By Marion G. Romney of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles, now deceased:
The gifts named in the 7th Article of Faith are gifts of the Holy Ghost. The enjoyment of them has always been a distinctive characteristic of the Church of Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, without the gift of revelation, which is one of the gifts of the Holy Ghost, there could be no Church of Jesus Christ. This is apparent from the obvious fact that in order for his Church to exist, there must be a society of people who individually have testimonies that Jesus is the Christ. According to Paul, such testimonies are revealed only by the Holy Ghost, for said he, ". . . no man can [know] say that Jesus is the Lord. but by the Holy Ghost." (See 1 Cor. 12:3.) In the 46th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord specifically lists such knowledge as one of the gifts of the Holy Ghost, as follows: "To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (D & C 46:13.) Everyone who has a testimony of Jesus has received it by revelation from the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is a revelator, and everyone who receives him receives revelation.
Wherever and whenever revelation is operative, manifestations of other gifts of the Holy Ghost are prevalent. Among the gifts of the spirit manifest in the Apostolic Church, Paul lists wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, diverse kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. The New Testament records numerous examples of the manifestation of these gifts.
MY THOUGHTS:
In Doctrine and Covenants 46:11 it reads "For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God."
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the gifts of the Spirit are manifest, which is a sign of the Lord's Church. In the verse quoted above, I fully believe it. I have gifts that have been given to me and they bless my life and the life of others. If someone were to say to me that they have not gifts, according to the verse above, that is not true. All have at least a gift given to them.
Revelation is another sign of the Lord's Church. If the Church is the Lord's then He is at the helm and directs it through His Prophets. We have a Prophet who stands at the head of the Church and is guided and directed by the Savior Himself. What the Prophet says to me is what the Savior is telling me. I know that the Prophet is the mouthpiece of the Lord and what He says is what the Savior says.
We need revelation in this world probably more than ever before. I am so grateful for it. That the Lord cares enough about us in our time and day to reveal His words to us through the prophets. I believe in living prophets, not just those of the past.
When the force that is pushing us heavenward is greater than the temptations and distress that drag us downward, we can ascend and soar into the realm of the Spirit.
