….We Seek After These Things!

This is a very rough draft of my lesson outline. I am going to have to think and ponder on it more over the next few days but I wanted to get it posted for you to have some idea’s and questions. I don’t have an object lesson but I think the lesson is long enough without it. You will need to use your judgement on how you want to go with the lesson. I have seen suggestions that talk about issues not in the manual, especially on some of the Women blogs. I think it is important to emphasize that the proper use of all these gifts comes with Faith in Jesus Christ and by those that have the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The gift of Healing is one area where Prayer can lead to healing but the proper use of the Gift of the healing is with the power of the Priesthood. I have seen other lessons that leave out the gift of discernment thinking it is not important but I personally feel that it is the most important after the gift of prophecy. It is through this gift that we can avoid many evil influences, and also be lead and guided by many good influences as we live our life. I think there is confusion when the lesson discusses the use of Priesthood, especially among the feminist bloggers, but that use is Priesthood in my opinion is what gives each of us the Gift of the Holy Ghost. You might interpret it otherwise.

After the Saints stayed in Quincy, they slowly began to move 50 miles north to the settlement of Commerce Illinois, and across the Mississippi in Montrose Iowa. Joseph Smith had begun to buy plots of land around Commerce as a gathering place of safety and refuge for the saints. There they began to drain and clear the swamplands near the river. Many church members fell ill with Malaria and other diseases. Many died and were near death. So many people were ill that Joseph and Emma opened their home to care for the sick and Joseph slept outside in a tent.

On July 22, the Saints witnessed what Elder Wilford Woodruff would call “a day of God’s power.” That morning the Prophet arose, called upon the Lord in prayer, and, being filled with the Spirit of the Lord, administered to the sick in his house, in the yard outside, and down by the river. He crossed the river and visited the home of Brigham Young in Montrose to give him a healing blessing. Then, in company with Sidney Rigdon, Brigham Young, and other members of the Twelve, he continued on his mission of mercy among other Iowa Saints. Elder Woodruff recalled one of the most memorable healings of that day:

“We crossed the public square, and entered Brother [Elijah] Fordham’s house. Brother Fordham had been dying for an hour, and we expected each minute would be his last. I felt the power of God that was overwhelming his Prophet. When we entered the house, Brother Joseph walked up to Brother Fordham, and took him by the right hand. … He saw that Brother Fordham’s eyes were glazed, and that he was speechless and unconscious.
(long quote you might want to split it up or paraphrase. I personally like the words by Wilford Woodruff.)

Quote #1
“After taking hold of his hand, [the Prophet] looked down into the dying man’s face and said: ‘Brother Fordham, do you not know me?’ At first he made no reply; but we could all see the effect of the Spirit of God resting upon him.
“[Joseph] again said: ‘Elijah, do you not know me?’ With a low whisper, Brother Fordham answered, ‘Yes!’ The Prophet then said, ‘Have you not faith to be healed?’
“The answer, which was a little plainer than before, was: ‘I am afraid it is too late. If you had come sooner, I think I might have been.’ He had the appearance of a man awaking from sleep. It was the sleep of death. Joseph then said: ‘Do you not believe that Jesus is the Christ?’ ‘I do, Brother Joseph,’ was the response.
“Then the Prophet of God spoke with a loud voice, as in the majesty of the Godhead: ‘Elijah, I command you, in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, to arise and be made whole!’
“The words of the Prophet were not like the words of man, but like the voice of God. It seemed to me that the house shook from its foundation. Elijah Fordham leaped from his bed like a man raised from the dead. A healthy color came to his face, and life was manifested in every act. His feet were done up in [cornmeal] poultices. He kicked them off his feet, scattering the contents, and then called for his clothes and put them on. He asked for a bowl of bread and milk, and ate it; then put on his hat and followed us into the street, to visit others who were sick.

Why was it important for Elijah Fordham to express his belief in Jesus Christ?

What is the difference between the act of Praying for healing and the Gift of Healing by the Power of the Holy Spirit?

What is the Sign of Healing of the Sick?

The laying on of hands is the sign or way marked out by James, and the custom of the ancient Saints as ordered by the Lord, and we cannot obtain the blessing by pursuing any other course except the way marked out by the Lord.

What are the conditions set out for the Gift of Healing to be effective?

(Faith, both of the one giving the blessing, and of the one receiving the blessing.)

If someone is not healed physically does this indicate a lack of Faith?

“Many of the righteous shall fall a prey to disease, to pestilence, etc., by reason of the weakness of the flesh, and yet be saved in the Kingdom of God. So that it is an unhallowed principle to say that such and such have transgressed because they have been preyed upon by disease or death, for all flesh is subject to death; and the Savior has said, ‘Judge not, lest ye be judged

What does the Gift of Healing actually represent and symbolize? (Christ’s ability to heal our Spirits and our Eternal welfare.)

What is the Purpose of the Gift of Tongues?
1. To Preach the Gospel
2. Comfort

How should the gift of Tongues be used?
1. For preaching to those that cannot understand
2. Always with an interpreter

What are the rules that we should remember when it comes to using the gift of Tongues?

1. Pray so you will not be deceived. (How can we be deceived?)

Quote #2
“As to the gift of tongues, all we can say is, that in this place, we have received it as the ancients did: we wish you, however, to be careful lest in this you be deceived. … Satan will no doubt trouble you about the gift of tongues, unless you are careful; you cannot watch him too closely, nor pray too much. May the Lord give you wisdom in all things

2. Not for Government
3. Not for Doctrine
4. It is not unnatural

Quote #3
“We have also had brethren and sisters who have had the gift of tongues falsely; they would speak in a muttering, unnatural voice, and their bodies be distorted … ; whereas, there is nothing unnatural in the Spirit of God.

We are give warnings with Tongues what is it?
1. Faith comes not by signs but by hearing the word of God
2. Do not use in any way God does not intend.

Quote #4
The gifts of God are all useful in their place, but when they are applied to that which God does not intend, they prove an injury, a snare and a curse instead of a blessing.

What is the gift of Prophecy?

“The Prophet Joseph [said that] … to be a minister of Jesus, a man must testify of Jesus; and to testify of Jesus, a man must have the spirit of prophecy; for, according to John, the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

How does the Gift of Faith and the Gift of Prophecy strengthen your testimony?

Quote #5
Faith comes by hearing the word of God, through the testimony of the servants of God; that testimony is always attended by the Spirit of prophecy and revelation.”

How does it make you feel to know that every member of the Church can have the gift of Prophecy? How can you make this gift work for you in your daily life?

How can we learn to discern between Evil and Good spirits?

Quote #6
We answer that no man can do this without the Priesthood, and having a knowledge of the laws by which spirits are governed; for as ‘no man knows the things of God, but by the Spirit of God,’ so no man knows the spirit of the devil, and his power and influence, but by possessing intelligence which is more than human, and having unfolded through the medium of the Priesthood the mysterious operations of his devices. …

What does the Priesthood refer to in this quote?
Does this mean only those that hold the Priesthood has the power to discern?
How does receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost at Baptism help us discern between good and evil?
Is the reference to Good and Evil spirits only referring to those spirits we cannot see?
How does the gift of discernment help you in your day-to-day life and interaction with those around you?

Why must we have the gift of prophecy and revelation to understand the power of discernment?

Quote #7
If it requires the Spirit of God to know the things of God; and the spirit of the devil can only be unmasked through that medium, then it follows as a natural consequence that unless some person or persons have a communication, or revelation from God, unfolding to them the operation of the spirit, they must eternally remain ignorant of these principles.
Whatever we may think of revelation, that without it we can neither know nor understand anything of God, or the devil; and however unwilling the world may be to acknowledge this principle, it is evident from the multifarious creeds and notions concerning this matter that they understand nothing of this principle, and it is equally as plain that without a divine communication they must remain in ignorance. …

How can Evil Spirits deceive us?

How do you feel knowing that we have leaders that can help us avoid deception?

Has anyone had any experience with the Gift of Discernment and how it helped you avoid association or a situation that may have led to following an Evil Spirit?

Has anyone had any experience with the Gift of Discernment that helped you follow an association or situation that led to following a Good spirit?

Closing Quote
“… Our Savior, the Apostles, and even the members of the Church were endowed with this gift, for, says Paul, ‘To one is given the gift of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discerning of spirits.’ [See 1 Corinthians 12:10.] All these proceeded from the same Spirit of God, and were the gifts of God. …
Encourage the Sisters to use their Faith in Christ to develop their testimonies and strengthen their families. That the Gifts of God are granted to all who have faith and things gifts are expressly given to lead us to Christ and into Heavenly Father’s kingdom.

Testimony