Why Not Ask?

Why Not Ask?

  

Elder Larry R. Lawrence gave a talk at BYUI in the Spring of this year (2017) titled Why Not Ask?  You can find that talk here if you want to watch it or read it.  I really love this talk!  It is worth your time to read it or listen to it.  It's one of those you won't hear about or find unless someone uncovers it for you and my friend Becky Edwards did that for me and so I am going to do it for you!  Lucky you!  I think it's such a cool topic to realize we can actually just simply ASK Heavenly Father to bless us with spiritual gifts and that He WANTS to bless us with those things...GENEROUSLY bless us with them.  All we have to do is but ASK!  So simple!  I truly feel we all live far beneath our privileges because we don't believe we are either worthy of some of the blessings our Father wants to give us OR because we don't have a deep enough faith to believe it's that easy.  Guess what guys?  It IS that easy!  You don't believe me?  Well then, put it to the test.  Write me and let me know what your results are!  I am anxious to hear.  I, for one, will be putting it to the test.  In fact, I am going to keep a chart and record the gifts I specifically ask for and then I am going to see if I receive them.  I believe I will.  Sometimes we just need to be willing to do things that don't seem common stream and not be so afraid.  So, what are you waiting for?  

GET ASKING!  

In the meantime, here are some highlights from Elder Lawrence's talk that my friend Becky Edward's compiled: 

Wisdom is a valuable spiritual gift, and the Lord is happy when we seek it. In the epistle of James, we read, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God" (James 1:5). This counsel applies to all the gifts of the Spirit; we are invited to ask God for any that we lack. We can ask for faith, for discernment, for personal revelation--for any spiritual gift. 

Heavenly Father is much more generous than most of His children realize. He is never annoyed at us for asking for divine help. On the contrary, He "giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not". (James 1:5) "Upbraideth not" means God won't scold us for asking.

These personal gifts are often mentioned in our patriarchal blessings, so I would encourage each of you to review your blessing often. However, keep in mind that Church members are not limited to just one gift or to those listed in a patriarchal blessing. We can seek and ask for more--as long as we remember what the gifts are for. They are to be used for the building of the kingdom, "for the benefit of the children of God" (D&C 46:26). 

...If I notice a brother or sister who magnifies a gift of the Spirit, I am invited to seek that same gift myself. This is the only place in the scriptures where we are actually instructed to "covet." If you have a roommate, a sibling, a mission companion, or a spouse who really seems to understand the scriptures, you can covet that gift yourself and then ask for it. 

Several years ago, Apostle Marvin J. Ashton spoke about spiritual gifts at general conference. He explained that there were many more gifts available to the Saints than those which are listed in the scriptures. He cited several other gifts for us to consider, including "the gift of asking; the gift of listening; ... the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable," the gift to calm others, and the gift to care (Marvin J. Ashton, "There Are Many Gifts," Ensign, Nov. 1987). Brothers and sisters, the list is "endless in number and infinite in variety" (Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, 371). 

As you search the scriptures, you will discover that Saints in every dispensation have been blessed with marvelous gifts of the Spirit. Reading about their lives can motivate us to "desire spiritual gifts," which is exactly what the Lord wants us to do. 

Would you like the gift of recall or the gift of courage or the gift of dreams? Why not ask? I testify that the Lord won't scold you for asking. ... Our Heavenly Father is willing to give us what we need to help us progress and become like Him--and to help us build the kingdom.

Does a member have to be perfect to ask for spiritual gifts? The Lord answered that question in the scriptures. He explained that gifts are given for the benefit of "those who love me and keep all my commandments," and then he added, "And him that seeketh so to do" (D&C 46:9). That likely includes all of us here today. 

After we have asked the Lord "What lack I yet?" and after we have received an answer from the Spirit, then we will know for sure what we need to improve. Then we can come boldly before the throne of God and ask for the gift that would help us overcome our weakness. In this way, our weaknesses will truly become our strengths. 

Below is a list of the spiritual gifts Elder Lawrence mentioned in this talk (thanks again Becky!).  Pick a few that you REALLY would like and ASK Heavenly Father if He will grant them to you.  He wants to give us our righteous desires if we will use them to build His kingdom.  Remember He gives to ALL men LIBERALLY!  

• Wisdom 
• Faith, unwavering faith  
• Discernment
• Personal revelation 
• Charity
• Faith to heal, gift of healing
• Faith to be healed 
• Working of miracles 
• Prophesy 
• Tongues
• Teach
• Beholding of angels and ministering spirits 
• Patience
• Loyalty
• Dreams 
• Asking 
• Quick to observe 
• Recall 
• Courage 
• Remembering names
• Gift to govern children 
• Gift to organize your household 
• Peacemaker
• Fearless
• Creative ideas
• Understand and expound the scriptures 
• Gift of making friends 
• Good listener
• Gifted problem solver
• Organization
• Cheerful heart 
• Optimism and hope 
• Composing music 
• Inspirational singing 
• Relating to children 
• Knowledge 

Below are some of my friend Becky Edward's favorite quotes on spiritual gifts:

God commanded us to seek spiritual gifts. 

• D&C 46:8 – “Seek ye earnestly the best gifts.”
• 1 Cor 12:31 – “Covet earnestly the best gifts.”
• 1 Cor 14:1 – “Desire spiritual gifts.”
• Moroni 7:48 - Pray with all energy of heart to be filled with charity.

President George Q. Cannon – “If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect. … No man ought to say, ‘Oh, I cannot help this; it is my nature.’ He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to give strength to correct these things, and to give gifts that will eradicate them” (Millennial Star, Apr. 23, 1894, 260). 

There is an infinite number of spiritual gifts. 

Elder Bruce R. McConkie – “Spiritual gifts are endless in number and infinite in variety” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 371).

There are many less conspicuous spiritual gifts.

Elder Robert D. Hales – “Other gifts [are]...the gift to ponder, looking to God for direction, the gift to hear and respond to the still, small voice, the gift to be calm, which includes the ability to curb anger and to be temperate rather than contentious, the gift to study and to listen, and, perhaps the greatest gift of all, to have charity” (“Gifts of the Spirit,” Ensign, Feb 2002, 12).

Elder Marvin J. Ashton –  “Let us review some of these less-conspicuous gifts: the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost” (Ensign, Nov. 1987, 20).  

The gift of revelation or prophecy is one we've all been told to seek. 

Julie B. Beck - "The ability qualify for,receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life" (Ensign, May, 2010).

Elder Robert D. Hales – “One [gift of the Spirit] that I believe has impact on each of our lives is the gift of prophecy or revelation. This gift is different from the priesthood office of prophet. The gift of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus”  (“Gifts of the Spirit,” Ensign, Feb 2002, 12).

President Joseph Fielding Smith –  “All members of the Church should seek for the gift of prophecy, for their own guidance” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols. [1953], 1:201).

The gift of discerning spirits is another that everyone should seek.

George Q. Cannon has called the gift of discerning of spirits “a gift that is of exceeding value and one that should be enjoyed by every Latter-day Saint. … No Latter-day Saint should be without this gift, because there is such a variety of spirits in the world which seek to deceive and lead astray” (Gospel Truth, sel. Jerreld L. Newquist, 2 vols. in 1 [1987], 156–57).

The scriptures contain several lists of spiritual gifts.      

D&C 46:8-29 – Know that Jesus is the Son of God, Believe in their words, Know differences of administration (administering & leading the church*), know diversities of operations (discern whether a teaching or influence is from God or another source*), word of wisdom (gift of wisdom - the ability to use knowledge in righteous ways*), word of knowledge – teach to be wise and to have knowledge, faith to be healed, faith to heal, work miracles, prophesy (John taught “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesy” – Rev 19:10*), discerning spirits, speak with tongues (speak in different languages, or tongues*), interpretation of tongues 

Moroni 10:8-21 – teach the word of wisdom by the Spirit (teach by the power of the Holy Ghost*), teach the word of knowledge by the Spirit (teach by the power of the Holy Ghost*), exceedingly great faith, gifts of healing, work mighty miracles, prophesy, beholding angels and ministering spirits, all kinds of tongues, interpretation of languages

1 Corinthians 12:7-10  – word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophesy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues

Moroni 7:43-48, 1 Corinthians 13 – faith, hope, charity.  Pray with all energy of heart to be filled with charity, the greatest gift of all, the pure love of Christ, if you don’t have it you’re nothing, cleave unto it...

*Explanation of gifts from lds.org under Index of Topics: “Spiritual Gifts”

Be sure and ask Him what gifts HE would like to give you as well.  And maybe you can even ask what gifts He already has given you that you might not be aware of yet.  He will let you know what gifts those are. 

I am truly grateful to my friend Becky for this great gift of information. It can be life changing. Just having this knowledge is a gift in itself!  Also, go check out Elder Lawrence's conference talk from October 2015 titled "What Lack I Yet?" found here.