As church members gathered to Ohio in 1831, Joseph Smith received three revelations to help them settle in an orderly manner.
The first revelation instructed them to keep their church meetings open to the public and to respect the diverse spiritual gifts given to different members. “All have not every gift given unto them,” explained the Lord, “To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby” (Doctrine and Covenants 46:11-12).
The second appointed John Whitmer as church historian, with a mandate to “keep the church record and history continually” (Doctrine and Covenants 47:3).
The third instructed church members to provide land to arriving saints as possible, and to work together to purchase more land. (See Doctrine and Covenants 48.)
Taken together, these revelations can help us maintain order in our lives by following three simple principles:
- Appreciate the contributions of others, and recognize that you can’t do everything.
- Keep a record of important events and blessings you receive from God.
- Be generous and wise in providing for those in need.
Here are some other lessons I’ve learned by studying these revelations:
Outline
- Doctrine and Covenants 46: “Seek ye earnestly the best gifts.”
- v. 1-6: All are welcomed to church meetings
- v. 7-29: Guidance about spiritual gifts
- v. 30-33: Do all things in the Spirit, and practice virtue and holiness
- Doctrine and Covenants 47: John Whitmer called as church historian
- Doctrine and Covenants 48: Church members should work together to ensure there is land for members arriving from the northeast.
Key Themes
- God invites us to seek and receive spiritual gifts.
- Every good gift comes from God.
- God blesses us not only for our actions but also for our righteous desires.
- God provides us with gifts and callings—unearned capabilities and invitations to serve.
- The gift of tongues enables us not only to speak in foreign languages but also to communicate more clearly in our native language
Book of Mormon Connections
- Nearly identical lists of spiritual gifts are found in Moroni 10:8-18, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, and Doctrine and Covenants 46:13-26. Some of those gifts are:
Applications
- Remember and be grateful for people whose testimonies have strengthened your faith.
- Seek for the ability to trust revelation given to others on your behalf.
- Ensure that you are recording the most important information in a durable way.
- Help other people feel welcome at church.
- There is often more than one way to accomplish a task. We can be grateful for “diversities of operations,” as we see other people get things done in a variety of ways.
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