Talents

                While we were in heaven with our Heavenly Father, He gave each of us at least one talent and/or ability; we brought our talents and abilities with us when we came to this life.  Some talents are: leadership, ability to speak, sing, play a musical instrument, athletics, or ability to work with our hands.  Other talents are being a good listener, understanding others, cheerfulness, patience, or the ability to teach other people.  Moses had great leadership ability but lacked the ability to speak well; Aaron, his brother, had the ability to speak well.

                We have been given talents by Heavenly Father, but we have the responsibility to receive His gifts.  In other words, we may have been given great musical talents or great athletic abilities, but we also have the responsibility to develop and use our talents.  Sometimes, we have a difficult time recognizing our talents and think others are greater blessed.

                We must do certain things in order to develop our talents:  (1) We must discover our talents by examining our strengths and abilities, asking others for help doing so, and asking Heavenly Father.  (2) We must be willing to spend the time and effort to develop our talent.

(3) We must have faith in our ability to develop the talent, and faith in Heavenly Father that He will help us.  (4) We must learn the skills involved in the talent by taking a class, taking lessons, reading a do-it-yourself book, etc.  (5) We must practice our talent.  No one can master a talent without earning it.  (6) We must share our talent with others in order for it to continue to grow.

                The Lord does not always make it easy for us to have a talent; in fact, sometimes, He gives us weaknesses to overcome in order to find our strengths (see Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Ether 12:27).  Elder Paul H. Dunn of the Quorum of Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wrote:  “Beethoven, a great composer, wrote his greatest works after he was stone deaf.  Demosthenes overcame weak lungs and a lisp to become one of the greatest orators of all time” (I Challenge You, p. 65).

                Shelly Mann was an athlete who developed her talents in spite of a handicap.  Elder Marvin J. Ashton explained, “At the age of five she had polio….  Her parents took her daily to a swimming pool where they hoped the water would help hold her arms up as she tried to use them again.  When she could lift her arm out of the water with her own power, she cried for joy.  Then her goal was to swim the width of the pool, then the length, then several lengths.  She kept on trying, swimming, enduring, day after day, until she won the gold medal for the butterfly stroke – one of the most difficult of all swimming strokes” (Ensign, May 1975, p. 86).

                President Heber J. Grant is known for overcoming several weaknesses and turning them into strengths.  His motto was:  “That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing is changed, but that our power to do is increased” (Gospel Standards, p. 355).

                We are each responsible for using or misusing the talents given to us by God.  When we do as God desires, He gives us blessings.  Some of the blessings that come from using our talents to bless other people are joy in serving, love for our brothers and sisters, self-control, and the ability to focus. 

                Heavenly Father wants us to develop our talents.  He is pleased when we develop our talents wisely and will bless us as we use our talents to help other people and to build up His kingdom on earth.   Jesus Christ taught in parable of the talents that when we use our talents to serve well in our stewardships, we will be given greater responsibilities.  This parable also teaches that those who choose not to develop their talents will lose them.  

Talents

                    Jesus Christ taught a parable about developing our talents.  It tells us that we must serve well in our current stewardship before we will be given greater responsibilities.  Jesus taught, "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.  And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey."  The servant who received five talents made some trades and doubled his talents, and the servant who received two talents did the likewise.  The servant who received only one talent was afraid that he would lose it and incur the wrath of his master.  He decided to bury his talents to keep it safe.

                    After a long time the lord of the servants returned and required an accounting for the use of the talents.  The first two servants explained how they were able to double their talents.  Their lord said, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant:  thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:  enter thou into the joy of thy lord."  When the third servant told the lord that he buried his one talent, his lord told him that he should have at least taken the money to the exchangers where he would have at least received the interest.  He continued, "Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.  For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance:  but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath…."

                    Just like the servants in this parable, we have received special gifts, talents, and abilities from our Heavenly Father.  We brought them with us when we were born, but we do not all have the same gifts.  Moses was a great prophet with wonderful leadership abilities but lacked the ability to speak powerfully.  He was aided in his responsibility by his brother Aaron who was a good speaker.    We have people around us who are great leaders like Moses and others who are good speakers like Aaron.  There are others who are good in sports or have musical abilities.  Other gifts include patience, cheerfulness, understanding others, or teaching.  Some talents are very obvious to a casual observer, and others are more difficult to recognize.

                    We are given our talents with the responsibility to develop them.  Many of us think that we have very few, if any, talents and think that others have been given many.  Sometimes we hide our talents or don't use them because we don't want to fail or be criticized by others.  This is a big mistake because we must use our gifts to develop them more fully.  Heavenly Father gave each of us talents, gifts and abilities in order to bless our lives, help other people, and glorify God (see Matthew 5:16).

                    There are certain steps we must take in order to develop our talents, and all of the steps are easier with the Lord's help.  1) We must discover our talents.  We can do this by evaluating our own strengths and abilities, asking family and friends for their input, and praying for help to learn about our talents.  2) We must willingly spend the time and effort necessary to develop the talent we desire.  3) We must have faith in ourselves as well as faith that Heavenly Father will help us.  4) We must learn the necessary skills - take classes, read a book, etc.  5) We must practice using our talent because every talent takes time and effort to develop and mastery of a talent must be earned.  6) We must willingly share our talent with other people because it is using talents that helps them to grow. 

                    Even though we have weaknesses, we can still develop our talents.  When Moroni expressed a fear to the Lord that people would mock his writing, he was told, "Fools mock….  And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them" (Ether 12:26-27).

                    We see the talents of others after they have struggled to develop them.  Many great people have overcome weakness to develop wonderful talents.  Beethoven was deaf when he composed his greatest music.  The prophet Enoch became a powerful teacher after overcoming his slowness of speech (see Moses 6:26-47).  Heber J. Grant turned many of his weaknesses into talents.  He had the following motto:  "That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing is changed, but that our power to do is increased" (in Teachings of Presidents of the Church:  Heber J. Grant [2002], 35).

                    The scriptures tell us that we will be judged according to the work we do (see Matthew 16:27).   President Joseph F. Smith taught, "Every son and every daughter of God has received some talent, and each will be held to strict account for the use or misuse to which it is put" (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 370).  We can perform good works when we develop and use our gifts and talents for the good of other people.  Just as the lord in the parable was pleased with the first two servants, Heavenly Father is pleased with us when we use our gifts wisely.  He has given us these talents to benefit other people and to further His work here upon earth.  Some of the blessings that we receive through wise use of our talents are joy, love, and self-control, all of which are necessary for worthiness to live with Heavenly Father again.

Talents

One of the parables of Jesus Christ is about developing our talents. It tells us that we will be given greater responsibilities after we serve well in our current stewardship. Jesus taught, "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey." The servant who received five talents made some trades and doubled his talents, and the servant who received two talents did the likewise. The servant who received only one talent was afraid that he would lose it and incur the wrath of his master. He decided to bury his talents to keep it safe.

After a long time the lord of the servants returned and required an accounting for the use of the talents. The first two servants explained how they were able to double their talents. Their lord said, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." When the third servant told the lord that he buried his one talent, his lord told him that he should have at least taken the money to the exchangers where he would have at least received the interest. He continued, "Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath…."

Just like the servants in this parable, we have received special gifts, talents, and abilities from our Heavenly Father. We brought them with us when we were born, but we do not all have the same gifts. Moses was a great prophet with wonderful leadership abilities but lacked the ability to speak powerfully. He was aided in his responsibility by his brother Aaron who was a good speaker. We have people around us who are great leaders like Moses and others who are good speakers like Aaron. There are others who are good in sports or have musical abilities. Other gifts include patience, cheerfulness, understanding others, or teaching. Some talents are very obvious to a casual observer, and others are more difficult to recognize.

We are given our talents with the responsibility to develop them. Many of us think that we have very few, if any, talents and think that others have been given many. Sometimes we hide our talents or don't use them because we don't want to fail or be criticized by others. This is a big mistake because we must use our gifts to develop them more fully. Heavenly Father gave each of us talents, gifts and abilities in order to bless our lives, help other people, and glorify God (see Matthew 5:16).

There are certain steps we must take in order to develop our talents, and all of the steps are easier with the Lord's help. 1) We must discover our talents. We can do this by evaluating our own strengths and abilities, asking family and friends for their input, and praying for help to learn about our talents. 2) We must willingly spend the time and effort necessary to develop the talent we desire. 3) We must have faith in ourselves as well as faith that Heavenly Father will help us. 4) We must learn the necessary skills - take classes, read a book, etc. 5) We must practice using our talent because every talent takes time and effort to develop and mastery of a talent must be earned. 6) We must willingly share our talent with other people because it is using talents that helps them to grow.

Even though we have weaknesses, we can still develop our talents. When Moroni expressed a fear to the Lord that people would mock his writing, he was told, "Fools mock…. And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them" (Ether 12:26-27).

We see the talents of others after they have struggled to develop them. Many great people have overcome weakness to develop wonderful talents. Beethoven was deaf when he composed his greatest music. The prophet Enoch became a powerful teacher after overcoming his slowness of speech (see Moses 6:26-47). Heber J. Grant turned many of his weaknesses into talents. He had the following motto: "That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing is changed, but that our power to do is increased" (in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Heber J. Grant [2002], 35).

The scriptures tell us that we will be judged according to the work we do (see Matthew 16:27). President Joseph F. Smith taught, "Every son and every daughter of God has received some talent, and each will be held to strict account for the use or misuse to which it is put" (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 370). We can perform good works when we develop and use our gifts and talents for the good of other people. Just as the lord in the parable was pleased with the first two servants, Heavenly Father is pleased with us when we use our gifts wisely. He has given us these talents to benefit other people and to further His work here upon earth. Some of the blessings that we receive through wise use of our talents are joy, love, and self-control, all of which are necessary for worthiness to live with Heavenly Father again.