Gospel Principles
Unit 6: The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Chapter 22: The Gifts of the Spirit
Concept 4: The Gifts of The Spirit (part 3)
The Gift of Prophecy (D&C 46:22 "And to Others it is given to prophesy;")
Those who receive true revelations about the past, present, or future have the gift of prophecy. Prophets have this gift, but we too can have it to help us govern our own lives (1 Corinthians 14:39 "Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues."). We may receive revelations from God for ourselves and our own callings, but never for the Church or its leaders. It is contrary to the order of Heaven for a person to receive revelation for someone higher in authority. If we truly have the gift of prophecy, we will not receive any revelation that does not agree with what the Lord has said in the Scriptures (see Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation 3:203-4).
The Gift of Healing (D&C 46:19-20 "19 And again, to some it is given to have faith to be healed; 20 And to others it is given to have faith to heal.")
Some have the faith to heal, and other have the faith to be healed. We can all exercise the faith to be healed when we are ill (D&C 42:48 "And again, it shall come to pass that he that hath faith in me to be healed, and is not appointed unto death, shall be healed.") Many who hold the priesthood have the gift of healing the sick. Others may be given a knowledge of how to cure illness.
Discussion
D&C 42:43-44 "43 And whosoever among you are sick, and have not faith to be healed, but believe, shall be ourished with all tenderness, with herbs and mild food, and that not by the hand of an enemy.
44 And the elders of the church, two or more, shall be called, and shall pray for and lay their hands upon them in my name; and if they die they shall die unto me, and if they live they shall live unto me."
What should we do when we are ill?
The Gift of Working Miracles (D&C 46:21 "And again to some it given the working of miracles;")
The Lord has blessed his people many times in miraculous ways. When the Utah pioneers planted their first crops, a plague of locust nearly destroyed them. The pioneers prayed that the Lord would save their corps, and he sent sea gulls to devour the locust. When we need help and ask in faith, if it is for our good the Lord will work miracles for us (Matthew 17:20 "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
D&C 24:13-14 "13 Require not miracles, except I shall command you, except casting out devils, healing the sick, and against poisonous serpents, and against deadly poisons;
14 And these things ye shall not do, except it be required of you by them who desire it, that the scriptures might be fulfilled; for ye shall do according to that which is written.").
The Gifts of Faith (Moroni 10:11 "And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;")
The brother of Jared had great faith. Because of his faith, he received other gifts. His faith was so great that the Savior appeared to him (see Ether 3:9-15). Without faith, no other gift can be given. Moroni promises, "Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, hatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth." (Mormon 9:21). We should seek to increase our faith, find out our gifts, and use them.
Some people lack faith and deny these gifts of the Spirit actually exist. Moroni says to them:
"And again I speak unto you who deny the revelations of God, and say that they are done away, that there are no revelations, nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking with tongues, and the interpretation of tongues;
"Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them." (Mormon 9:7-8)."