Any time the church of Christ was formed on the earth, it is accompanied by powerful, frequent spiritual manifestations among members known as spiritual gifts. Usually a strong leader leads out in faith and the faith of others are bolstered by their example.

Satan in efforts to mislead, mimics, as close as he can, these gifts only when the authentic ones appear. He appears, for example, as an angel of light.

People in all ages tend to think themselves as superior and think they have all that their forbearers had and begin to rationalize that this little coincidence, or that little coincidence must be a spiritual gifts because these gifts must still be with us, when a simple historical exercise shows otherwise.

Others, known as cessationists, see the difference and recognize the absence, and rationalize that these were important for the founding era, but we don't need them for whatever reason suits their conscience best.

However these rationalizations, that I have entertained as well, do not square with the plain teaching in the Book of Mormon that if these things cease, then faith has ceased also and all is vain. The scriptures also teach this is how the faithful identify the truth and know they are not led by the sophistry or commandments of men, and, they exist to help gain converts and ratify the faith of those exercising them.

Today Satan doesn't seem to bother. He is much more comfortable and effective if people do not know he even exists.

 

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (John 14:12)

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