Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-31

benefit Of His Saints. FOR some uine
past have been led, In speaking 70 the
Saints Of various places TO dwell upon
this subject We cannot be the people
that God designs we should be, unless
We seek after and obtain these spiritual
gifts. II should be the constant prayer
Of all the Latter-day Saints for the
Lord 10 give US those gifts that are
suited TO our condition, and that VIII
make us perfect. because the bestowal
OF these gifts Is FOR the express purpose
OF making those who are entitled 10
them perfect before the Lord Through
the Fail We have inherited very many
weaknesses and inilrmlties. We are
all more or less conscious OF them, es-
peolally II we come unto the Lord IN
humility. He shows us our imperfec-
lions and points out 20 US our defects
Of character. by His Spirit We see
some very glazing defects In ourselves.
This being the case. 1t should be our
aim 10 seek unto the Lord for gifts
that will remedy these defects II |
am an unwise man land all are-some
more than othersl what gift should
seek for? | should plead constantly
with the Lord to give me the gift OF
wisdom. may be deficient in dis
cernment. and easily led astray. False
spirits arise and make this manifest
constantly. We are surrounded by In
visible agencies. many Of them very
bad and II We yield to them they
have influence over US. Influenced by
these wrong spirits, men and women
win talk to US and strive TO bring us
under the same influence. IL II not.
therefore, a good thing 10 have the gift
Of discerning OF spirits Is II not a
blessed thing that God has placed In
His Church and promised unto the
members thereof this precious gift by
which they can discern false spirits
when brought in contact with them2
Assuredly 1t is. II Is a Gift that should
be sought for by all OF us. There are
none so perfect but they can derive
benefit from the possession Of this gift
FASTING FOR A PURPOSE.
| have often been struck at our fast
meetings with the thought that the
Latter-day Saints ought to have pur-
pose when they come together fast
ing and praying. One day a month
Is set apart by the Church
as a day Of fasting, OF prayer, OF
humiliation before the Lord. When
we get together there should be In all
our hearts a desire that our prayers
may ascend 10 the Lord unitedly for
certain DEFINITE objects or course, we
are all interested in IAN and In the
great cause OF God. We desire righ-
teousness to prevail. the viii Of God TO
be done. We can all pray unitedly for
this great Object and we should do so
when We come together In this capacity.
| But ] may haze secret desires, secret
wants; | may have thoughts that none
| but God knows. Therefore, ! should Pc
| tltlon Him In secret that He VIII grant
unto me that secret desire OF my heart.
| And at such times. Il seems TO me that
our prayers, offered In humility and ac-
| c0mpanied by faith, are likely 10 be
heard and answered: In fact. | know
| they win be heard. This also Is a good
! time for us 10 seek for these gifts OF the
| Spirit. Do we not all need them2 Is
there any one among US that does not
need these gifts2 | need prophecy. How
can I magnify my office. how can I
stand In my calling, how can | do my
duty 10 the Latter-day Saints I'm the Of
flee TO which God has called me. unless
/ have the gift OF prophecy? That gift
| should seek 10 have 1t Increase upon
me. The Gift Of revelation should in
crease within me. | should seek for the
| gift Of wisdom, 10 have II increase with
In me; the gift Of know
ledge also. Should we not all
! do 500. need these gifts. you
need them. You need to-haye patience
long-sufferlng forbearance A presiding
officer In the Church needs the gift OF
| instruction, the gilt OF counsel, and
when needed the gift OF reproof and
warning. He needs TO under.
stand the plan OF salvation
and what constitutes godliness
he needs to have the gift Of heal
ing. and the gift OF discernment OF
spirits. We all need 10 have the gift
OF q broken heart and o contrite spirit;
FOR that Is the Offering that Is accept
able 20 the Lord. When We come "a
Him with broken hearts and oontrite
spirits. He hears us. and He accepts the
offering, II Is the offering that He asks
at our hands,
PURPOSE OF THE GIFT OF
TONGUES,
SO ! might go on and enumerate gift:
that We need. II | were called on q
mission TO a people speaking a foreign
language, should pray constantly fol
the gift Of tongues, and for the gif
Of the Interpretation OF tongues
II obtained that gift few
days after I reached the lane
where / was sent; ] understood all thai
was said 10 me. also received help II
acquiring the language. know tha'
such q gift ls within the reach OF thos,
who seek for II. II is not alone giver
10 us to get up In our testimony meet
ings and speak In tongues and some
body interpret Il. That is very comfort
Ing and a very desirable gift, when 4
Is governed properly. II appeals L
many people; they think II Is wonder
fully great gift. But in my eXperlonc,
Il Is a gift that IS apt TO lead peopl,
astray. unless Il Is properly controlle,
Under It's influence people sometimes
give way 10 wrong spirit. We hav,
known in our experience many instances
where branches Of the CHURCH, especial
~ newly-organlzed branches. have go
into difficulty through this spirit takinl
possession Of them and there not being
wisdom enough In the presiding office
60 control Il. This gift. as have said
IL a desirable gift, but Il is especially
desirable for our Elders who go TO for
egn lands. They should seek for e with
all earnestness and faith. | testify {,
you that there Il such a gift, and there
Is such n Gift as the gift Of interpreta.
ton Of tongues SO IN relation 10 al
these precious gifts Why. what Is oui
religion n we divest u of these gift,
and We do not possess them? n is q
powerless thing. But with the best0wa
o. these gifts. with the Lord giyina
them 10 us according 10 our needs. each
one In his or her place. there Is powel
In our religion,
GIFT OF GOVERNMENT.
The sisters have as much right Il
these gifts as the brethren. They have
the right TO ~ unto God and ask Hin
In the name Of Jesus 10 bestow upon
them such gifts as they need. How
good q gift II would be foi
mother 90 have the glfl
OF governing her children, the
git OF wisdom TO train them an. [,
point out to them the path that they
should pursue. The mother who seek,
for these gifts and exercises them be.
fore the Lord. she win have great Cos
IN her children. and viii get amply re.
warded for all the faith that she has
exercised and the prayers she has OF.