Gifts of the Spirit in Mormonism

Stained glass depiction of Joseph Smith's First Vision, completed in 1913 by an unknown artist (Museum of Church History and Art).

In Mormonism, gifts of the Spirit are spiritual endowments that provide benefits to the recipient. The seventh Article of Faith states: "We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth."^[1][2] Both males and females can receive spiritual gifts.^[3] They are an important component in both the basic beliefs and daily living of Mormons.

Mode of acquisition

While some Charismatic Christians believe that spiritual gifts are an arbitrary endowment of grace, an important Mormon idea is that spiritual gifts can be developed through diligent seeking.^[4] Some gifts are developed in pre-existence.^[5] Other spiritual gifts are developed during mortal life and identified by priesthood blessings. As teenagers, many Mormons receive a patriarchal blessing which seeks to reveal some spiritual gifts by revelation. For those who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), this blessing is recorded and saved in the official church archives.

In contemporary Mormonism, spiritual gifts are most often associated with the gift of the Holy Ghost,^[6] which is bestowed by the laying on of hands following baptism in an ordinance called confirmation.^[7] This ordinance is usually performed at a baptismal service or sacrament meeting. During the ordinance, the person being confirmed will receive the verbal admonition to "receive the Holy Ghost."^[8] From this point forward, the person will be entitled to the constant companionship of the Holy Spirit if they have living faith in Jesus Christ and are in a state of true repentance. The recipient will also be entitled to receive personal revelation.^[9]

There is no clear consensus among Mormon thinkers on whether or not non-Mormons, who have not received the gift of the Holy Ghost, can enjoy spiritual gifts. Early Mormon references do not stress the idea that spiritual gifts are entirely predicated on the gift of the Holy Ghost, while contemporary opinions often do.^[10][11]

Purpose

Many Mormons believe that spiritual gifts may be received according to the needs and capacity of the individual.^[12] These gifts are given to benefit those who love God in their journey towards eternal life.^[13] They also serve as signs of true believers.^[14]

Controversy

The belief that spiritual gifts exist in the present age is called continuationism by some theologians and religious studies scholars. In contrast, the belief that spiritual gifts no longer operate is called cessationism. Continuationists generally believe that cessationists lack faith. Consistent with the rationalism of the modern age, cessationists generally believe continuationists are either deceivers or mentally unhealthy.^[15][16]

Historical development and de-emphasis

In the early-nineteenth century, the claim of Mormons to supernatural spiritual gifts was very common.^[17][18] Spiritual gifts were promoted in hymns, such as "The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning", which was included in the first Latter Day Saint hymnal in 1835.^[19] However, with the passage of time, supernaturalism has been deemphasized as a normative expression within Mormonism.^[20] This de-emphasis is consistent with the general pattern of a young and charismatic religious movement experiencing the petrification of charisma because of new doctrinal standards, fixed rituals, and the policy making of bureaucratic institutions.^[21]

In regards to the gift of tongues, some early Mormons claimed that their glossolalia ("speaking in tongues in a sacred language unknown to any human") was an expression of the pure Adamic language.^[22] However, beginning in June 1839, glossolalia was de-emphasized in favor of the less supernatural xenoglossia ("speaking in tongues in a language that could have been learned by natural means").^[23] In regards to the gift of healing, stand alone expressions of supernatural healing have been de-emphasized in favor of comforting the sick via priesthood blessings under institutional sponsorship.^[24][25] Today, few Mormons claim to experience supernaturalism,^[26] though there is a greater belief in supernatural gifts within Mormon fundamentalism as compared to the LDS Church. When supernaturalism is claimed in contemporary Mormonism, there is a tendency to attribute the experience to a direct act of God instead of an indirect act through the mediation of spiritual gifts.

Appendix: list of Spiritual Gifts in early Mormonism

Some of the spiritual gifts found in early Mormon-exclusive sources include:

• gifts of prophecy (including both testimony and prediction abilities),^{[note 1]}
• gifts of knowledge and wisdom,^{[note 2]}
• inspiration to praise and glorify God and rejoice,^{[note 3]}
• allowing the receiver to act as a conduit of the messages of God to humanity,^{[note 4]}
• receiving inspired, correct words in difficult circumstances,^{[note 5]}
• the power to create or restore life,^{[note 6]}
• receiving confirmation of identity and affiliation,^{[note 7]}
• gifts of hope and perfect love (charity),^{[note 8]}
• ability to lead church meetings,^{[note 9]}
• ability to establish the church and faith of God, and identify those chosen by God to priesthoods and callings,^{[note 10]}
• ability to receive general and specific inspiration about daily living,^{[note 11]}
• gifts of faith,^{[note 12]}
• ability to discern spirits (including physiognomy and clairvoyance),^{[note 13]}
• gifts of healing others and the ability to be healed,^{[note 14]}
• gifts of working miracles,^{[note 15]}
• gifts of tongues,^{[note 16]}
• ability to cast out devils and demons (exorcism),^{[note 17]}
• divine investiture of authority and priesthood,^{[note 18]}
• remission of sins and purification,^{[note 19]}
• ability to receive general help (wishes),^{[note 20]}
• gifts of angelic ministration,^{[note 21]}
• ability to receive and interpret dreams (sleeping visions),^{[note 22]}
• protection (rescue) from enemies, serpents, poisons, injury, devils, evil, and all trouble,^{[note 23]}
• safeguarding of the home,^{[note 24]}
• warnings of danger,^{[note 25]}
• ability to pass unnoticed or untouched,^{[note 26]}
• gifts of waking visions and ascension,^{[note 27]}
• ability to remember things once known (memory),^{[note 28]}
• ability to control weather;^{[note 29]}
• gifts of health, prosperity, and success,^{[note 30]}
• gifts of posterity,^{[note 31]}
• gifts of peace and comfort,^{[note 32]}
• respect from the world leaders,^{[note 33]}
• gifts of divine glory and transfiguration,^{[note 34]}
• ability to wither, consume, burn, shake, shock, or kill enemies;^{[note 35]}
• ability to bless (bind) and curse (loose | repel) an individual or group for keeping or defying the law of God,^{[note 36]}
• gift of eternal life (deification).^{[note 37]}

See also

• List of articles about Mormonism

References

1. Bickerstaff, H. George (1992). "Gifts of the Spirit". Encyclopedia of Mormonism (Macmillan). Retrieved April 18, 2015.
2. Vogel, Dan and Scott C. Dunn (Fall 1993). "'The Tongue of Angels': Glossolalia Among Mormonism's Founders". Journal of Mormon History, Vol. 19, No. 2: 1–34. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
3. Newell, Linda King (1985). "The Historical Relationship of Mormon Women and Priesthood" (PDF). Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
4. Gibbons, Ted L. (March 29, 2013). "D&C Lesson 15: "Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts". LDSLiving Magazine. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
5. Brown, Gayle Oblad (1992). "Premortal Life". In Ludlow, Daniel H. Encyclopedia of Mormonism. New York: Macmillan Publishing. p. 1123-1125. ISBN 0-02-879602-0. OCLC 24502140.
6. Porter, Bruce D (1992). "The Gift of the Holy Ghost". Encyclopedia of Mormonism (Macmillan). Retrieved April 18, 2015.
7. Craven, Rulon G. (1992). "Confirmation". Macmillan. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
8. "Lesson 5: Performing Priesthood Ordinances". Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood: Basic Manual for Priesthood Holders, Part B (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). 2000. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
9. Smith, Joseph Fielding (1976). Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Deseret Book. p. 328.
10. Vogel, Dan and Scott C. Dunn (Fall 1993). "'The Tongue of Angels': Glossolalia Among Mormonism's Founders". Journal of Mormon History, Vol. 19, No. 2: 34. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
11. Bickerstaff, H. George (1992). "Gifts of the Spirit". Encyclopedia of Mormonism (Macmillan). Retrieved April 18, 2015.
12. Barkdull, Larry (May 15, 2013). "Gifts of the Spirit". Meridan Magazine. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
13. Crowther, Duane S. (1983). Gifts of the Spirit. Horizon Publishing. pp. 1–2.
14. Bickerstaff, H. George (1992). "Gifts of the Spirit". Encyclopedia of Mormonism (Macmillan). Retrieved April 18, 2015.
15. Vogel, Dan and Scott C. Dunn (Fall 1993). "'The Tongue of Angels': Glossolalia Among Mormonism's Founders". Journal of Mormon History, Vol. 19, No. 2: 34. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
16. Copeland, Lee (1991). "Speaking in tongues in the Restoration Churches" (PDF). Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
17. Vogel, Dan and Scott C. Dunn (Fall 1993). "'The Tongue of Angels': Glossolalia Among Mormonism's Founders". Journal of Mormon History, Vol. 19, No. 2. P. 2: 2. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
18. Copeland, Lee (1991). "Speaking in Tongues in the Restoration Churches" (PDF). Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
19. "Hymnal: The Spirit of God". LDS Church. February 21, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
20. Miller, Adam (April 20, 2015). "The Future of Mormon Thinking-Part 3 'The Subjective'". By Common Consent. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
21. Poloma, Margaret M. (2003). Main Street Mystics: The Toronto Blessing and Reviving Pentecostalism. New York: AltaMira Press. p. 15.
22. Robertson, John S (1992). "Adamic Language". The Encyclopedia of Mormonism (Macmillan). Retrieved April 18, 2015.
23. Vogel, Dan and Scott C. Dunn (Fall 1993). "'The Tongue of Angels': Glossolalia Among Mormonism's Founders". Journal of Mormon History, Vol. 19, No. 2. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
24. Newell, Linda King. "A Gift Given: A Gift Taken: Washing, Anointing, and Blessing the Sick Among Mormon Women" (PDF). Sunstone Magazine. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
25. Campbell, Courtney S. (1993). "Embodiment and Ethics: A Latter-day Saint Perspective". Bioethics Yearbook: 43–67. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
26. Miller, Adam (April 20, 2015). "The Future of Mormon Thinking-Part 3 'The Subjective.'". Retrieved April 22, 2015.

Appendix Notes

1. Articles of Faith 7; Joseph Smith History 1:33; B.H. Roberts. 1980 Reprint Edition. Editor. History of the Church, Volumes 1-7. Second Edition Revised. The Deseret Book Company. [HC], Vol. 1, Ch. 12, p. 128; Alma 5:47; Moses 6:8; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 14, p. 165; HC, Vol. 5, Ch. 2, p. 27; HC, Vol. 4, Ch. 26, p. 449; HC, Vol. 5, Ch. 2, p. 27; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 5, p. 42; HC, Vol. 3, Ch. 10, p. 148; HC, Vol. 4, Ch. 15, p. 275; 1 Nephi 1:13 See notes accompanying Official Declaration 1 in the D&C; HC, Vol. 4, Ch. 35, p. 602; HC, Vol. 5, Ch. 2, p. 27.
2. Articles of Faith 7; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 14, p. 165. Also: HC, Vol. 5, Ch. 2, p. 29; HC, Vol. 2, Ch. 32, p. 473; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 5, p. 43; 1 Nephi 10:19; HC, Vol. 3, Ch. 20, p. 296; 3 Nephi 16:4; D&C 6:11.
3. HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 5, pp. 42, 44; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 8, p. 76; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 11, p. 115; HC, Vol. 2, Ch. 30, p. 430; 2 Nephi 31:13; D&C 97:5.
4. HC, Vol. 6, Ch. 17, p. 366; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 5, p. 50; 2 Nephi 28:4; HC, Vol. 3, Ch. 26, p. 384; HC, Vol. 5, Ch. 17, p. 339; HC, Vol. 5, Ch. 18, p. 355; HC, Vol. 6, Ch. 4, p. 82; 1 Nephi 10:11; Alma 8:30; Moroni 8:7; Moses 5:14; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 7, p. 63; HC, Vol. 2, Ch. 33, p. 477; HC, Vol. 3, Ch. 5, pp. 50-51; Moses 5:58; Helaman 5:45; 2 Nephi 33:1; 1 Nephi 2:17-18.
5. Articles of Faith 7; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 6, p. 59; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 17, p. 227.
6. Alma 7:10; D&C 124:100.
7. HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 7, p. 67, 69.
8. Moroni 7:44; Moroni 8:26.
9. HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 7, p. 67; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 14, p. 164; Moroni 6:9
10. HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 6, p. 62; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 18, p. 241; HC, Vol. 2, Ch. 12, p. 176; HC, Vol. 5, Ch. 2, p. 27; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 8, p. 78; 1 Nephi 12:7; Alma 18:34; Moroni 3:4.
11. Articles of Faith 7; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 14, p. 162; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 14, p. 164; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 23, p. 324; 2 Nephi 28:31; 2 Nephi 32:5; 4 Nephi 1:48.
12. HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 14, p. 165. Also: HC, Vol. 5, Ch. 2, p. 29.
13. Articles of Faith 7; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 14, p. 165; HC, Vol. 5, Ch. 2, p. 29; HC, Vol. 2, Ch. 36, p. 528; 2 Nephi 13:9; JST Matthew 4:11.
14. Articles of Faith 7; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 14, p. 165; D&C 24:13, 124:98; Dean C. Jessee. 1989. Editor. The Papers of Joseph Smith, Volumes 1-2. Deseret Book Company, Vol. 1, pp. 348-49. Also: HC, Vol. 5, Ch. 2, p. 29.
15. Moroni 7:44; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 14, p. 165; HC, Vol. 5, Ch. 2, p. 29; Moroni 10:12
16. Articles of Faith 7; HC, Vol. 3, Ch. 25, p. 379; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 14, p. 165; HC, Vol. 5, Ch. 2, p. 27; HC, Vol. 5, Ch. 2, p. 29; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 23, p. 322; HC, Vol. 4, Ch. 28, p. 485; HC, Vol. 5, Ch. 2, p. 31.
17. HC, Vol.4, Ch.31, p. 538; D&C 24:13, 124:98; JST Matthew 12:23.
18. HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 17, p. 227; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 23, p. 323; 1 Nephi 10:22; HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 7, p. 68.
19. 2 Nephi 31:17
20. Mosiah 2:22; Helaman 10:5; 4 Nephi 1:18.
21. 2 Nephi 32:2-3; Moses 7:27; JST Matthew 4:11.
22. 1 Nephi 1:16, 2:1-2, 3:2, 8:2-4, 36, 15:21-22; Ether 9:3; Andrew F. Ehat, Lyndon W. Cook. 1980. Comp. and eds., The Words of Joseph Smith. Brigham Young University., p. 170; TPJS, p. 270, 368, 393.
23. Joseph Smith Papers, Vol. 1, p. 168; Mosiah 2:31, 36; Alma 34:22-23; Helaman 12:2; 3; 16:2; Nephi 22:17; Mormon 9:24; D&C 24:13, 71:9-10, 109:25-30, 124:98.
24. Alma 34:21. Also, Mormons use priesthood power to dedicate their homes based on the model given during the Kirtland Temple dedication (D&C 109).
25. Alma 48:15.
26. Helaman 10:15-16.
27. Articles of Faith 7; JSP, Vol. 1, pp. 170-72, 182, 215-19
28. Articles of Faith 7; 1 Nephi 4:14, 12:9, 14:8; Mosiah 1:4; Alma 36:17; 3 Nephi 11:12, 15:1; Ether 2:14; D&C 20:77, 79.
29. 1 Nephi 18.
30. 1 Nephi 2:20, 4:14, 13:15; 2 Nephi 1:9, 20, 31; 2 Nephi 4:4, 5:11, 13; Jarom 1:9; Mosiah 1:7, 2:22, 31, 36, 25:24, 27:7; Alma 9:13, 22, 34:24, 36:1, 30, 37:13, 38:1, 45:8, 48:15, 25, 49:30, 50:20, 62:49-51; Helaman 3:20-25, 4:15, 11:20, 12:1-2; 3 Nephi 5:22, 6:5; 4 Nephi 1:18; Ether 10:28; D&C 9:13, 97:18.
31. Helaman 11:20.
32. Mosiah 24:13, 16; Alma 31:31-32; D&C 25:5, 107:55.
33. 1 Nephi 21:23; 2 Nephi 6:7, 10:9.
34. 1 Nephi 17:52; Moses 1:11.
35. 1 Nephi 17:51-55.
36. Joseph Smith Papers, Vol. 1, p. 214. For example, “Now Alma said unto him: This will I give unto thee for a sign, that thou shalt be struck dumb, according to my words; and I say, that in the name of God, ye shall be struck dumb, that ye shall no more have utterance. Now when Alma had said these words, Korihor was struck dumb, that he could not have utterance, according to the words of Alma” (Alma 30:49-50). Also see, HC, Vol. 1, Ch. 22, p. 312-13; HC, Vol. 6, Ch. 3, p. 58; 3 Nephi 22:17; D&C 109:25-30, 124:93, 132:46-47; Abraham 2:11.
37. 1 Nephi 15:36; D&C 6:13, 14:7.