodical).

Note the emphasis in the previous quote. Speaking in tongues does not mean that the speaker is filled with the Holy Ghost. God does not babble; He does not communicate in gibberish. God speaks to uplift and guide man. If the tongue is not interpreted, how can one tell the communication is from God?

For me, the interpretation of tongues was demonstrated early in my mission to Chile. I’ve already admitted that I didn’t speak the language well. Yet, many times, people I spoke with understood what I was saying. I’m positive they were blessed with interpreting tongues, allowing the Holy Ghost to bear record of the truth.

Conclusion

The seventh Article of Faith lists several gifts we believe come from God. It is not an exhaustive list. It represents the gifts God gives to His children. God gives gifts to help us return to Him. If we seek them, we can be blessed with all the gifts God gives. He wants us to have them.