We believe...Article 7

"We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth."

We are God's children. What parent doesn't want to give their children gifts? The gifts that are mentioned in Article 7 are referred to as gifts of the Spirit.

As the Savior concludes His discourse to His disciples (commonly referred to as the Sermon on the Mount) He touches this particular subject:

     "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you:
     For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it 
     shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a 
     stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give
     good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good
     things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:7-11)

What may be commonly heard is that such things don't exist anymore. That God is done with such things or (to me it seems a very arrogant thing to think or say) we live in the 21st century- "we don't need things such as revelation or visions." To me that is a very sad commentary on our understanding of a loving Heavenly Father.

Examples are found throughout scriptures. My favorite is of Peter teaching in the temple following their receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Most are  familiar with the Lord's senior apostle. Most are also familiar that the Lord had told Peter that he, Peter, would deny the Savior three times. To this prophecy Peter strongly told the Lord that he would do no such thing. It is interesting to read about Peter's denial. He followed the Savior and His captors back to where they would interrogate Him. Peter was hanging back to see what would occur. Three times people approached him saying they had recognized him as being one who had followed the Savior. Three times he denied knowledge of the Savior (see Mathew 26; Mark 14). This was done in the dark of the night and with people who were not leaders or of consequence.

Peter Teaching at the Temple

Contrast this to the Peter who has received the Gift of The Holy Ghost. Here is a man who stands in front of hundreds, if not thousands, of people in the temple at Jerusalem. Some he stood in front of may even have  been those that had crucified the Savior. He is not ashamed of who he is or who he represents. He had been blessed with the Holy Ghost and with that blessing he was able to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

     "And when the day of Pentecost was fully 
     come, they were all with one accord in one 
     place...And they were all filled with the Holy
    Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance...Now when
    this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every
    man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying
    one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man  
    our own tongue, wherein we were born?" (Acts 2:1,4, 6-8)

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we continue to believe and claim that these gifts are still active and in use today. Our Heavenly Father does not love us any less then those who have passed on before us. We are as in much need today, or even more so, as our ancestors who have traveled before us.

David O. McKay

The Church has nearly 14 million members. These gifts are experienced through them and others. Just one example can be found with a former Prophet of our Church- David O. McKay. Having recently been called as the newest Apostle of the Church he was sent on a world-wide tour to visit the members of the Church. In one occasion those that heard him speak experienced the interpretation of tongues. "While in the Pacific Islands, Tahitian Saints were able to understand his words in their own language." During his tour in the Holy Lands he prophesied that "...although the land would run red with blood, the Jews would yet be gathered." (Presidents of the Church Student Manual, 2004. pp 144-160).  

These gifts are truly from a loving Heavenly Father. They are to bless His children. It is a wonderful time to be alive!


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