Doctrine & Covenants 46 All

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D&C 46:1-5

Doctrine & Covenants > Section 46

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Verse 13

Latter-day Saints commonly speak as though anyone who seeks a testimony through revelation can obtain one. Can this common belief be reconciled with verse 11 and verse 12, which suggest that "all have not every gift" and that it is a gift to "know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" by the Holy Ghost?

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Exegesis

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Verses 13-14

Verse 13 tells us it is a gift from God to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Verse 14 tells us that some have the related gift of instead believing on the words of those who know and ends by saying that those with this lesser gift can also have eternal life if they continue faithful. Verse 13 and 14 together give us an example of how it is that not all have every gift but the gifts work together "that all may be profited thereby" (verse 12).

Verses 13 and 14 also provide an example of how it is that some gifts are better than others (as implied in verse 8) but that all are good--if used "for what they are given" (verse 8). The gift to believe on the knowledge someone else has is a gift from God and the most important thing is not that the person who has it acquires the better gift (though we should seek for the best gifts) but rather that they use the gift for what it is given--i.e. that they continue faithful. And, if they do, they will receive eternal life.

Interestingly, in verse 13 a source is given for knowledge, but no source is cited specifically in verse 14 for belief. This may indicate that whereas those who know, know by the Holy Ghost, there are various sources of belief. Many may not be a result of the Holy Ghost. Regardless though of why one believes, verse 14 tells us that to believe in Jesus is a gift from God and those who remain faithful will receive eternal life.

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