The Bishopric Wives were asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting. Here is my talk
Utilizing our Spiritual Gifts - Quick to Observe - talk given by Elder David A Bednar
In The book of John we read that as Jesus passed by He saw a man who was blind from birth. His disciples questioned the Master as to why this person was blind. Had he sinned or had his parents sinned, causing him to have this affliction?
“Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. …
“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
“When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
“And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam. … He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.” 3
(The pool of Siloam in Jerusalem is fed by a spring located outside the city walls. As the only source of fresh or "living" water in the area, the waters have long been a symbol of God's protection and sustaining power)
A great dispute ensued among the Pharisees concerning this miracle:
“Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man [Jesus] is a sinner.
“He (the blind man then) answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.” 4
Yesterday I was pondering this story as I was in the temple waiting to do some initiatories.
I was thinking of how this man’s faith in Christ, led him to truly see and how other’s who do not hold fast to the word of God are blinded by the adversary.
As I looked up from my reading, An older woman was being
led into the room. She was helped to a chair and I then realized that she was blind!
I was overcome with emotion about this since I had just been studying this topic. I watched her for a few moments. She held the cards of the names for the work that she would be doing. She put one of the card all the way up to her eye. Perhaps she could see something although I’m not sure how since I know I have to hold everything I read way out in front of me these days! A few minutes later she was helped and led into the booth and the thought came to me that “This woman can clearly see what is most important”
(symbolically she had come to the pool of Siloam. The true living waters, receiving God's love and protection. I have further reflected on the powerful words we both were privileged to hear as we performed sacred ordinances)
I will now always associate one of the blessings pronounced in the temple with having our spiritual eyes opened
Our loving Father in Heaven sent us to earth to learn and to become like him. We all received a few Christmas gift this week. Our Father also delights to give us gifts. He gives us spiritual gifts for our benefit The greatest gift He gave was to send His Son to provide the way, through his atonement, to be able to return again to His presence.
spiritual gifts are blessings or abilities given by God to His children through the power of the Holy Ghost. Gifts of the Spirit are given to bless and benefit those who love the Lord and seek to keep His commandments.
Every gift we seek from our Father is a bestowal. “ I would exhort you, my beloved brethern, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ.” (Moroni 10:18) We don’t earn these gifts. They are just that: Gifts. Bestowals. Endowments
We can however seek and qualify for them. Moroni tells us to pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart
Moroni also did not say these gift were only for perfect followers. He said they are for true followers Following the Savior with a true and honest heart is something we are all capable of doing.
D&C 46:9 Gifts are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments and him that seeketh so to do(as long as we are seeking, we do not have to be perfect in these things
prior verse 8
46:8 Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived aseek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given;
The gift I have been asked to speak about - being Quick to Observe - keeps us
from being deceived and blinded by the mists of the advesary
In Lehi’s dream, numberless concourses of people, pressed forward toward the tree whose fruit would “make one happy.” But as they traveled, “there arose a mist of darkness...insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.
Mosiah chapter 8 vs 20 also teaches of those with spiritual blindness:
“O how marvelous are the works of the Lord, and how long doth he suffer with his people; yea, and how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men”
The prophet Mormon grew up in a time of great wickedness when people were blinded by mists of darkness.
Mormon.1 :14 And there were no agifts from the Lord, and the bHoly Ghost did not come upon any, because of their wickedness andcunbelief.
However, Mormon was faithful and at age 15 he was visited of the Lord (Morm 1:15)
We learn of his character in the first chapter of Mormon:
“And now I, Mormon, make a record of the things which I have both seen and heard, and call it the Book of Mormon.
“And about the time that Ammaron hid up the records unto the Lord, he came unto me, (I being about ten years of age … ) and Ammaron said unto me: I perceive that thou art a sober child, and art quick to observe;
“Therefore, when ye are about twenty and four years old I would that ye should remember the things that ye have observed concerning this people; …
“And behold, … ye shall engrave on the plates of Nephi all the things that ye have observed concerning this people.
“And I, Mormon, … remembered the things which Ammaron commanded me”
Elder Bednar tells us to Please note that the root word observe is used three times in these verses. And that Mormon, even in his youth, is described as being “quick to observe.”
As used in the scriptures, the word observe has two primary uses. One use denotes “to look” or “to see” or “to notice”—
The second use of the word observe suggests “to obey” or “to keep”—such as observing a commandment.
Thus when we are quick to observe, we promptly look or notice and obey.
Before attending her sacrament meetings, Sister Bednar frequently prays for the spiritual eyes to see those who have a need. And when Sister Bednar receives such an impression, she promptly responds and obeys. It often is the case that as soon as the “amen” is spoken in the benediction, she will talk with a teenager or hug a sister or, upon returning home, immediately pick up the phone and make a call. The spiritual gift of being quick to observe has enabled her to see and to act promptly and has been a great blessing in the lives of many people.
Elder Bednar then teaches The Importance of Being Quick to Observe and why it is so vital for us in the world in which we do now and will yet live. Simply stated, being quick to observe is linked with the spiritual gift of discernment. He says that discernment is a light of protection and direction in a world that grows increasingly dark.
Elder Bednar stresses that just like faith precedes the miracle, much like baptism by water comes before the baptism by fire, so being quick to observe is a prerequisite to and a preparation for the gift of discernment. We can hope to obtain the gift of discernment and its light of protection and direction only if we are quick to observe—if we both look and obey.
He quotes President George Q. Cannon who taught powerfully about the gift of discernment:
“One of the gifts of the Gospel which the Lord has promised to those who enter into covenant with Him is the gift of discerning of spirits—a gift which is not much thought of by many and probably seldom prayed for; yet it is a gift that is of exceeding value and one that should be enjoyed by every Latter-day Saint. …
“Now, the gift of discerning of spirits not only gives men and women who have it the power to discern the spirit with which others may be possessed or influenced, but it gives them the power to discern the spirit which influences themselves. They are able to detect a false spirit and also to know when the Spirit of God reigns within them... Possessing and exercising this gift they will not allow any evil influence to enter into their hearts or to prompt them in their thoughts, their words or their acts. They will ... refuse to be led or prompted by it.” 1
Elder Bednar then asks, “Can we recognize how crucial this spiritual gift is in our lives today and how being quick to observe is a powerful invitation for the blessings of discernment?”
A quote from President Stephen L Richards gives additional instruction about the nature and blessings of discernment:
“ I believe that this gift when highly developed arises largely out of an acute sensitivity to spiritual impressions, to read under the surface as it were, to detect hidden evil, and more importantly to find the good that may be concealed. The highest type of discernment is that which perceives in others and uncovers for them their better natures, the good inherent within them.
I love how it says “uncover for them their better natures - how loving and how powerful that is
Elder Bednar then sums up this gift-.
First, discernment helps us detect hidden error and evil in others.
Second, and more important, it helps us detect hidden errors and evil in ourselves. Thus the spiritual gift of discernment is not exclusively about discerning other people and situations, but, as President Cannon taught, it is also about discerning things as they really are within us.
Third, it helps us find and bring forth the good that may be concealed in others.
And fourth, it helps us find and bring forth the good that may be concealed in us., what a blessing and a source of protection and direction is the spiritual gift of discernment!
Elder Bednar again speaks of Lehi’s vision and says to liken this scripture to our day and the challenges we face in an increasingly wicked world:
“And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.”
He says “I repeat again for emphasis the truth that discernment is a light of protection and direction in a world that grows increasingly dark. You and I can press forward safely and successfully through the mist of darkness and have a clear sense of spiritual direction. Discernment is so much more than recognizing right from wrong. It helps us distinguish the relevant from the irrelevant, the important from the unimportant, and the necessary from that which is merely nice.”
The gift of discernment is seeing with spiritual eyes and feeling with the heart—seeing and feeling the falsehood of an idea or the goodness in another person. It is—hearing and feeling the unspoken concern in a statement or the truthfulness of a testimony or doctrine.
Elder Bednar said “I frequently have heard President Boyd K. Packer, say, “If all you know is what you see with your natural eyes and hear with your natural ears, then you will not know very much.” His observation should help all of us to appropriately desire and seek these spiritual gifts.
The blind woman I saw yesterday in the temple was there because she sees much more than with her natural eyes. W,e like her, can walk through a darkening world as we use the spiritual gifts our Father has given us.
We are commencing a brand new year. I love the words from the poet Minnie Louise Haskins, who wrote
We now stand at the gate of the year. As we follow the words of the living prophet and apostles and ponder on the words in the Holy Scriptures they will be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
As we frequently attend the temple we will be refreshed with living water.
in the coming year, as we are quick to Observe we will be able to help others who are seeking to obtain the path and who desire to press forward with steadfastness in Christ.
Blessed with these spiritual gifts, we will not lose our way; we will not wander off; we will not be lost. As Alma taught his son Helaman, “See that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live” (Alma 37:47).
I testify of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ and I say these things in His Holy Name, Amen.
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