Scripture Blog

This weblog is my personal online scripture journal. I try to read the scriptures each morning as I exercise on my cross-trainer. It has a great impact on my life and my testimony of the Savior and his restored church. The journal is really for my own benefit but I have set it up as a web log in hopes to benefit anyone else that may be interested. "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost..." 1 Nephi 10:19

Friday, March 27, 2015

1 Corinthian 12

As Paul teaches the Corinthians concerning the many gifts of the Spirit, he instructs -

"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit."  (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 12:4)

And of these many gifts of the Spirit -

"...all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."  (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 12:11)

Which suggests to me that everyone has a least one gift of the Spirit.  Elder

“Whenever the Holy Ghost takes up its residence in a person , it not only cleanses, sanctifies, and purifies him, in proportion as he himself to its influence, but also imparts to him some gift, intended for the benefit of himself and others… all Saints who constitute the Church of Christ, are baptized into the same Spirit; and each one, without any exception, is made a partaker of some spiritual gift… Each member does not receive all these gifts; [they] are distributed among the members of the Church , according to their faithfulness, circumstances, natural abilities, duties, and callings; that the whole may be properly instructed, confirmed, perfected, and saved.” (Masterful Discourses, pp. 539– 41.)

Thus each individual that receives the Holy Ghost contributes to the organization of the Church for -

"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."  (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 12:14 - 18)

Thus every calling and individual is of great value in the Church for -

"...ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."  (New Testament | 1 Corinthians 12:27 - 31)

For the more excellent way is how all members work together to bring to past the eternal life of man.