D&C 46

One of the gifts of the Spirit is -

"...it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether they be of God, that the manifestations of the Spirit may be given to every man to profit withal."  (Doctrine and Covenants 46:16)

Elder Marion G. Romney explained -

“By the statement in the revelation on spiritual gifts, ‘. . . it is given by the Holy Ghost to some to know the diversities of operations, whether they be of God, . . . and to others the discerning of spirits,’ it appears that there are some apparently supernatural manifestations which are not worked by the power of the Holy Ghost. The truth is there are many which are not. The world today is full of counterfeits. It has always been so. Away back in the days of Moses, when Aaron’s rod became a serpent, then Pharaoh’s wise men, sorcerers and magicians ‘. . . cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents. . . .’ (Ex. 7:11-12.) Isaiah warned against seeking ‘. . . unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: . . .’ (Isa. 8:19.)

“The Saints were cautioned by the Lord to walk uprightly before him, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that they might ‘. . . not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; . . .’ (D&C 47:7.)

“These citations not only sustain the proposition that there are counterfeits to the gifts of the Spirit, but they also suggest the origin of the counterfeits. However, we are not required to rely alone upon their implications, plain as they are, for the Lord states specifically that some of the counterfeits ‘. . . are of men, and others of devils.’ [D&C 46:7.]

“Some of these counterfeits are crude and easily detected, but others closely simulate true manifestations of the spirit. Consequently, people are confused and deceived by them. Without a key [such as the gift of knowing “the diversities of operations”], one cannot distinguish between the genuine and the counterfeit.” (In Conference Report, April 1956, pages 70-71.)

Obviously, Satan possesses the power and ability to perform counterfeits to these gifts.  We need to be careful.