Lesson 15: “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”

Purpose

To help class members identify gifts of the Spirit, seek to obtain them, and use them to serve others.

Preparation

• Prayerfully study the following scriptures and other materials:
  • Doctrine and Covenants 46; Articles of Faith 1:7.
  • 1 Corinthians 12–13; Moroni 10:8–18
• To gain a greater understanding of historical events related to the doctrine in this lesson, consider reviewing the following:
  • "Religious Enthusiasm among Early Ohio Converts": This article gives context for the revelation contained in Doctrine and Covenants 46.
  • "A Love for Words: The Legacy of Mabel Jones Gabbott": This article shares the story of Mabel Jones Gabbott, who developed a gift for spiritual expression and blessed the Saints with her poems, songs, and hymns.
  • "Suddenly the Thought Came to Me": This article describes how the prophetic dream of a young girl in northern Italy led to some of the first conversions there.
  • Daughters in My Kingdom, chapter 8: This chapter includes a section that discusses spiritual gifts.
• Read the following accounts from Our Heritage:
  • Newel Knight administering to Philo Dibble (pages 42–43).
  • Amanda Smith receiving revelation on how to treat her injured son (pages 47–48).
  • The Prophet Joseph Smith prophesying of Dan Jones's missionary service (page 63).

Questions to Ponder

1. All faithful members of the Church can receive gifts of the Spirit.

The gifts of the Spirit are spiritual blessings or abilities that are given through the Holy Ghost. These gifts were taken from the earth during the Great Apostasy, but God restored them in the early days of this dispensation. The exercise of these gifts can bless, edify, and unify us.

• What gifts of the Spirit does the Lord identify in D&C 46?
  1. D&C 46:13. 
  2. D&C 46:14. 
  3. D&C 46:15.  Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve said that this gift is "used in administering and regulating the church" (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 278).
  4. D&C 46:16. 
  5. D&C 46:17–18.
  6. D&C 46:19.
  7. D&C 46:20.
  8. D&C 46:21. 
  9. D&C 46:22.
  10. D&C 46:23.
  11. D&C 46:24.
  12. D&C 46:25.
  13. 1 Corinthians 12:4–12; 
  14. 1 Corinthians 13:1–13;
  15. Moroni 10:8–18.
• Who can receive gifts of the Spirit? (See D&C 46:8, 11.) 

2. God gives gifts of the Spirit for the benefit of His children.

• What are some purposes of the gifts of the Spirit, as revealed in D&C 46?
• Read D&C 46:9. In what ways can the gifts of the Spirit help us individually? What gifts have been of special value to you?

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve taught that gifts of the Spirit "can lead us to God. They can shield us from the power of the adversary. They can compensate for our inadequacies and repair our imperfections" ("Spiritual Gifts," Ensign, Sept. 1986, 72).

• Read D&C 46:11–12, 26. How has a particular spiritual gift helped you serve others? How have you been blessed through the spiritual gifts of others?

Elder Orson Pratt of the Quorum of the Twelve said, "Spiritual gifts 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 and Writings of Orson Pratt, comp. N. B. Lundwall [1953], 571).

• Read D&C 46:8. How can gifts of the Spirit help us avoid evil influences or deception?

3. We should seek and cultivate gifts of the Spirit.

The Lord has told us, "Seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given" (D&C 46:8).

• What can we do to discover the spiritual gifts that God has given us? What can we do to cultivate and develop the spiritual gifts we have been given?
  The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that many gifts of the Spirit, such as wisdom or the gift to heal, are not evident until they are needed. He said that "it would require time and circumstances to call these gifts into operation" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 246).
• What can we do to seek gifts of the Spirit?
  1. D&C 46:7, 30.
  2. D&C 46:9.
  3. D&C 46:31.
  4. D&C 46:32.
  5. D&C 46:33.
  President George Q. Cannon taught: "If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect. Have I imperfections? I am full of them. What is my duty? To pray to God to give me the gifts that will correct these imperfections. If I am an angry man, it is my duty to pray for charity, which suffereth long and is kind. Am I an envious man? It is my duty to seek for charity, which envieth not. So with all the gifts of the Gospel. They are intended for this purpose. No man ought to say, 'Oh, I cannot help this; it is my nature.' He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to give strength to correct these things, and to give gifts that will eradicate them" (Millennial Star, 23 Apr. 1894, 260).
  Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained how his mother applied the principle of seeking gifts of the Spirit: "Having lost her husband, my widowed mother was incomplete. How she prayed for what she needed to fulfill her responsibility to raise her three small children! She was seeking, she was worthy, and she was blessed! Her prayers were answered in many ways, including the receipt of spiritual gifts. She had many, but the ones that stand out in my memory are the gifts of faith, testimony, and wisdom. She was a mighty woman in Zion" (Ensign, Sept. 1986, 72).

Lesson 14: The Law of Consecration

Purpose
To help class members understand the law of consecration and its eternal purposes and desire to consecrate their lives more fully to the service of God.

Preparation

• Prayerfully study the following scriptures and other materials:
  
  • Doctrine and Covenants 42:30–42; 51; 78; 82;104:11–18; and the other scriptures in this lesson.
  • Our Heritage, page 26.
  • "Settle This in Your Hearts" - Neal A. Maxwell
  • "Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father" - Neal A. Maxwell
• To gain a greater understanding of historical events related to the doctrine in this lesson, consider reviewing the following:
  
  • "The Law": This article gives context for the revelation now known as Doctrine and Covenants 42.
  • "A Bishop unto the Church": This article discusses Edward Partridge's role in administering the law of consecration as the Church's first bishop.
  • "Newel K. Whitney and the United Firm": This article discusses the role of the United Firm in handling finances to move forward the work of the early Church.
  • "Sacrificing Soccer for Service": This article tells the story of Samuel Borén, a pioneer of the Church in Argentina who turned down a soccer contract to focus on Church service.
  • "Building the Kirtland Stake of Zion: The Ashery and Sawmill" Examine the sawmill and ashery in Kirtland, Ohio. Consider how these operations helped the Saints prepare to receive blessings in the temple.

Questions to Ponder

1. The Lord revealed the law of consecration to the Saints.

Explain that in February 1831, soon after the Saints began to gather in Kirtland, Ohio, the Lord revealed that they should begin to live the law of consecration (D&C 42:30).

• What does consecrate mean?
• What is the law of consecration?
• What are the purposes of the law of consecration?
  • D&C 42:30-34. How is caring for the poor and needy accomplished through the law of consecration?
  • D&C 42:35. 
  • D&C 42:40. How can living the law of consecration help members overcome personal pride or greed?
  • D&C 42:42. How does it help the Lord's people be industrious and avoid idleness?
  • D&C 51:9. In what ways does the Lord expect us to be one? How can the law of consecration help the Saints be one?
  • D&C 78:3–7. How does being equal in"earthly things" help us obtain "heavenly things"? (D&C 78:5).
  • D&C 78:14. How does it help the Church "stand independent above all other creatures."?
  • D&C 82:17–19. How can living the law of consecration help the Lord's people develop greater charity?

It is clear that the law of consecration is not just a temporal or economic program. It is also a spiritual law that helps members grow spiritually and prepare for eternal life (D&C 29:34–35).

The principles of the law of consecration have not changed since it was revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith. However, the application of those principles changes from time to time. The current prophet helps us understand how to apply these principles in our day.

The early Saints attempted to live the law for periods of time in Ohio, Missouri, and Utah. Some of the Saints lived the law well, but the Church as a whole failed to live it (see also Our Heritage, page 26).

Consecrating possessions
Under the law of consecration, Church members voluntarily consecrated their possessions to the Church by legal deed (D&C 42:30).

Receiving a stewardship
After Church members consecrated their possessions, the bishop granted them stewardships, or portions, from all the properties received. The size of the stewardship depended on the circumstances and needs of the family, as determined by the bishop in consultation with the member who received it (D&C 42:32; 51:3). The stewardship was given with a deed of ownership so each member would be fully responsible and accountable for managing it (D&C 51:4; 72:3–4; 104:11–13). The stewardship, then, was treated as private property, not common or communal property, even though all property ultimately belongs to God.

Surpluses
If members produced a surplus from their stewardships beyond what was necessary for their families, at the end of the year they gave it to the bishop to put in the bishop's storehouse (D&C 42:33; 51:13). The bishop used the surplus to care for the poor, to build houses of worship, and for other worthy purposes (D&C 42:34–35).

United order
In March 1832, the Lord revealed that there must be an organization to regulate and administer the law of consecration among His people (D&C 78:3). He called this organization the "united order" (D&C 92:1). In subsequent revelations the Lord gave further instructions concerning the united order (see, for example, D&C 104).

2. The law of consecration is an eternal law.

The law of consecration is an eternal law that the Lord revealed again in our dispensation. Accounts of the Lord's people living this law are included in the Pearl of Great Price, New Testament, and Book of Mormon. Read or review the following scriptures that discuss some of these scriptural accounts:

1. Moses 7:18. (The people of Enoch.)
2. Acts 4:32, 34–35. (The Saints after the Savior's Resurrection.)
3. 4 Nephi 1:1–3, 12–13, 15. (The Nephites after the Savior's visit to them.)

• What do you think would be some of the blessings of living in a community where people lived the law of consecration?

3. We can consecrate our lives to the Lord now.

As Saints of God, we must be prepared and willing to live the law of consecration in its fulness. But we do not need to wait for a future day to consecrate our lives to the Lord. As we do all we can to live the law of consecration today, we will be better prepared to live the fulness of the law when the Lord asks us to do so.

In what ways can we live the law of consecration in our lives today?

Realize that everything we have belongs to the Lord

• Read D&C 104:13–14 and Psalm24:1. What can we learn from these verses? What does it mean to be a steward over our possessions? How should this knowledge affect our attitude toward our possessions? Why is it important to understand that everything belongs to the Lord? What does the Lord promise as we are faithful stewards over what He has given us? (See D&C 51:19; 78:22.)
  
  Bishop Victor L. Brown, former Presiding Bishop of the Church, said that until we "feel in total harmony" with the principle that everything we have belongs to the Lord, "it will be difficult, if not impossible, for us to accept the law of consecration. As we prepare to live this law, we will look forward with great anticipation to the day when the call will come. If, on the other hand, we hope it can be delayed so we can have the pleasure of accumulating material things, we are on the wrong path" ("The Law of Consecration," 1976 Devotional Speeches of the Year [1977], 439).
• Read D&C 19:26. What warning did the Lord give to Martin Harris in this verse? Why must we overcome covetousness if we are to consecrate our lives to the Lord? How can we overcome covetous feelings?
  President Brigham Young said: "I am more afraid of covetousness in our Elders than I am of the hordes of hell. … All our enemies … in the world, and all hell with them marshaled against us, could not do us the injury that covetousness in the hearts of this people could do us; for it is idolatry" (in Journal of Discourses, 5:353).

Make the sacrifices the Lord requires now

We must be willing to make the sacrifices that the Lord requires of us at the present time. These include sacrifices of time, talents, and possessions. The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve give us direction regarding how we implement the principles of the law of consecration in our day.

• How can we consecrate our time, talents, and possessions to help build the kingdom of God today?

Develop Christlike love for others

• Read D&C 82:19 and Jacob 2:17. What does the Lord teach in these scriptures about how we are to show our love for others? Why is developing Christlike love for others necessary if we are to live the law of consecration?

The ability to have Christlike love for others is the foundation of the law of consecration. As we grow in love, our ability to live this law will also grow.

How have you or others sacrificed their time and resources to help others in a time of need? 

Strive to consecrate all aspects of our lives to the Lord

Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve said: "We tend to think of consecration only in terms of property and money. But there are so many ways of keeping back part" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 90; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 66).

• What are some ways in which we might be "keeping back part" when we could achieve greater consecration in the service of God and His children? (See D&C 64:34 and the following examples from Elder Maxwell of how we sometimes fall short in the consecration we should give.)
  (See Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 88–92; and Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 27–30;)
• How are we blessed as we strive for more complete consecration?

Lesson 13: “This Generation Shall Have My Word through You”

Purpose

To help class members appreciate the Prophet Joseph Smith’s role in bringing forth the word of the Lord in this dispensation.

Preparation

• Prayerfully study the scriptures in this lesson and the following other materials:
• Our Heritage, pages 23–25, 41, 58.
• Bible Dictionary, “Joseph Smith Translation,” page 717.
• Review the material for this lesson in the Class Member Study Guide.
• To gain a greater understanding of historical events related to the doctrine in this lesson, consider reviewing the following:
• “Joseph Smith’s Bible Translation.”
• “William McLellin’s Five Questions.”
• “Ministry of Joseph Smith: The Book of Mormon.”
• Additional historical material for this lesson.

Discussion and Application

1. The Lord declared that the people in this dispensation would receive His word through Joseph Smith.

• Read D&C 5:10. In this verse, the phrase “this generation” refers to this dispensation—the time in which we live. 
• President Brigham Young declared: “What I have received from the Lord, I have received by Joseph Smith” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 458).
• How is this statement true for you? 
• How is it true for all Latter-day Saints?
• The great outpouring of truth in this dispensation has come through the Prophet Joseph Smith. For example, latter-day scriptures, priesthood ordinances, the organization of the priesthood, and temple building have come from the Lord through the Prophet Joseph Smith.

2. Many ancient and latter-day scriptures have come through Joseph Smith.

• Read Moses 1:40–41. How is the prophecy in verse 41 being fulfilled? 
• (In a time when many have esteemed the Lord’s words lightly, the Lord raised up the Prophet Joseph Smith. The words of the Lord are now “had again among the children of men.”)
• What scriptures have come to us through the Prophet Joseph Smith? 
• The Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. 
• Joseph Smith was an instrument in the Lord’s hands in restoring ancient scriptures, and he received many revelations that became latter-day scriptures.
• Speaking about Joseph Smith, Elder LeGrand Richards of the Quorum of the Twelve said, “As far as our records show, he has given us more revealed truth than any prophet who has ever lived upon the face of the earth” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1981, 43; or Ensign, May 1981, 33).

• The Book of Mormon
• Read 2 Nephi 3:11–15. This passage contains a prophecy about Joseph Smith. The writings mentioned in verse 12 are the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
• In what ways does the Book of Mormon help eliminate contention and establish peace? 
• In what ways does the Book of Mormon bring people to a knowledge of the Lord’s covenants?
• How has the Book of Mormon blessed your life?
• •What are some of your favorite passages in the Book of Mormon?

• The Doctrine and Covenants
• From 1823 to 1831, Joseph Smith received more than 60 revelations from the Lord. A few handwritten copies of these revelations were given to missionaries and others, but most Church members did not have access to them. At a conference held in Ohio in late 1831, Church leaders decided to publish the revelations in a volume called the Book of Commandments (see the headings to D&C 67 and D&C 69). Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer were selected to take the revelations to Independence, Missouri, a distance of approximately 1,000 miles, where the book would be printed and bound.  Oliver Cowdery and John Whitmer reached Independence in January 1832, and by July 1833 William W. Phelps had printed the first 160 pages of the Book of Commandments. However, on 20 July 1833 a mob destroyed Brother Phelps’s printing press and many of the unbound pages of the Book of Commandments.
• Review the story of the courage of Mary Elizabeth and Caroline Rollins (Our Heritage, page 41). The pages that were salvaged were bound into a few copies of the Book of Commandments, but the revelations still were not widely available. In 1835, after 45 more revelations were added, the Book of Commandments was published as the Doctrine and Covenants.
• What does the story of Mary Elizabeth and Caroline Rollins teach about how we should value the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants?
• How have you been blessed as you have studied the Doctrine and Covenants this year?
• What are some of your favorite passages in the Doctrine and Covenants?

• The Book of Commandments. This is the first compilation of the revelations given through the Prophet Joseph Smith. These revelations later became part of the Doctrine and Covenants.

• The Pearl of Great Price
• The Pearl of Great Price is appropriately named. Like a pearl, it is small in size but great in worth. Although it is only 61 pages long, it spans the eternities, including passages about the Grand Council in Heaven, the restoration of the gospel in the dispensation of the fulness of times, the Savior’s Second Coming, the Millennium, and everlasting life. It contains valuable teachings on the Creation, the Fall, the Atonement, and the agency of mankind. 
• This book of scripture has five parts:

a. Selections from the book of Moses

b. The book of Abraham

c. Joseph Smith—Matthew

d. Joseph Smith—History

e. The Articles of Faith

• Turn to the Introductory Note at the beginning of the Pearl of Great Price and review the last five paragraphs, which explain the background of each part of this book of scripture.
• How have the teachings in the Pearl of Great Price helped you? 
• What are some passages in the Pearl of Great Price that are particularly meaningful to you?

• The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
• Read the eighth article of faith. What is the significance of the phrase “as far as it is translated correctly”?
• Read 1 Nephi 13:24–28. (Note “the book [that] proceeded from the mouth of a Jew” is the Bible. The phrase “great and abominable church” refers to all those who fight against God, not to a specific church.) Because of the Great Apostasy, the Lord withdrew the fulness of the gospel from the earth. During the centuries that followed, many parts of the Bible were changed and many plain and precious truths were lost.  Soon after the Church was restored, the Lord instructed the Prophet Joseph to begin making inspired corrections to the King James Version of the Bible. There are many references to this instruction in the Doctrine and Covenants (see, for example, D&C 35:20; 37:1; 45:60–61; 73:3–4; 93:53). Today we refer to the Prophet’s work as the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible.  
• Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible differs from what we normally call a translation. The Prophet did not translate the Bible from one language to another. His only text was the King James Version of the Bible, and he was guided by the Spirit to make corrections and restore passages that had been lost completely.
• Two excerpts from the Joseph Smith Translation are in the Pearl of Great Price (the book of Moses and Joseph Smith—Matthew). In addition, brief portions of the Joseph Smith Translation are included in the footnotes of the Latter-day Saint edition of the King James Bible. Longer excerpts are included in the appendix following the Bible Dictionary.
• To gain a greater appreciation of the Joseph Smith Translation, you may want to briefly compare some passages with the King James Bible. Two comparisons are suggested below:
• a. The account and teachings of Enoch are an example of the restoration of long passages in the Joseph Smith Translation. The Bible’s only references to Enoch are in Genesis 5:18–24, Luke 3:37, Hebrews 11:5, and Jude 1:14–15. The Joseph Smith Translation’s references to Enoch are greatly expanded to include his teachings, visions, and prophecies as recorded in Moses 6:21–68 and Moses 7:1–69.
• b. The revisions to Matthew 4 are an example of inspired corrections to specific verses in the Bible. Review a few of the footnotes for Matthew 4 that begin with “JST.”
• How do these corrections clarify the verses in the King James Version.
• The process of translating the Bible not only brought the correction and restoration of doctrines in the Bible. It also helped bring about the restoration of doctrines through the Doctrine and Covenants. Many revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants are responses to questions the Prophet asked while pondering the translation of the Bible. One Church member who spent many years studying the Joseph Smith Translation observed, “The Joseph Smith Translation is not just a better Bible; it was the channel, or the means, of doctrinal restoration in the infancy of this Church” (Robert J. Matthews, in The Capstone of Our Religion: Insights into the Doctrine and Covenants [1989], 64).
• For an example of how the Joseph Smith Translation led to “doctrinal restoration,” read the second full paragraph on page 24 of Our Heritage. You may also want to read the heading to D&C 76 and verses 15–19 in D&C 76:15–19.
• As you study the scriptures, use the Joseph Smith Translation.

3. Plain and precious doctrines of the gospel have been restored through Joseph Smith.

• The chart below highlights some of the doctrines of the gospel that were restored or clarified through the Prophet Joseph Smith.
• The middle column of the chart lists verses in the Bible where the doctrines and principles are unclear, incorrect, or incomplete. The right column shows where these doctrines and principles are explained or clarified in scripture given through Joseph Smith.

Click the thumbnail below to see comparison chart: