Words of Wisdom from Seth

This is Seth's talk from last Sunday. I love this guy!

We live in a world and a society that is obsessed with making comparisons. This fixation can be found in our daily lives in our employment, hobbies, entertainment etc. You can look at almost any industry and it is rife with comparisons. Before coming to Columbus I worked at PNC Investments and a lot of what we did was making comparisons with different investment products to determine which ones we should recommend. There were many different metrics that we would calculate to evaluate different investment options, but the metrics could only be used when you could compare them with the metrics of a similar investment product. On their own the metrics were of no real value. With sports there are endless commentators that are comparing the stats of one player to another in a never ending cycle. When shopping we compare prices, brands, and quality of products at different retailers Television is saturated with programs were judges are comparing singing, cooking, dance moves, weight loss, home renovations, survival skills, fashion, physical appearance and the list goes on and on. Now I am not suggesting that making comparisons is inherently wrong, if fact they can be very important and useful in making decisions. However, because our brains have been trained to make comparisons so often we begin comparing ourselves with others in a way that is sometimes negative, unhelpful, and even hurtful. Because of this brain training we begin comparing our physical appearance, type of employment, perceived intelligence, and salary with others. These types of comparisons tend to bring ourselves down or to bring others down and puff us up with pride. This can warp how we see ourselves and how we see others.   

2 Nephi 26:33 we are reminded that, “…[and the Lord] inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.”

So, how do we develop a proper focus or true identity?  In the last days the Lord has said there will be confusion and many different voices that will try to gain our attention, “For it shall come to pass in that day that the churches which are built up, and not unto the lord, when the one shall say unto the other; Behold, I, I am the Lord’s; and the others shall say: I, I am the lord’s; and thus shall every one say that hath built up churches, and not unto the Lord – And they shall contend one with another; and their priests shall contend one with another, and they shall teach with their learning, and deny the holy Ghost, which giveth utterance.” (2 Nephi 28:3-4)

Isaiah prophesied , “And he [the Lord] will lift up and ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss [call] unto them from the end of the earth;…” (2 Nephi 15:26)

How will the Lord call us back to Him? In the church history there is a recounting of a story about Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith when he visited President [Martin] Van Buren, president of the United States. The President asked the Prophet what difference there was between the Prophet’s church and the other churches of the world. The Prophet answered: “We have the correct mode of baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.” Then he said: “We considered that all other considerations were contained in the gift of the Holy Ghost” (see History of the Church, 4:42).

Through the Holy Ghost we can develop our spiritual gifts. Parley P Pratt wrote:

“He [Holy Ghost] is an intelligent being, in the Image of god, possessing every organ, attribute, sense, sympathy and affection that is possessed by god himself. But these are possessed by man, in his rudimental state, in a subordinate sense of the word. Or, in other words, these attributes are in embryo, and are to be gradually developed. They resemble a bud, a germ, which gradually develops into a bloom and then, by progress, produces the mature fruit after its own kid. The Gift of the Holy Ghost adapts itself to all these organs or attributes. It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections and adapts them by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to give health, vigor, animation and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.”

The gifts of the spirit were also manifest in the church that Christ established on the earth. In 1 Corithians 12 Paul says, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences and administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to antoher faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tounges; to another the interpretation of tongues: “

In modern day revelation we are given an explanation of what these gifts of the spirit are for. In Doctrine and Covenants section 46 it says, “8 ... seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given; 9 For verily I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do; that all may be benefited that seek or that ask of me, ... 11 For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. 12 To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby."

Now there may be times when we think gifts or blessings are delayed or not given. We need to remember that we are in a probationary state here on earth and we will be tested to know if we will remain faithful unto the Lord.  

The same God that delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the flames was the same God that allowed Abinadi to die by fire. The same God that protected Samuel the Lamanite from arrows and stones was the same God that allowed Joseph Smith to be martyred in a prison by a mob.

God loves each of us! We are His children!

That last part is important to remember, “…that all may be profited thereby.” Spiritual Gifts are not given to gratify our lusts or satisfy our curiosities, but are given to align ourselves with God and to help His children to come back to Him. President Eyring has reminded us there are three things we need to keep the Holy Ghost. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father, be clean, and have pure motives.

President George Q. Cannon has given us counsel regarding the gifts of the spirit:

If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect. . . . 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. If a man lack wisdom, it is his duty to ask God for wisdom. The same with everything else. That is the design of God concerning His Church. He wants His Saints to be perfected in the truth. For this purpose He gives these gifts, and bestows them upon those who seek after them, in order that they may be a perfect people upon the face of the earth.[Millennial Star, April 1894, p. 260]

George Q Cannon also taught We can have the gift of discerning of spirits, “a gift that is of exceeding value and one that should be enjoyed by every Latter-day Saint. . . . No Latter-day Saint should be without this gift, because there is such a variety of spirits in the world which seek to deceive and lead astray” (Gospel Truth, comp. Jerreld L. Newquist [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1987], pp. 156–57).

Each gift that is given needs to be developed. Just as a person learning a musical instrument it takes time and dedication. With spiritual gifts it will take prayer and fasting even to know of gifts we have received.

There are verses in the Doctrine and Covenants to help guide us to know what is from God, “Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together. And that which doeth not edify is not of God, and is darkenss. That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light growth brighter and brighter until the perfect day. And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you;” (D&C 50:22-25)

There are many gifts. Bruce R. McConkie wrote, “Spiritual gifts are endless in number and infinite in variety” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1985], p. 371). The last gift I want to talk about is charity. Mormon said, “Wherefore, my beloved bretheren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail – But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of god; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.” (Moroni 7:46-48) The reception of the Holy Ghost cleanses us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.