The Seventy's Course in Theology, Fifth Year: Divine Immanence and the Holy GhostRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Religion
The Seventy's Course in Theology, Fifth Year: Divine Immanence and the Holy Ghost
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines
_3. Man's Inclination to Run to Extremes:_ "The human family
are very apt to run to extremes, especially in religious matters,
and hence people in general, either want some miraculous display, or
they will not believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost at all. If an
Elder lays his hands upon a person, it is thought by many that the
person must immediately rise and speak in tongues and prophesy; this
idea is gathered from the circumstance of Paul laying his hands upon
certain individuals who had been previously [as they stated] baptized
unto John's baptism; which when he had done, they 'spake in tongues
and prophesied.' Philip also, when he had preached the Gospel to the
inhabitants of the city of Samaria, sent for Peter and John, who when
they came laid their hands upon them for the gift of the Holy Ghost;
for as yet he was fallen upon none of them; and when Simon Magus saw
that through the laying on of the Apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was
given, he offered them money that he might possess the same power.
[Acts viii.] These passages are considered by many as affording
sufficient evidence for some miraculous, visible manifestation,
whenever hands are laid on for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
_4. Diversity of Gifts:_ "We believe that the Holy Ghost is
imparted by the laying on of hands of those in authority, and that the
gift of tongues, and also the gift of prophesy are gifts of the Spirit,
and are obtained through that medium; but then to say that men always
prophesied and spoke in tongues when they had the imposition of hands,
would be to state that which is untrue, contrary to the practice of
the Apostles, and at variance with holy writ; for Paul says, 'To one
is given the gift of tongues, to another the gift of prophecy, and
to another the gift of healing;" and again: 'Do all prophesy? do all
speak with tongues? do all interpret?' evidently showing that all did
not possess these several gifts; but that one received one gift, and
another received another gift--all did not prophesy, all did not speak
in tongues, all did not work miracles; but all did receive the gift
of the Holy Ghost; sometimes they spake in tongues and prophesied in
the Apostles' days, and sometimes they did not. The same is the case
with us also in our administrations, while more frequently there is no
manifestation at all; that is visible to the surrounding multitude;
this will appear plain when we consult the writings of the apostles,
and notice their proceedings in relation to this matter. Paul, in I
Cor. xii, says, 'Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would
not have you ignorant;' it is evident from this, that some of them
were ignorant in relation to these matters, or they would not need
instruction.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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