What are spiritual gifts in Mormonism?
It is part of Mormon belief that the Lord blesses those who are faithful and live worthy (in obedience to the commandments of God). Mormons believe these blessings can be temporal (worldy) and spiritual. Spiritual blessings can specifically be referred to as Gifts of the Spirit—blessings of spiritual wisdom and power. The Book of Mormon prophet Jacob described this state among his people of the Americas: “We search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea” (Jacob 4:6).
The Mormon scriptures (Holy Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great price) contain lists of many of these spiritual gifts. One list is found in 1 Corinthians 12 of the New Testament:
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of 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 another 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 tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).
Mormons believe that, during the formation of the Mormon Church, the Lord taught the Prophet Joseph Smith about these spiritual gifts. When Joseph Smith was taught in this way, referred to by Mormons as revelation, he kept records of what the Lord told him. Information about these gifts can be found in Doctrine and Covenants 46:13-26.
Mormons believe that spiritual gifts come from God and are to be used only in service of Him. There are various kinds of gifts, but each should be cherished by its recipient. Mormons believe the Lord knows each person on Earth and knows what specific service they can accomplish in building the Lord’s church and preaching His gospel.