BYU-Idaho Religious Education Department instructor teaches about spiritual gifts

Greg Palmer, a member of the Religious Education Department faculty at Brigham Young University-Idaho, taught students about identifying and sharing spiritual gifts in a devotional address given Tuesday, February 26.

Palmer addressed two different types of gifts: spiritual gifts and inherent gifts. He explained that each person has been blessed with specific gifts and placed in specific circumstances to exercise those gifts. "We are meant to work together, to help each other, to complete each other. We need one another's gifts," he said.

Spiritual gifts, Palmer continued, often need to be sought after and developed. Citing Elder Marvin J. Ashton, Palmer urged students to understand and to seek less conspicuous spiritual gifts, including the gift of asking, the gift of hearing, the gift of avoiding vain repetition and others. "The Savior appreciated those less conspicuous gifts, and gave us a physical example we will always remember and treasure," Palmer said.

Pointing to the story of the widow's mite in Luke 21 as an example, Palmer said, "...our tiny, unremarkable, but whole-hearted offerings of whatever our talents and gift might be become treasures to God, therefore in heaven."

Palmer then spoke of inherent gifts. "To those who have been given gifts that might draw attention to you and draw people to you, you have a special and strong influence. I've seen how powerful that influence can be. Your kindness will mean more, you have an additional ability to lift and bless. Because of that influence I've seen such young men and women do marvelous things in their classes, wards and spheres of influence," he said.

He then reminded students that everyone has gifts to offer and that all should seek to share their gifts for the building of the kingdom. "I believe if you put yourself in God's hands you will find that. It may well surprise you how God will put to use your gift for organization, art, music, caring about the youth, sports. I'm stretching my mind to think how he might even use your highly honed X-box skills," he said.

Palmer then quoted President Henry B. Eyring, who said: "Your life is carefully watched over, as was mine. The Lord knows both what He will need you to do and what you will need to know. He is kind and He is all-knowing. So, you can with confidence expect that He has prepared opportunities for you to learn in preparation for the service you will give."

Palmer closed with his thoughts on the greatest gift, the Savior Jesus Christ. "Because of that gift we can have the greatest of all the gifts of God, eternal life, to have life of the quality and kind of His. God be thanked for the gift of His Beloved Son," he said.

Next week's devotional speaker will be H. Bryan Richards, president of the Bountiful Utah Temple.  Devotionals are held every Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Hart Auditorium with additional seating in the Hinckley Chapel, Taylor Chapel and Kirkham Auditorium.  Devotionals are broadcast on KBYI-FM 100.5 at 2 p.m. and rebroadcast Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.