Five Minutes With An Angel

High Nibley gave this observation/critique about members of the Church and spiritual gifts: “Moroni enumerates the spiritual gifts in the last chapter of the Book of Mormon, yet we rarely ask for these gifts today—they don’t particularly interest us.  There is only one that we do ask for in all sincerity, and duly receive, and that, for obvious reasons, is the gift of healing.  But the other gifts?  Who cares for them?  We make light of them and prefer the real world of everyday life.  We do not even ask for the temporal gifts, because we don’t want them either—as gifts” (Work We Must, but the Lunch is Free,” Collective Works of Hugh Nibley, 9:234).  He gave a related commentary at another time: “We are commanded not to ask for or seek for office.  Yet nobody seems particularly interested in asking or seeking for gifts, while men constantly plan, scheme, and aspire to office.  Martin Harris and others actually left the Church because their services were not recognized by high office—Martin Harris, who had the privilege of standing in the presence of an angel and turning over the plates, wanted an office in the Church, something which would only be temporary and a nuisance.  Why, let me talk to Moroni for five minutes and I’ll give you the pleasure of sitting on the stand for evermore!” (In Criticizing the Brethren, 19).  I think as a general statement he is right: we seek spiritual gifts far too little and focus far more on the positions (Bishop, Relief Society president, stake president, patriarch, etc.) that others hold as opposed to the far more important gifts that we personally have. 

               The Lord has given us the commandment to seek spiritual gifts.  Paul taught us that we should “follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts” (1 Corinthians 14:1).  In our dispensation the Lord told us, “Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given” (D&C 46:8).  The first step it sees to obtaining spiritual gifts then is to desire and sincerely seek them.  And it is that desire the Hugh Nibley believed was not present as it should be among the Saints.  In addition to the desire, the Lord has made it clear that the reason for desiring them must be righteous.  He said, “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 or that ask of me, that ask and not for a sign that they may consume it upon their lusts” (D&C 46:9).  We are not to seek for spiritual gifts in any way that would constitute as a “lust”, which to me is really the same things as trying to “gratify our pride” as the Joseph Smith said (D&C 121:37).  We have to learn to truly desire spiritual gifts, and to desire them “for the benefit of the children of God” (D&C 46:26).  I remember one interview as a missionary with my mission president when he asked me in his soul searching way something to the effect of, “Elder, would you rather be assistant to the president where everyone can see you, or a quiet missionary who simply works without fanfare and baptizes lots of people?”  As I think about it now, I see that he was essentially asking me whether I wanted to an office or great spiritual gifts.  It’s certainly a question that gives cause for reflection—and hopefully the answer will always be that indeed I would prefer, as Hugh Nibley put it, the five unseen minutes with an angel over sitting visible on the stand for the rest of my life.