The topic is largely ignored in mainstream American churches (albeit not by Pentecostals) and is hardly discussed, at least in churches I've been a part of. Just curious what the various beliefs are from Christians on this board and what the various denominations teach on the subject. I have my own opinions but will refrain at the moment to let others have their say.

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The Prophet spoke at an 1834 conference of elders: “Joseph Smith then gave an explanation of the gift of tongues, that it was particularly instituted for the preaching of the Gospel to other nations and languages, but it was not given for the government of the Church.”6

“As to the gift of tongues, all we can say is, that in this place, we have received it as the ancients did: we wish you, however, to be careful lest in this you be deceived. … Satan will no doubt trouble you about the gift of tongues, unless you are careful; you cannot watch him too closely, nor pray too much. May the Lord give you wisdom in all things.”7

“I read the 13th chapter of First Corinthians [at a meeting held on December 26, 1841], also a part of the 14th chapter, and remarked that the gift of tongues was necessary in the Church; … the gift of tongues by the power of the Holy Ghost in the Church, is for the benefit of the servants of God to preach to unbelievers, as on the day of Pentecost.”8

“Tongues were given for the purpose of preaching among those whose language is not understood; as on the day of Pentecost, etc., and it is not necessary for tongues to be taught to the Church particularly, for any man that has the Holy Ghost, can speak of the things of God in his own tongue as well as to speak in another; for faith comes not by signs, but by hearing the word of God.”9

“Be not so curious about tongues, do not speak in tongues except there be an interpreter present; the ultimate design of tongues is to speak to foreigners, and if persons are very anxious to display their intelligence, let them speak to such in their own tongues. The gifts of God are all useful in their place, but when they are applied to that which God does not intend, they prove an injury, a snare and a curse instead of a blessing.”10

“We have also had brethren and sisters who have had the gift of tongues falsely; they would speak in a muttering, unnatural voice, and their bodies be distorted … ; whereas, there is nothing unnatural in the Spirit of God.”11

“Speak not in the gift of tongues without understanding it, or without interpretation. The devil can speak in tongues; the adversary will come with his work; he can tempt all classes; can speak in English or Dutch. Let no one speak in tongues unless he interpret, except by the consent of the one who is placed to preside; then he may discern or interpret, or another may.”12

“If you have a matter to reveal, let it be in your own tongue; do not indulge too much in the exercise of the gift of tongues, or the devil will take advantage of the innocent and unwary. You may speak in tongues for your own comfort, but I lay this down for a rule, that if anything is taught by the gift of tongues, it is not to be received for doctrine.”13

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http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=1468b00367c45110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=da135f74db46c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

He was wondering about the beliefs of Chrisitans, not Mormons.

He didn't say "True Christians".

If he had, he would have been referring to you, certainly.

Again, I apologize, for being an uppity Mormon. It must be very annoying to you True Christians.

Start your own thread if you want to have that conversation.

reading Paul, the Spirit and the People of God

maybe one of the best books on the work of the Holy Spirit

Francis Chan also has a good one that is my to read list Forgotten God: Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit

sorry tifire, sometimes when the anti-Mormons feel compelled to attack, for no good reason, I respond.

I should probably do like the other reasonable Mormons on this board have done--give up entirely, and leave. But I am uppity. I'm sitting in the front of the bus, come hell or highwater.

Which kind of tongues? Speaking in tongues, or praying in tongues?

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Which kind of tongues? Speaking in tongues, or praying in tongues?

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I was thinking more along the lines of speaking (such as the TV televangelists who do it on-stage), but feel free to digress into other aspects.

What does the phrase "speaking in tongues" mean. If it's the crazy babbling nonsense you see Pentecostals doing, or preachers on TV, I'm pretty sure they're just making up the nonsense as they go along.

Has there ever been a modern recorded case of someone speaking in an actual language they didn't know?

Wherever this discussion goes, what is important is what scripture says, not stories I have heard or any strangeness I attribute to something I have a hard time believing.

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sorry tifire, sometimes when the anti-Mormons feel compelled to attack, for no good reason, I respond

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The Mormons on this board revel in nothing more than being a victim. It's very much a part of Mormon culture and is a constant topic whether it's the history of Mormons in Missouri or whatever.

The fact is, you know Mormons are outside of the realm of orthodox Christianity and, in fact, Mormons revel in it amongst themselves. You are being intentionally obtuse in pretending you didn't know that your views would be certainly on the outside of what was intended.

Mormons can't have it both ways where you imply you're the equivalent of a different denomination in one setting and then claim you're the "one true church". Truly, your participation in this thread is no different than a Jew or Islamic poster's participation would be - you are not part of the group whose input was requested.

So rail against anti-Mormons all you want and wallow in self-pity but remember all that when you talk amongst yourselves about how Mormons are the only "real Christians".

Shifty, you will understand that after a period of time you no longer have to keep turning the other cheek. You will find that the vast majority can dish it out with all kinds of attacks but they can not defend at all. The discussions will always detiorate to a low level. These Nicene Christians put their hands over their ears and eyes because they can not contend against New Testament Christians which we are, much to their chagrin.

See?

I can define myself as I choose.

Sorry, you don't own the word "Christian" just as you don't own Christ.

No matter how many times you say "boy, sit in the back of this here bus" I ain't gonna move.

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Sorry, you don't own the word "Christian" just as you don't own Christ.

No matter how many times you say "boy, sit in the back of this here bus" I ain't gonna move.

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You can play this dumb "poor me" game all you like, but words have meanings. Your newspeak isn't going to float.

Mormonism and orthodox Christianity are incompatible by both standards, so either "orthodox Christians" are Christians or Mormons are Christian. It's not both as their are fundamental components of each that are mutually exclusive.

So either the original poster was asking for the views of orthodox Christians or the view of Mormons. He or she couldn't have been asking for both. You can obfuscate all you like but that doesn't change anything.

[This message has been edited by Nixter (edited 4/20/2010 10:45p).]

The original poster said Christians.

When did you purchase Christianity? Because you act like you own it.

"orthodox Christianity"--don't make me laugh.

You guys are so confused and befuddles and contradictory it is ridiculous.

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You guys are so confused and befuddles and contradictory it is ridiculous.

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Irony.

Speaking in tongues is a gift from God, and only those he gives the gift to can do it. Anyone can pray in tongues (babbling like a child).

I was thinking more along the lines of speaking (such as the TV televangelists who do it on-stage),
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I love watching this on late-night Sunday TV, especially after drinking a few IPAs.

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The original poster said Christians.

When did you purchase Christianity? Because you act like you own it.

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Why are some Mormons so desparate for affirmation of their Christian status from other Christian groups? I don't see Catholics or Baptists huffily demanding that Mormons confer "true Christian" status on them.

Wow. This thread is so dis-jointed I feel like it's speaking in tounges.

Regarding the gift of tongues, it is one of the gifts of the Spirit that is bestowed on believers. However, mainstream churches have basically taught that those types of "gifts" passed away with the apostles. They are teaching this based on their experience and NOT on what the Bible says.

Some will argue that the Bible states that these gifts have passed away by using I Corinthians 13.

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8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

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However, that verse does not hold water unless you argue that when perfection comes they are talking about the Bible. No serious student of the Bible would even go there.

I do not have that gift. However, I was at a international prayer conference in Virginia a few years back where someone stood up in the conference and proceeded to prophesy in tongues. The Bible states that if there is prophecy of tongues in a congregation, then there has to be an interpretation. 1 Corinthians 14:28 states:

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But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

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Anyway, a lady in the congregation stood up and spoke in tongues for about 5 minutes. After she sat down, a man on the other side of the congregation stood and proceeded to interpret what was said. It was truly amazing. People were humbled by what the Spirit had to say to us that day. Everyone was in awe of the Spirit. I will remember that conference for the rest of my life.

Do not confuse the gift of tongues with having a prayer language. Romans 8:26 states:

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Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

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I hope that this clears up any confusion. Peace.

Thanks, I find that scripture sheds a lot of light on doctrine.

I grow tired of the "I thinks" and "what I have seen" responses.

From just the events on Pentecost, I have always interpreted the "Gift of Tongues" as the ability to preach the Gospel in the language of the listener even if you have never been taught that particular language.

"The people were amazed and said...How is it that each of us hears them in our own language?"

As for how it is represented elsewhere in scripture and interpreted doctrinally, I have never been interested in finding out so I do not know.

Acts 2:8 “and how do we hear, each in our proper dialect, in which we were born?”

I have never heard this before myself. But I have heard lots of mindless babble and someone pretending to know what the babbler said – that’s just not what happened in Acts 2.

Don't really know one way or the other, but is it not possible that the "person pretending to understand the babbler" actually heard the message in their own tounge?

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Don't really know one way or the other, but is it not possible that the "person pretending to understand the babbler" actually heard the message in their own tounge?

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Just as there is a gift of "tongues", there is also a gift of "interpretation of tongues".

The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:30 that there is a gift of tongues and also a gift of interpretation of tongues.

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30All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not (U)interpret, do they?

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Therefore it is not a matter of a person speaking in an unknown language that someone else understands. The Holy Spirit will give the interpretation to a person that otherwise would not know what was just said. As I stated earlier, I have seen this only once, but it was not contrived. The message that was delivered touched the whole congregation to the point that lives were literally changed.




[This message has been edited by agape79 (edited 4/22/2010 7:33p).]

But I have heard lots of mindless babble and someone pretending to know what the babbler said
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sounds like seminary

The message that was delivered touched the whole congregation to the point that lives were literally changed.
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How would a life be "non-literally" changed?

My wife has the gift to interpret the Spanish tongue into English that I will never have. I have my own gifts, such as the gift of aministration, but language is not one of them. These are gifts indeed, but this is not what happened in Acts 2.