Gifts of the Spirit

Well might it be asked, Of all the gifts of the Spirit which are the "best" or the ones most to be desired? To which we readily answer, The gift or gifts most needed in your circumstances and situation. The best gift is the gift best suited to enable you to bless those with whom you have been called to labor.To the young mother, it may be patience, love, and understanding; to the aged woman, the ability to endure; to the newly called missionary, the gift of tongues; to the bishop, the gift of discernment; to the teacher, knowledge; to the priesthood leader, the gift of administration, and so forth. Revelations of the Restoration, p. 363-64.

George Q. Cannon: If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift

 that will make us perfect. Have I imperfections? I am full of them. What is my duty? To pray to God to give me the gifts that will correct these imperfections. If I am an angry man, it is my duty to pray for charity, which suffereth long and is kind. Am I an envious man? It is my duty to seek for charity, which envieth not. So with all the gifts of the gospel. They are intended for this purpose. No man ought to say, "Oh, I cannot help this; it is my nature." He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to give strength to correct these things, and to give gifts that will eradicate them. If a man lack wisdom, it is his duty to ask God for wisdom. The same with everything else. That is the design of God concerning His Church. He wants His Saints to be perfected in the truth. For this purpose He gives these

 gifts, and bestows them upon those who seek after them, in order that they may be a perfect

 people upon the face 

of the earth, notwithstanding their many weaknesses, because God has promised to give the gifts that are necessary for their perfection. (MS, April 23, 1894, 56:260-61.)

The gifts of God are as diverse as are those to whom they have been given. Like fingerprints, they are individual and distinctive. The genius of this is that it binds us together as a community of Saints, everyone having something to contribute that no one else can do as well. Each of us is in a position to bless and to be blessed. For this reason we have been commanded to "meet together often" that we might succor and strengthen each other. It is not intended in the gospel plan that we be saved separate and singly. Salvation is in many respects a community affair. Revelations of the Restoration, p. 368-69)

Jeffrey R. Holland said: “It is an immensely satisfying thing to be needed in the body of Christ. Whether I function as an eye or arm is irrelevant; the fact is I am needed in this most majestic organism, and the body is imperfect without me. A popular singer made a small fortune reminding us that ‘people who need people are the luckiest people in the world.’ In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—the restored ecclesiastical body of Christ—people do need people and everyone is welcomed. This includes (in Paul’s assertion) not only the attractive, talented, ‘comely’ members, but those of us who seem to have fewer gifts and face greater challenges, those who receive less honor and attention. In the Church of Jesus Christ ‘more abundant honor’ is given to these. Every member matters, and the less favored member most of all (see 1 Cor. 12:23–24).” (“Belonging: A View of Membership,” Ensign, Apr. 1980, 27-28)