Joseph Smith - Gifts of the Spirit

The Lord revealed that each person has been given a gift of the Spirit-

"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." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 46:11)

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught as Paul -

"...To one is given the gift of tongues, to another the gift of prophecy, and to another the gift of healing;’ and again: ‘Do all prophesy? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?’ evidently showing that all did not possess these several gifts; but that one received one gift, and another received another gift—all did not prophesy, all did not speak in tongues, all did not work miracles; but all did receive the gift of the Holy Ghost; sometimes they spake in tongues and prophesied in the Apostles’ days, and sometimes they did not. …"

Paul compared these individual gifts of the Spirit to a body saying -

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body." (New Testament 1 Corinthians 12:12 - 20)

The Prophet explained that man receives and develops these gifts of the Spirit through faith and obedience declaring -

“If you will obey the Gospel with honest hearts, I promise you in the name of the Lord, that the gifts as promised by our Saviour will follow you, and by this you may prove me to be a true servant of God.”

Contrary to the thinking of men, the "gifts of the Spirit are usually received quietly and privately, without outward manifestations -

“… All the gifts of the Spirit are not visible to the natural vision, or understanding of man; indeed very few of them are. … Few of them could be known by the generality of men."

Speaking of all the gifts of the Spirit described by Paul, the Prophet said -

“...which of them all could be known by an observer at the imposition of hands? The word of wisdom, and the word of knowledge, are as much gifts as any other, yet if a person possessed both of these gifts, or received them by the imposition of hands, who would know it? Another might receive the gift of faith, and they would be as ignorant of it. Or suppose a man had the gift of healing or power to work miracles, that would not then be known; it would require time and circumstances to call these gifts into operation. Suppose a man had the discerning of spirits, who would be the wiser for it? Or if he had the interpretation of tongues, unless someone spoke in an unknown tongue, he of course would have to be silent; there are only two gifts that could be made visible—the gift of tongues and the gift of prophecy. These are things that are the most talked about, and yet if a person spoke in an unknown tongue, according to Paul’s testimony, he would be a barbarian to those present [see 1 Corinthians 14:11]. They would say that it was gibberish; and if he prophesied they would call it nonsense. The gift of tongues is the smallest gift perhaps of the whole, and yet it is one that is the most sought after."

Since each person that has received the Gift of the Holy Ghost has a gift -

"...seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 46:8)

As we do with all faith and obedience these gifts will be manifested in our personal lives.

D&C 43

To the elders of the Church or those who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood the Lord instructs -

"...I give unto you a commandment, that when ye are assembled together ye shall instruct and edify each other, that ye may know how to act and direct my church, how to act upon the points of my law and commandments, which I have given." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 43:8)

These laws and commandments which had or were to be given were to come -

"...through him whom I have appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations from my hand." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 43:2)

And so that none are deceived -

"...ye shall know assuredly—that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.
4 But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him; for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead.
5 And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 43:3 - 5)

Even those that teach these commandments and revelations are such -

"...that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before, to teach those revelations which you have received and shall receive through him whom I have appointed." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 43:7)

The Lord requires that as we are taught these things, how to act and direct the Church, we are to -

"...be sanctified by that which ye have received, and ye shall bind yourselves to act in all holiness before me—" (Doctrine and Covenants Section 43:9)

"Purge ye out the iniquity which is among you; sanctify yourselves before me..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 43:11)

Therefore -

"...hearken ye elders of my church, whom I have appointed: Ye are not sent forth to be taught, but to teach the children of men the things which I have put into your hands by the power of my Spirit..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 43:15)

We will receive these things into our hands by the power of His Spirit as -

"...ye are to be taught from on high. Sanctify yourselves and ye shall be endowed with power, that ye may give even as I have spoken." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 43:16)

D&C 25

I believe the revelation given to Emma Smith has great meaning to the Sisters in the Church. To Emma, the Lord said -

"HEARKEN unto the voice of the Lord your God, while I speak unto you, Emma Smith, my daughter; for verily I say unto you, all those who receive my gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 25:1)

The key is to receive His gospel. The blessings are the same for both male and female who receive His gospel. Each is given callings. None is less important than another -

"...let every man stand in his own office, and labor in his own calling; and let not the head say unto the feet it hath no need of the feet; for without the feet how shall the body be able to stand?" (Doctrine and Covenants Section 84:109)

To Emma, the Lord said -

"...the office of thy calling shall be for a comfort unto my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun., thy husband, in his afflictions, with consoling words, in the spirit of meekness.
6 And thou shalt go with him at the time of his going, and be unto him for a scribe, while there is no one to be a scribe for him..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 25:5 - 6)

Even -

"...thou shalt be ordained [set apart] under his hand to expound scriptures, and to exhort the church, according as it shall be given thee by my Spirit.
8 For he shall lay his hands upon thee, and thou shalt receive the Holy Ghost, and thy time shall be given to writing, and to learning much." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 25:7 - 8)

It was the Prophet's calling that as a husband, he -

"...shall support thee in the church; for unto them is his calling, that all things might be revealed unto them, whatsoever I will, according to their faith." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 25:9)

In her calling, Emma was given this counsel, be -

"...faithful and walk in the paths of virtue before me..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 25:2)

"Murmur not because of the things which thou hast not seen..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 25:4)

"...lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better [reward]." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 25:10)

"Continue in the spirit of meekness, and beware of pride..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 25:14)

"Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 25:15)

Joseph Smith - The Everlasting Priesthood

Throughout the scriptures, we are taught the "Plan of Salvation". Joseph Smith taught an essential part of that plan being the Melchizedek Priesthood -

“There has been a chain of authority and power from Adam down to the present time.”

Adam being a key figure in that chain of authority -

“The Priesthood was first given to Adam; he obtained the First Presidency, and held the keys of it from generation to generation. He obtained it in the Creation, before the world was formed, as in Gen. 1:26, 27, 28. He had dominion given him over every living creature. He is Michael the Archangel, spoken of in the Scriptures.... he was called of God to this office, and was the father of all living in his day, and to him was given the dominion. These men held keys first on earth, and then in heaven."

He stands at the head of all Melchizedek holders in the great plan -

“The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity, and will to eternity, without beginning of days or end of years [see Joseph Smith Translation, Hebrews 7:3]. The keys have to be brought from heaven whenever the Gospel is sent. When they are revealed from heaven, it is by Adam’s authority."

Adam -

"...is the father of the human family, and presides over the spirits of all men, and all that have had the keys must stand before him in this grand council. … The Son of Man stands before him, and there is given him glory and dominion. Adam delivers up his stewardship to Christ, that which was delivered to him as holding the keys of the universe, but retains his standing as head of the human family.
“… The Father called all spirits before Him at the creation of man, and organized them. He (Adam) is the head, and was told to multiply. The keys were first given to him, and by him to others. He will have to give an account of his stewardship, and they to him."

The Prophet records -

“I saw Adam in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman. He called together his children and blessed them with a patriarchal blessing. The Lord appeared in their midst, and he (Adam) blessed them all, and foretold what should befall them to the latest generation.
This is why Adam blessed his posterity; he wanted to bring them into the presence of God..."

The plan cannot be completely taught without teaching the role of Adam -

“Adam … was the first man, who is spoken of in Daniel as being the ‘Ancient of Days’ [Daniel 7:9], or in other words, the first and oldest of all, the great, grand progenitor of whom it is said in another place he is Michael, because he was the first and father of all, not only by progeny, but the first to hold the spiritual blessings, to whom was made known the plan of ordinances for the salvation of his posterity unto the end, and to whom Christ was first revealed, and through whom Christ has been revealed from heaven, and will continue to be revealed from henceforth. Adam holds the keys of the dispensation of the fullness of times; i.e., the dispensation of all the times have been and will be revealed through him from the beginning to Christ, and from Christ to the end of all the dispensations that are to be revealed…"

D&C 24

Alma said to the Church as he ended his ministry -

"Thus saith the Lord God—Cursed shall be the land, yea, this land, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, unto destruction, which do wickedly, when they are fully ripe; and as I have said so shall it be; for this is the cursing and the blessing of God upon the land, for the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance." (Book of Mormon Alma 45:16)

In modern day the Lord has again restated to the Church -

"And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually—
31 For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:30 - 31)

This applies to all. Even to the prophet of the restoration He said -

"...I have lifted thee up out of thine afflictions, and have counseled thee, that thou hast been delivered from all thine enemies, and thou hast been delivered from the powers of Satan and from darkness!
2 Nevertheless, thou art not excusable in thy transgressions; nevertheless, go thy way and sin no more." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 24:1 - 2)

Nephi wrote that -

"...there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.
8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 28:7 - 8)

He reponds that -

"...there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 28:9)

It is very clear that such teachings is false doctrine and untrue.

"O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!" (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 28:15)

This applies to all.

D&C 22

Abinadi asks the priests of King Noah -

"...what teach ye this people?
28 And they said: We teach the law of Moses." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 12:27 - 28)

Then he asked -

"...Doth salvation come by the law of Moses? What say ye?" (Book of Mormon Mosiah 12:31)

They answered -

"...that salvation did come by the law of Moses." (Book of Mormon Mosiah 12:32)

This was also the understanding of the Jews at the time of Christ. Paul as well as other great teachers labored diligently to overcome this thinking. Paul wrote the Galatians -

"For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God." (New Testament Galatians 2:19)

Nephi more plainly taught -

"...notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled.
25 For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 25:24 - 25)

Therefore -

"...we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 25:26)

In modern day, early converts felt that some of their works before their conversion should be recognized specifically in regards to baptism. The Lord responded -

"BEHOLD, I say unto you that all old covenants have I caused to be done away in this thing; and this is a new and an everlasting covenant, even that which was from the beginning.
2 Wherefore, although a man should be baptized an hundred times it availeth him nothing, for you cannot enter in at the strait gate by the law of Moses, neither by your dead works." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 22:1 - 2)

It is through His restored priesthood, obedience to His commandments, and willing to enter into a new and everlasting covenant that His promised blessings come. The Lord explains -

"For it is because of your dead works that I have caused this last covenant and this church to be built up unto me, even as in days of old." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 22:3)

And then He commands -

"Wherefore, enter ye in at the gate, as I have commanded, and seek not to counsel your God." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 22:4)

Joseph Smith - Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost

After the Prophet Joseph Smith went to Washington D.C. -

"...to seek redress for the wrongs done to the Missouri Saints, Joseph Smith and Elias Higbee wrote the following to Hyrum Smith: “In our interview with the President [of the United States], he interrogated us wherein we differed in our religion from the other religions of the day. Brother Joseph said we differed in mode of baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. We considered that all other considerations were contained in the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

The Prophet explained of the other considerations -

"We believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost being enjoyed now, as much as it was in the Apostles’ days; we believe that it [the gift of the Holy Ghost] is necessary to make and to organize the Priesthood, that no man can be called to fill any office in the ministry without it; we also believe in prophecy, in tongues, in visions, and in revelations, in gifts, and in healings; and that these things cannot be enjoyed without the gift of the Holy Ghost..."

"We believe that the holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and that holy men in these days speak by the same principle..."

"We believe in its being a comforter and a witness bearer, that it brings things past to our remembrance, leads us into all truth, and shows us of things to come; we believe that 'no man can know that Jesus is the Christ, but by the Holy Ghost'..."

In February 1847, nearly three years after the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred, he appeared to President Brigham Young and said -

“Tell the people to be humble and faithful and sure to keep the Spirit of the Lord and it will lead them right. Be careful and not turn away the small still voice; it will teach [you what] to do and where to go; it will yield the fruits of the kingdom. Tell the brethren to keep their hearts open to conviction so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it. They can tell the Spirit of the Lord from all other spirits. It will whisper peace and joy to their souls, and it will take malice, hatred, envying, strife, and all evil from their hearts; and their whole desire will be to do good, bring forth righteousness, and build up the kingdom of God. Tell the brethren if they will follow the Spirit of the Lord they will go right.”

The difference between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and all other organizations is this consideration - the priesthood has been restored with power to give the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The difference then is that this Church possesses the Gift of the Holy Ghost.l

D&C 21

With the organization of Christ's Church in modern days, the Savior instructed the president of the Church -

"...there shall be a record kept among you; and in it thou shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 21:1)

I think it is important to understand that the president serves by virtue of -

"...the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 21:1)

The prophet is to be -

"...inspired of the Holy Ghost to lay the foundation thereof, and to build it up unto the most holy faith." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 21:2)

Because -

"Him have I inspired to move the cause of Zion in mighty power for good, and his diligence I know, and his prayers I have heard." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 21:7)

The members -

"...shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 21:4)

Notice the commandment "shalt" - not should or may for the Savior said -

"For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 21:5)

And provides this great promise -

"For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 21:6)

"For, behold, I will bless all those who labor in my vineyard with a mighty blessing, and they shall believe on his words, which are given him through me by the Comforter, which manifesteth that Jesus was crucified by sinful men for the sins of the world, yea, for the remission of sins unto the contrite heart." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 21:9)

D&C 20

Nephi writes -

"...my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 31:13)

It is the -

"...then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost..." (Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 31:13)

...to which I been thinking about today. In modern day the Lord has taught -

"..thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 19:31)

Moroni spoke of those that -

"...had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost..." (Book of Mormon Moroni 6:4)

I pondered a great deal concerning this "baptism of fire" which is associated with "even the Holy Ghost". I read this morning -

"...all those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 20:37)

It seems to me that this "baptism of fire" is a baptism of the "Spirit of Christ" or in other words, the "Light of Christ" which permeates the universe and is the medium that when a person is immersed in allows the power of the Holy Ghost to cleanse that person. Mormon taught that -

"...whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 9:20)

I think the experience of baptism of fire by the Lamanites teaches us a great thing about being in the immersed in the light or the "Light of Christ". This immersion may not be something that we readily recognize but yet is so encompassing that it provides the means whereby the Holy Ghost the power to teach, testify, and cleanse.