Doctrine and Covenants 46 to 48 –“Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”
Doctrine and Covenants 46 is known for its list of spiritual gifts, but we should note the foundational message here to seek the Spirit so that we will not be deceived. John Whitmer is called as record keeper, and the Ohio Saints prepare to welcome Saints from New York.
“Historical Context and Background,” Steven C. Harper and Casey Paul Griffiths, Doctrine and Covenants Central
Read about sections 46 (seeking the Spirit), 47 (John Whitmer) and 48 (assisting the Saints from New York).
“Religious Enthusiasm among Early Ohio Converts,” Matthew McBride, Revelations in Context
D&C 46 was given in response to Joseph’s inquiries about how to conduct sacrament meetings. With these revelations, Joseph and the Kirtland elders were better equipped to understand and discern the many spiritual manifestations they encountered.
Chart 12-10: “Gifts of the Spirit,” Charting the New Testament
This chart compares the lists of gifts of the spirit in 1 Corinthians 12, Moroni 10, D&C 46, and Article of Faith 7. Cumulatively, these gifts are an impressive list of God’s gifts to his children.
“Gifts of the Spirit,” Craig K. Manscill and Derek Mock, Religious Educator 6, no. 2 (2005): 69-84.
The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the gifts of the Spirit. As disciples seek to know Christ and his works, they seek for increased spiritual growth through his gifts. To obtain his gifts, seekers must be believing, be worthy, serve selflessly, and be wise stewards. Saints must take care not to misuse their gifts contrary to the will of God.
“Gifts of the Spirit,” Cecil O. Samuelson, Religious Educator 8, no. 1 (2007): 1-7.
“I suspect for all of us, there is a risk that we may not understand or recognize that we are greatly blessed with several gifts of the Spirit. Even when we do, we may not fully value them or recognize the significance of them in our lives and in our baskets of overflowing blessings….We believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost being enjoyed now, as much as it was in the Apostles’ days.”
“The Seduction of Our Gifts,” Pat Debenham, BYU Studies, Vol. 41, no. 3
Though we are taught that all spiritual gifts are to benefit the kingdom of God on earth, artists can be drawn away from a gospel-oriented life by the very artistic gifts that God has endowed them with. In this article, Pat Debenham discusses three thinking patterns that regularly lead artists away from lives centered on the gospel.
“History, 1838-1856, volume C-1,” Joseph Smith, April 28, 1842
From Joseph Smith’s History: “At two o’clock P.M. I met the members of the ‘Female Relief Society’ and after presiding at the admission of many new members gave a lecture on the Priesthood shewing how the Sisters would come in possession of the privileges, blessings, and gifts of the Priesthood, and that the signs should follow them, such as healing the sick, casting our devils &c and that they might attain unto these blessings by a virtuous life and conversation and diligence in keeping all the commandments.”
- Christmas – “The Matchless Gift of God’s Divine Son”
- The Family: A Proclamation to the World – “The Family Is Central to the Creator’s Plan”
- The Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 and 2 – “We Believe”
- Doctrine and Covenants 137 to 138 – “The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead”
- Doctrine and Covenants 135 to 136 – He “Has Sealed His Mission and His Works with His Own Blood”
- Doctrine and Covenants 133 to 134 – “Prepare Ye for the Coming of the Bridegroom”
- Doctrine and Covenants 129 to 132 – “When We Obtain Any Blessing from God, It Is by Obedience”
- Doctrine and Covenants 125 to 128 – “A Voice of Gladness for the Living and the Dead”
- Doctrine and Covenants 124 – “A House unto My Name”
- Doctrine and Covenants 121 to 123 – “O God, Where Art Thou?”
- Doctrine and Covenants 115 to 120 – “His Sacrifice Shall Be More Sacred unto Me Than His Increase”
- Doctrine and Covenants 111 to 114 – “I Will Order All Things for Your Good”
- Doctrine and Covenants 109 to 110 – “It Is Thy House, a Place of Thy Holiness”
- Doctrine and Covenants 106 to 108 – “To Have the Heavens Opened”
- Doctrine and Covenants 102 to 105 – “After Much Tribulation … Cometh the Blessing”
- Doctrine and Covenants 98 to 101 – “Be Still and Know That I Am God”
- Doctrine and Covenants 94 to 97 – “For the Salvation of Zion”
- Doctrine and Covenants 93 – “Receive of His Fulness”
- Doctrine and Covenants 89 to 92 – “A Principle with Promise”
- Doctrine and Covenants 88 – “Establish … a House of God”
- Doctrine and Covenants 85 to 87 – “Stand Ye in Holy Places”
- Doctrine and Covenants 84 – “The Power of Godliness”
- Doctrine and Covenants 81 to 83 – Where “Much Is Given Much Is Required”
- Doctrine and Covenants 77 to 80 – “I Will Lead You Along”
- Doctrine and Covenants 76 – “Great Shall Be Their Reward and Eternal Shall Be Their Glory”
- Doctrine and Covenants 71 to 75 – “No Weapon That Is Formed against You Shall Prosper”
- Doctrine and Covenants 67 to 70 – “Worth … the Riches of the Whole Earth”
- Doctrine and Covenants 64 to 66 – “The Lord Requireth the Heart and a Willing Mind”
- Doctrine and Covenants 63 – “That Which Cometh from Above Is Sacred”
- Doctrine and Covenants 60 to 62 – “All Flesh Is in Mine Hand”
- Doctrine and Covenants 58 to 59 – “Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause”
- Doctrine and Covenants 51 to 57– “A Faithful, a Just, and a Wise Steward”
- Doctrine and Covenants 49 to 50 –“That Which Is of God Is Light”
- Doctrine and Covenants 46 to 48 –“Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”
- Doctrine and Covenants 45–“The Promises … Shall Be Fulfilled”
- Doctrine and Covenants 41 to 44- “My Law to Govern My Church”
- Doctrine and Covenants 37 to 40 -“If Ye Are Not One Ye Are Not Mine”
- Doctrine and Covenants 30 to 36 -“You Are Called to Preach My Gospel”
- Easter -“I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”
- Doctrine and Covenants 29- “Jesus Christ Will Gather His People”
- Doctrine and Covenants 27 to 28- “All Things Must Be Done in Order”
- Doctrine and Covenants 23 to 26 – “Strengthen the Church”
- Doctrine and Covenants 20 to 22 – “The Rise of the Church of Christ”
- Doctrine and Covenants 18 to 19 – “The Worth of Souls Is Great”
- Doctrine and Covenants 14 to 17 – “Stand as a Witness”
- Doctrine and Covenants 12-13, Joseph Smith-History 1:66-75 – “Upon You My Fellow Servants”
- Doctrine and Covenants 10 to 11 – “That You May Come Off Conqueror”
- Doctrine and Covenants 6 to 9 – “This Is the Spirit of Revelation”
- Doctrine and Covenants 3 to 5 – “My Work Shall Go Forth”
- Doctrine and Covenants 2; Joseph Smith History 1:27-65 – “The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn to Their Fathers”
- Joseph Smith History 1:1-26 – “I Saw a Pillar of Light”
- Doctrine and Covenants 1 – “Hearken, O Ye People”
