In his April
1956 General Conference address, Marion G. Romney discussed how one can discern
genuine spiritual gifts from counterfeit versions thereof:
The Prophet Joseph having recited some of the
workings of evil spirits in his day, said:
A man must have the discerning of spirits
before he can drag into daylight this hellish influence and unfold it unto the
world in all its soul-destroying, diabolical, and horrid colors; for nothing is
a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a
false spirit when they think they have the spirit of God. Thousands have felt
the influence of its terrible power and baneful effects. Long pilgrimages have
been undertaken, penances endured, and pain, misery and ruin have followed in
their train; nations have been convulsed, kingdoms overthrown, provinces laid
waste, and blood, carnage and desolation are habiliments in which it has been
clothed. (History of the Church, Vol. IV, p. 573.)
Without attempting an exhaustive discussion
of this question, I shall take the liberty to suggest three simple tests which,
if applied, will prove of great value in making the distinction.
First, determine whether the alleged
supernatural manifestation is edifying. If it is not, then it is not of God
because spiritual gifts are given for the edification of God's people.
Paul, writing to the Corinthian saints
concerning spiritual gifts, instructed them to "let all things be done
unto edifying." And of those who would speak in tongues he said, "If
there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; . . ." And as
to prophecy he added, ". . . the spirits of the prophets are subject to
the prophets.
"For God is not the author of confusion,
but of peace. . . . (1 Cor. 14:26-33.) He compared the speaking in tongues
without a clear interpretation thereof to a trumpet giving forth an uncertain
sound, at which no one would know whether to prepare for the battle. "There
are," he wrote, . . . So many kinds of voices in the world,...
Therefore, if I know not the meaning of the
voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh
shall be a barbarian unto me. (1 Cor. 14:8-11.)
That the saints of the infant Church in this
dispensation be not deceived, the Lord pleaded with them to keep in mind that
the purpose of spiritual gifts was to benefit those who loved him and kept his
commandments. They were not to be given as signs to those who would consume
them upon their lusts.
Second -- this pertains particularly to
purported supernatural healing -- find out whether the purported healer follows
the divinely established procedure, that Is, does he do as Jesus did when he
laid his hands upon the sick and healed them (See Mark 6:5) and as his apostles
did when, at his direction, they "went out, and preached that men should
repent.
"And . . . cast out many devils, and
anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." (Ibid., 6:12-13.)
The pattern which prevailed in the Apostolic Church, and which has been
prescribed anew by revelation in this day (D & C 42:43-44), is set out by
James as follows:
Is any sick among you? let him call for the
elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the
name of the Lord:
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick,
and the Lord shall raise him up; and if be have committed sins, they shall be
forgiven him. (James 5:14-15.)
Third, find out whether the worker of the
purported miracle has himself received the gift of the Holy Ghost through the
prescribed ordinances. If he has not, then his works, whatever they may be, are
not the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. This is a key test because, as we
have already pointed out, the gifts of the spirit are given by the power of the
Holy Ghost. Without the gift of the Holy Ghost, the manifestations of his gifts
may not be enjoyed. The Prophet Joseph Smith states this foundation doctrine as
follows:
We believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost
being enjoyed now, as much as it was in the Apostles' day; we believe that it
[the gift of the Holy Ghost] is necessary to make and to organize the
priesthood, that no man can be called to fill any office in the ministry
without it; we also believe in prophecy, in tongues, in visions, and in
revelations, in gifts, and in healings; and that these things cannot be enjoyed
without the gift of the Holy Ghost. (History of the Church, Vol. V, p. 27.)
Thus one who has never received the gift of
the Holy Ghost cannot possibly work miracles by his power.
Now, we know that there is but one way to
obtain the gift of the Holy Ghost. That way is through the prescribed
ordinances of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and the laying on
of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. The Apostle Paul's procedure
emphasizes the indispensability of these ordinances. Coming to
. . . Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they
said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye
baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the
baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him
which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus.
Conference Report, April 1956, p.72
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them,
the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. (Acts
19:2-6.)
These gifts of the spirit they could not
possibly have exercised until after they had received the gift of the Holy
Ghost through compliance with the proper ordinances. Such has been the
procedure for receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost from the days of Father
Adam. We quoted at the beginning of these remarks the procedure by which he
received it. That procedure was precisely the same as that followed by Paul in
bestowing it. Such will always be the procedure, for God established it. Said
the Prophet Joseph,
Baptism is a holy ordinance preparatory to
the reception of the Holy Ghost; it is the channel and key by which the Holy
Ghost will be administered.
The gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on
of hands, cannot be received through the medium of any other principle than the
principle of righteousness, for if the proposals are not complied with it is of
no use, but withdraws. (History of the Church, Vol. III, p. 379.)
Now, righteous men, bearing the holy
priesthood of the living God and endowed with the gift of the Holy Ghost, who
are magnifying their callings -- and such are the only men upon the earth with
the right to receive and exercise the gifts of the spirit -- will do so
circumspectly and in all humility. They will not spectacularly advertise their
divine power nor boast about it. Neither will they display it for money. Of
this you may be sure. (Conference Report,
April 1956, pp. 71-72)
