Talk:D&C 46:1-33

46:11-14: some know, others believe

The question asks if we can reconcile the common belief that everyone can gain knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and verses 11-14. Though I'm not sure I agree with the common belief that everyone can gain a testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (or, more precisely, I do believe it, but don't believe that it has some specific time period associated with it as seems to be commonly believed) I'm not seeing anything to reconcile here. Here's my thinking. Verse 11 tells us that "all have not every gift." This means that everyone doesn't have the collection of all gifts. It isn't saying that there is no gift which everyone has. But, even if we read the statement as applicable not just to the collection of all gifts but as also applicable to each gift individually, i.e. even if we assume that it means "there is no gift which everyone has," verse 11 is a statement of fact not of what can be the case. Verse 11 still wouldn't say "no gift could be had by everyone."

--Matthew Faulconer 00:08, 9 July 2007 (CEST)

Verse 8 says that we should earnestly seek the best gifts and verse 28 says that he that asketh in the Spirit shall receive in the Spirit. Simply saying that a testimony (in fact a knowledge according to verse 13) is a gift does not necessarily mean that we can do nothing to obtain the gift. God would give the gift to all of us (I believe) but generally only he who asks shall receive. Not everyone will seek a knowledge of Christ (in the sense mentioned in verse 13, not in the sense spoken of in John 17:3) but I believe that those who do earnestly see that knowledge will receive it of the Spirit. --Mjberkey 00:31, 9 July 2007 (CEST)

Great points. And like you I agree that all who ask in faith will recieve. But how do we respond to the person who says they have honestly asked, and yet haven't received. Do we assume they are not sincere? Do we tell them they lacked faith? It may very well be in my view that they were sincere, that they did have faith, but the time for them to receive this gift hasn't come yet. This is the trial of one's faith I think--to ask, believe you will receive, to not recieve, and to continue believing you will receive. --Matthew Faulconer 00:56, 9 July 2007 (CEST)

Yes, the scriptures seem clear that we have to ask diligently. This implies persistence when the gift isn't given immediately. But to answer your question, does the common belief that everyone can gain a knowledge that Jesus is the Son of God and was crucified for the sins of the world, does that common belief contradict verses 11 and 12? I think the answer is no. I think that such a belief is correct.--Mjberkey 01:07, 9 July 2007 (CEST)

Agreed, but I'm not sure what I am agreeing to if there is no time limit (and how can we place a time limit on the Lord?) on this blessing. I think what I am agreeing to is the fulfillment of these prophecies. Commonly I think when we say "everyone can gain for themselves a testimony..." what we mean is that people will receive an answer right away. But if we press most anyone who holds this common belief, I think they would agree that there is no promise of an answer right away. There are many other promises made to those with faith. And for each promise, there are many good people of faith who are waiting on them. This one, like those, may not be fulfilled in this life. --Matthew Faulconer 01:51, 9 July 2007 (CEST)

46:16-20: diversities of operation

Related to the question...I'm not really sure what this means but given the context I'm guessing that it means the ability to tell whether a seeming gift from God really is from God. The "operations" in this case is to know how the Holy Ghost operates. The way I've said it emphasizes distinguishing between true and false gifts. Another possibility is that his is simply focusing on the positive side--this gift is simply the ability to know all of the ways the Holy Ghost operates. --Matthew Faulconer 08:05, 16 July 2008 (CEST)