Spiritual Gifts

BY: Kristyn Morgan

Lists. Christmas is full of lists. Guest lists, grocery lists, cleaning lists, to do lists, and the ever favorite, gift lists. Currently on my fridge are the wish lists for 4 children and it caused me to reflect about what gifts are the most meaningful to me. I have many gifts: a great husband, six wonderful kids, good parents, a calling I enjoy, good friends, my membership in this church and a thousand more things. Yet as I was preparing for a young womenʼs lesson this week I realized the importance of gifts that I tend to over look--spiritual gifts.

In Doctrine and Covenants 46:11-12 it states: 

"...and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. 

To some is given another, that all may be profited thereby."

In True to the Faith we learn the following:

“ Spiritual gifts are blessings or abilities that are given by the power of the Holy Ghost. God gives at least one of these gifts to every faithful member of the church.” 

I would also argue that everyone can be blessed with spiritual gifts at one time or another in their lives. These gifts are plentiful and can include things such as the gift of wisdom, of testimony, of language, the ability to teach, to be taught, healing, faith, the ability to work miracles and on and on. So as I pondered this I thought back to an instance where I have been blessed with a spiritual gift in my own life.

Several years ago I was privileged to serve on a committee that was responsible for organizing a 7 stake youth dance festival. This was an enormous undertaking that required me to plan and organize the dance practices, costuming, housing and more for the youth in our stake. It involved lots of lists--an insane amount of lists and to be quite honest I did not really consider myself a super organized person. One of my biggest struggles had been computer skills, particularly using Microsoft EXCEL. It just literally made no sense to me. Iʼd tried before and just ended up frustrated to no end. But the Lord really does work in mysterious ways and he cares about us and whatʼs important to us even when it seems as inconsequential as spreadsheets. I donʼt know how else to describe it except to say that one day after being set apart and praying to the Lord about my needs I sat down at the computer and it all made perfect sense. I knew not only how to create the necessary lists but how to sort them, color code them, email them and print them--all things which had previously eluded me. Now, some would say that was a coincidence but I know better. I can say without question that the Lord granted me with that spiritual gift at a time when He knew that I needed it.

I have found that this spiritual gift continues to grow and improve as I use it to bless the lives of others--in my church, my family and my community and itʼs opened my eyes to the spiritual gifts bestowed on my family and friends. I have a friend who always seems to know when someone needs a meal. There is another who has the ability to see the good in anyone. One of my sons shows great compassion for those who have less than us. I know of a young woman who always seems cheerful and makes any other young woman feel like a friend. My grandparents were blessed with the gift of charity and took meals for years to widows in their small town. The list goes on and on and yet, I find that at times I forget to recognize and thank my Heavenly Father for these most important gifts and so, at this Christmas season as I labor over all of my to do lists, Iʼm going to take a minute to reflect on the greatest gifts He gives us. May we all be blessed with the clarity to see our spiritual gifts and use them to serve Him.