I wanted to start today with sharing some answers to the questions I asked in part 1. As I read the chapter from Tuesday, I kept thinking that there was a conference talk on seeking the best gifts recently, but I couldn’t find one.
I did find this article from the General Relief Society Presidency though. In it they tell us that spiritual gifts are different from blessing such as talents, relationships or specialized learning. These gifts are given to us when we are keeping the commandments and are available to us as a help to serve and lead others in our lives.
I love sitting back and considering the different gifts in my life. For me, it seems that I have had some at different points in my life and others later on. Some of the gifts mentioned are: the power to heal, the power to be healed, testimony, faith, knowledge, speaking in tongues, the interpretation of tongues, etc.
The article mentions six qualifications to gaining these gifts:
- They are not sought as signs
- They are to be used in the service of others
- We should “ask in the spirit”
- They are to be used in the “name of Christ”
- We must thank God for the blessings (gifts) that we receive
- We must “practice virtue and holiness” before the Lord always
For today, let’s read 1 Corinthians chapters 12 & 13. As you study, ponder the gifts in your life. Consider how a patriarchal blessing can help in understanding what blessings or gifts the Lord may have given us or may yet give to us. Please share your thoughts in the comments section.
2 comments:
I've already shared this experience on my blog a long time ago but during my third pregnancy I was on vacation and had a terrible pain that turned out to be a kidney stone. I could feel my kidney swelling and I was in such terrible pain that it was brining on premature labor.
I had to go to a hospital in the town I was vacatioing in that happened to be a Catholic hospital. They sent me to labor and delivery instead of the ER because I was like 6 months along or so.
No pain medication would help me and I was screaming and dry heaving over and over and over. The nurses did not know what was causing my pain at the time and they were all frantic. When I kept describing what it felt like (in my husband's blessing he said I would have the words to define my condition to the Doctors) one nurse felt sure she knew what was happening. She just knew it was a kidney stone and my body was reacting to it by forcing me into labor.
Well anyways my husband had all the kids and it was 11pm at night and he had ushered them into the hall because my condition was deteriorating and he didn't want them to see. My nurse, seeing that we were alone said, "I get the feeling that you are a Christian. Can I pray over you?"
I said yes, then she put two hands on me and prayed very very hard in the name of Jesus Christ that my kidney stone would burst into a million pieces and she said that over and over and closed in the name of Jesus Christ. I thanked her, and she busied herself in finding some type of pain medication that might help withought hurting the baby.
She finally found something that worked and they gave me nearly 20 shots in the thigh that night to keep me from screaming.
The next day I was transfered to my local hospital and, exactly as she had said my kidney stone turned into sand - a million pieces.
So I guess what I learned from this is that spiritual gifts are given to everyone on the earth and this woman fit all of the 6 qualifications you listed above Amanda.
My husband was wary because he thought the whole thing was a little wierd, but I was convinced this woman had the gift of healing. Which is probably why she chose to be a nurse.
She sure was a blessing to me.
That is an amazing story, Janelle. Thanks so much for sharing it. She seems to have had the gift to heal and you had the gift to be healed.
When I was a YW at girl's camp, I got an infection in my eye. It was red, and oozing and painful. I got a blessing and as this man put his hands on my head and used his priesthood, I could feel my eye getting better and with in an hour or two my eye was completely healed. It was such a faith promoting experience for me.
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