Tolerance: The Good and the Bad

Tolerance as a Good Thing:

1. Promotes Unity and Peace: Tolerance helps in understanding and respecting the diverse beliefs, lifestyles, and opinions of others. This leads to more harmonious coexistence.
2. Encourages Open-mindedness: Being tolerant often means being open to new ideas and experiences. This can lead to personal growth and societal progress.
3. Reduces Prejudices: Tolerance can reduce biases, stereotypes, and prejudices, leading to a more inclusive society.

Tolerance as a Bad Thing:

1. Moral Relativism: Over-tolerance can lead some people to believe that all opinions or behaviors are equally valid, even if they might be harmful or wrong.
2. Ignoring Harmful Behavior: Being overly tolerant can sometimes mean turning a blind eye to actions or beliefs that are harmful, abusive, or discriminatory.
3. Suppressing Necessary Criticism: There are times when beliefs or behaviors need to be critiqued. Over-tolerance can stifle necessary critique.

Tolerance as Asked of Latter-Day Saints: The world often asks members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) to be tolerant in various ways:

1. Respecting Different Beliefs: Respecting the wide array of religious and secular beliefs in the world, even when they diverge from LDS teachings.
2. Accepting Social Norms: As society evolves, there are changing social norms and values that might not align with LDS teachings, such as views on marriage, family, and gender roles.
3. Interfaith Dialogue: Engaging in constructive dialogues with people of other faith traditions to find common ground and mutual respect.

Tolerance, Peacemaking, and Intolerance:

How Tolerance and Being a Peacemaker Go Hand in Hand:

1. Reduces Conflict: By being tolerant, one can often avoid unnecessary disputes and confrontations.
2. Facilitates Dialogue: A tolerant attitude fosters an environment where open dialogue can happen, leading to better understanding and peace.
3. Shows Christlike Love: For Christians, including Latter-day Saints, showing tolerance can be a reflection of the unconditional love that Jesus showed to all.

Intolerance and Its Downsides:

1. Promotes Division: Intolerance can lead to division, mistrust, and even hatred among different groups.
2. Stifles Growth: An intolerant society may suppress new ideas, leading to stagnation.
3. Can Lead to Violence: Extreme forms of intolerance can lead to violence, discrimination, and persecution.

In essence, while tolerance is generally viewed as a virtue that promotes peace and unity, it's essential to balance it with discernment, ensuring that harmful behaviors and ideologies aren't allowed to flourish unchecked.

Spiritual Gifts: The importance, diversity, and proper use of spiritual gifts within the church. Reference: 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

We are commanded to seek for the best gifts!  - Have you chosen a gift you desire?

D&C 46:8-10
8 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;
9 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.
10 And again, verily I say unto you, I would that ye should always remember, and always retain in your minds what those gifts are, that are given unto the church.

Ephesians 4:7-8
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

What do you think it means to seek for a sign?
The difference between a sign and evidence of faith is the time in which the evidence is given. A sign is given before the individual has exercised faith and passed through his trial of faith - thus leading to his/her condemnation.  

Evidence of faith through the spirit occurs after the person has exercised faith used great patience, and diligence waiting for the truth to become manifest to their eyes. Then this evidence strengthens their faith in this thing so that their faith becomes dormant and they "Know" it is true.

What is the best gift? Here is a small list - there are many more... 
D&C 46:30-33
30 He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God; wherefore it is done even as he asketh. 
31 And again, I say unto you, all things must be done in the name of Christ, whatsoever you do in the Spirit;
32 And ye must give thanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with.
33 And ye must practice virtue and holiness before me continually. Even so. Amen.

1 Corin 12:1-20

Why are they given?

Do not discount a seemingly small spiritual gift - they all work together to strengthen the whole.  1 Cor 12:18-31 Not all individuals receive the same gifts, yet all do have a gift.  To each is given the gifts based upon the designs of God.

We are perfected to the degree that we are receiving spiritual gifts.  They provide us power and the ability to perform the tasks that God has placed before us.

Do you think these types of spiritual gifts would be of a benefit to your life? YES!!!!!!!  Thus the need for temple attendance and worship.  As one draws nearer to God he will draw nearer to you - and you will become more and more like him.  How?  Through the receipt of these gifts... we must seek them - with PATIENCE and with FAITH.  Often times you will not even know you have received the gift lol.  It will just be that you have that capacity - and knew it not.
3 Nephi 9:20
20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.

Therefore continue in faith, fear not, doubt not and be believing.  Then when they manifest in your life don't be surprised, proud, or conceited by the receipt of the gift, but rather be glad, humble and use them for the benefit of others for that is what they are given for.

How then does one gain a spiritual gift?

“If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect. … 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” (Millennial Star, 23 Apr. 1894, 260). (Ensign Feb 2002)

#1 Attain to the receipt of the Gift of the Holy Ghost - Gifts of the spirit come through the Holy Ghost
When an individual is confirmed he is told to "Receive the Holy Ghost" - Ensign Oct 2010 - Receive the Holy Ghost
Desire to Receive it - you must have true intent - true desire
Invite it into our lives  - think about it often - continuously
Faithfully obey God's Commandments - You must be worthy - or amen to the gifts of the spirit (The spirit of the lord does not dwell in unholy Temples Mosiah 2:36–37; Alma 34:35–36; Hel. 4:24 )

#2 Select the gift you desire - remembering for what they are given
Some Gifts are better than others
Gifts I would recommend:
Charity - the greatest of all the gifts of God 
Prophecy - the testimony of Jesus Christ 
Discernment - an understanding of what is around you - people, situations, intent of individuals, good, evil, truth falsehood
...

#3Do it - Do the things that a person who has that gift would do
If you desire Charity - be charitable - serve others, be kind to others, pray with whole soul to receive it - Moroni 7:44-48 - follow as a course of one's life vs 45
If you desire the gift of Prophecy - Learn of Jesus Christ - Become his disciple - follow his words - testify what you have learned - continue  (D&C 93:1)
If you desire the gift of Discernment - seek unto it - pray for it - listen to the Holy Ghost - feel his words - follow them - and progress in this - until you know...

"I bear testimony that God has given us the gifts of the Spirit to allow us to be drawn more closely into His circle of love. He desires that we should receive these gifts of the Spirit and magnify them and have them grow within us. We have to teach one another how to seek after them. As we do, our faith in Him will increase and our true destiny will be fulfilled, ultimately to return to His presence as His valiant sons and daughters. May we seek after and obtain these gifts, I humbly pray." (Ensign Feb 2002)

As we attend the Temple - and receive the Holy Ghost God it will empower us with the gifts of the spirit. Remember the council we find in D&C 121:36-37 Amen to your gifts if you do these things!  We will be able to draw upon the powers of heaven - he will endow us with his spirit, and the gifts of the spirit to perfect and strengthen us in our weakness.  Through this process - as we obtain and receive the attributes of God - he will in his own due time, and in his own way perfect us.

Love: Paul's famous chapter on the nature and supremacy of love. Reference: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

After discussing the empowerment of men through the receipt of spiritual gifts he then speaks of Charity for:

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Moroni 7:45-48

45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.