What Is Your Spiritual Superpower?

Discovering and developing our spiritual gifts, or spiritual superpowers, will help us recognize our heroic identities and purposes.

We are all superheroes. How? As Doctrine and Covenants 46:11–12 states, “There are many gifts, and to every man [and woman] is given a gift by the Spirit of God …. that all may be profited thereby.” Along with other gifts found through the scriptures, the spiritual gifts outlined in Doctrine and Covenants 46 can be spiritual superpowers; they help us face challenges and help us offer aid to those in need. Addressing BYU students, Sister Peggy S. Worthen outlines three principles to help us develop our spiritual superpowers and recognize our divine and heroic identities.

1. Pray and Ask for God’s Help.

We should humbly recognize areas where we can improve and then pray for God’s help to progress. God loves to help us grow. As George Q. Cannon stated, “If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect.”

2. Look for Opportunities to Uplift and Bless Others.

Just like superpowers, “Our gifts are given to benefit others,” says Sister Worthen. Our spiritual superpowers enable us to serve the people around us and to fight off temptations. Our gifts give us opportunities to be generous, strong, and helpful.

3. Do Not Unfairly Compare Your Gifts with Those of Others.

There is danger in comparing our own spiritual gifts with others’ gifts. Elder Marvin J. Ashton observed that “one of the great tragedies of life…is when a person classifies himself [or herself] as someone who has no talents or gifts.” Each of us is blessed with an inherent gift of the Spirit, and we can develop more.

As we continue to develop our spiritual superpowers by applying these principles, we can remember. Sister Worthen’s promise that feelings of joy, purpose, and heroism will be ours.

Read Sister Peggy S. Worthen’s full devotional address “Spiritual Gifts.”

Source: BYU Speeches

—Ellie Castillo, Mormon Insights

FEATURE IMAGE BY STEVEN LIBRALON. 

Find more insights

Take a look at a list of spiritual gifts in Doctrine and Covenants 46 and in Elder Marvin J. Ashton’s talk “There Are Many Gifts.”

Check out this Mormon Insights article “Instruments of Righteousness: Accomplishing God’s Work” about how we can use our spiritual gifts to further God’s work.