Gift Quotes
"If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect...No man ought to say, 'Oh, I cannot help this; it is my nature.' He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to give strength to correct these things, and to give gifts that will eradicate them.
If a man lacks wisdom, it is his duty to ask God for wisdom. The same with everything else. That is the design of God concerning His Church. He wants His Saints to be perfected in the truth. For this purpose He gives these gifts, and bestows them upon those who seek after them, in order that they may be a perfect people upon the face of the earth."
George Q. Cannon (while serving as first counselor in the First Presidency): (Millenial Star, April, 1894, p. 260)
...seek...earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given; For verily I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do; that all may be benefited that seek.
(D&C 46:8-9)
"To find the gifts we have been given, we must pray and fast. Often Patriarchal blessings tell us the gifts we have received and declare the promise of gifts we can receive if we seek after them. I urge you each to discover your gifts and to seek after those that will bring direction to your life's work and that will further the work of heaven."
Robert D. Hales: (BYU Speeches, 1992-93, p. 140)
"Every Person Has Gifts. One of the great tragedies of life, it seems to me, is when a person classifies himself as someone who has no talents or gifts…It is a sad day for us and a sad day in the eyes of God. For us to conclude that we have no gifts when we judge ourselves by stature, intelligence, grade-point average, wealth, power, position, or external appearance is not only unfair but unreasonable …God’s gifts and powers are available to all of us…God has given each of us one or more special talents.
It is up to each of us to search for and build upon the gifts which God has given. Let me mention a few gifts that are not always evident or noteworthy but that are very important: the gift of asking, the gift of listening, of hearing and using a still, small voice, of being able to weep, of avoiding contention, of being agreeable, of avoiding vain repetition, of seeking that which is righteous, of not passing judgment, of looking to God for guidance, of being a disciple, of caring for others, of being able to ponder, of offering prayer, of bearing a mighty testimony, of receiving the Holy Ghost."
(Marvin J. Ashton, Ensign, Nov. 1987, p. 20-23)
"As calls come to us for church service by the Lord's representatives, it is natural for us to wonder why we have been selected. The Lord has made it plain that every individual has been blessed and endowed with certain gifts and talents. And while there are many gifts, yet 'To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.' (D&C 46:12)"
Henry D. Taylor Conference Report, October 1963, p. 71
"Are we not wealthy if the Lord has blessed us with something we can share with others?"
Howard W. Hunter (November 1985 Ensign, page 74)
"In our own day, we have been promised that the Lord has many gifts in store for 'those who love [Him] and keep all [His] commandments' and also those 'that seeketh so to do' (D&C46:9). While not every gift of God is pledged to every person, we have been assured that 'to every [person] is given a gift by the Spirit of God' (D&C 46:11)."
Elder Cecil O. Samuelson Jr. "Perilous Times," Ensign, Nov. 2004, 51
"Be determined to pray with all the energy of your heart that you might have every gift a loving Heavenly Father knows you must have to serve His Son and to endure against the powers of darkness."
Elder Henry B. Eyring - Ensign, Oct. 1999, 11