Comments on: Sunday School Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 15: “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts” (D&C 46)

By: Post on D&C 46 (Gifts of the Spirit) « WHAT? Joe’s working on

Post on D&C 46 (Gifts of the Spirit) « WHAT? Joe’s working on — Sat, 09 May 2009 19:56:29 +0000

[...] up in the D&C manual: this one is dedicated to a single section of the Doctrine and Covenants! Read the rest of this entry » Comments [...]

By: SmallAxe

SmallAxe — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:17:43 +0000

Thanks again, as always.

By: joespencer

joespencer — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:48:34 +0000

Gomez,

Interesting reading of D&C 8:2. If I can get away with it, I’d love to take every reference to “mind” in the scriptures as pointing to the work we have to do with the text!

By: gomez

gomez — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:20:45 +0000

Thanks Joe, this is great. Do you think that the principles you outline here are taught concisely in D&C 8.2 (mind – being grounded in the texts; heart – the open horizons of the Spirit)?

By: Clark

Clark — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:53:43 +0000

Without dragging our discussion of grace into all this, let me say that this chapter is extremely formative in my thinking about grace. We think of grace in terms of salvation but it is a gift from God. This chapter outlines many other gifts - gifts that many of us are more practically familiar with. Especially on our mission or in leadership callings. What I'd suggest is that we take these more practical experiences with gifts and extend them to all giving by God in general. This, to me, is the notion of grace for grace. As we receive and make use of gifts God gives us more. The ultimate conclusion of this is Hel 10:4 where God recognizes that because of our use of gifts that we can be rewarded with justification. For he can trust us. I was rereading the discussion here from a few years back on grace. I think that there definitely is a misunderstanding sometimes in the Church that ignores God in our salvation. That is that focuses so much on a checklist of things to do that people forget salvation is ultimately about restoring a relationship with God. (At-one-ment) It becomes like the foolish young man who make a checklist of what his perfect mate ought be like that he forgets to just date and have fun. And, unsurprisingly ends up very miserable in terms of relationships. Why I love D&C 46 is because it focuses in on a kind of relationship we all already have with God in terms of the miraculous but without the baggage that sometimes come in discussions of salvation. Yet as we experience spiritual gifts I think we all experience sincere humility and an appreciation of what God gives. Further I think this a facet of God's grace that is frequently testified of at F&T meetings even if the word grace never appears.

By: joespencer

joespencer — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:37:08 +0000

I like this emphasis, Robert. I want to reread these verses in light of that emphasis.

And, you won’t be surprised to note, I wasn’t thinking of Levinas at all! :)

By: Robert C.

Robert C. — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:54:49 +0000

I was really struck by the “seeking” motif in these first 9 verses. The seeker, it seems, regardless of church membership, will study scripture and constantly be thinking and listening for good ideas and sources of inspiration (i.e., gifts) for bringing about the work of the kingdom. This, more than anything, seems to be the pre-condition for being blessed with the gifts discussed subsequently.

(I’m assuming that Levinas’s Saying-Said distinction is largely in your mind as you discuss the Spirit-text intertwining—right? :) )