Gospel Principles
Unit 5: The Church of Jesus Christ
Chapter 16: The Church of Jesus Christ in Former Times
Concept 7: Some features That Identify the Church of Jesus Christ; Spiritual Gifts
"All faithful members of the Church were entitled to receive gifts of the Spirit. These were given to them according to their individual needs, capacities, and assignments. Some of these gifts were faith, including the power to heal and to be healed; prophecy; and visions(The gifts of the Spirit are discussed in more detail in The Gifts of the Spirit;chapter 22.) Spiritual gifts always exist in the true Church of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 "4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.").
Jesus told his disciples that these signs or spiritual gifts always follow them that believe (Mark 16:17-18 "17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.").
Many of his disciples performed miracles, prophesied, or beheld visions through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Discussion
List the features that identify the Church of Jesus Christ. Are all these features found in any other church?"
Concept 8: The Church of Jesus Christ in the Americas
"After Jesus was resurrected, he visited the people in America and organized his Church among them (see 3 Nephi chapters 11-28).
3 Nephi 11
Jesus Christ did show himself unto the people of Nephi, as the multitude were gathered together in the land Bountiful, and did minister unto them; and on this wise did he show himself unto them. Comprising chapters 11 to 26 inclusive.
Then he left them and ascended into heaven. For over two hundred years they lived righteously and were among the happiest people whom God had created (4 Nephi 1:16 "And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.")."