The Gift of Tongues at Pentecost

THE GIFT OF TONGUES AT PENTECOST

Elder J. Reuben Clark

Part of a letter from a father to his missionary son (first part in Millennial Star, September 26th, 1929).

My Dear Reuben:

You ask: “Did the Apostles speak in different tongues, or did each people understand in their own tongue and the Apostles speak only in their native tongue at Pentecost?”

So that it may be before you, I will quote the full text covering the incident.

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya, about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. (Acts 2:1-13).

While the text is not, perhaps, entirely clear, yet it is reasonably evident that the Apostles spoke “in tongues,” that is, in other languages, rather than that the listeners understood in their own tongues what was actually spoken in the dialect of the Galilean Apostles. The following are reasons looking to this conclusion.

In the first place, it is stated in verse four that “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Since up to this time only the Apostles have been mentioned, it is a reasonable assumption that only the Apostles were covered by the pronoun “they.”

This conclusion finds further confirmation in the fact, as it appears, that the multitude began to come together only after the news of the manifestation was spread about. Then it appeared that the members of the multitude hearing this speaking in “other tongues” recognized therein, each his own mother tongue—“every man heard them speak in his own language”; it does not say as if in his own language. Again the multitude declared (11) “we do hear them speak in our tongues”, and in an earlier verse (8) “how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?”

Finally, and this seems conclusive, there is no suggestion in the record that the gift of the Holy Ghost fell upon any but the Apostles, and yet, if the Apostles had spoken in their own tongues and the multitude had understood in their own tongues, the mutitude must have enjoyed the gift of interpretation of tongues instead of the Apostles having the gift of speaking in tongues, and this would be contrary to the record.

On a later occasion already referred to, when Peter was speaking in the house of Cornelius, the gift of the Holy Ghost fell upon the multitude and they spoke in tongues (Acts 10:45-46). On still another occasion, Paul had baptized a number of men and, after he laid hands on them for the reception of the Holy Ghost, these men spoke in tongues. (Acts 19:6).

Speaking in tongues or the gift of tongues has always called for a cautionary word from the heads of the Church. Paul iu his first epistle to the Corinthians (chapter 14) discoursed at some length on the matter. The Prophet Joseph asserted “The gift of tongues is the smallest gift perhaps of the whole, and yet it is one that is most sought after.” {Joseph Smith’s Teachings, page 77). On another occasion he said:

Be not 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 places, 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. (Joseph Smith’s Teachings, page 49). Still again the Prophet said:

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. (Joseph Smith's Teachings, pages 49).

On several other occasions the Prophet spoke in a similar vein. He also affirmed more than once that the gift of tongues “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.” Again: “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 in 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. {Joseph Smith's Teachings, page 51, also pages 50, 73-77).

President Joseph F. Smith made some very valuable comments upon this subject. He said:

Where two men or women exercise the gift of tongues by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. there are a dozen perhaps who do it by the inspiration of the devil. … I believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit unto men, but I do not want the gift of tongues, except when I need it. I needed the gift of tongues once, and the Lord gave it to me. I was in a foreign land, sent to preach the Gospel to a people whose language I could not understand. Then I sought earnestly for the gift of tongues, and by this gift and by study, in a hundred days after landing upon those islands I could talk to the people in their language as I now talk to you in my native tongue. This was a gift that was worthy of the Gospel. There was a purpose in it. There was something in it to strengthen my faith, to encourage me and to help me in my ministry. If you have need of this gift of tongues, seek for it and God will help you in it. But I do not ask you to be very hungry for this gift of tongues, for if you are not careful the devil will deceive you in it. He can talk by the gift of tongues as well as the Lord can. … So far as I am concerned, if the Lord will give me ability to teach the people in my native tongue, or in their own language to the understanding of those who hear me, that will be sufficient gift of tongues to me. Yet if the Lord gives you the gift of tongues, do not despise it, do not reject it. For if it comes from the Spirit of God, it will come to those who are worthy to receive it, and it is all right. (Gospel Doctrine, pages 251-252).

On this whole matter of spiritual gifts, President Young made observations filled with his customary wisdom. He said:

Suppose you obey the ordinances of the Gospel and do not speak in tongues to-day, never mind that. Suppose you do not have the spirit of prophecy, no matter. Suppose you do not receive any particular gift attended by the rushing of a mighty wind, as on the day of Pentecost, there is no particular necessity that you should. On the day of Pentecost there was special need for it, it was a peculiarly trying time. Some special and powerful manifestation of the power of the Almighty was necessary to open the eyes of the people and let them know that Jesus has paid the debt, and that they had actually crucified Him who, by His death had become the Saviour of the world. It required this at the time to convince the people. (Brigham Young's Discourses, page 250).

The gift of seeing with the natural eyes is just as much a gift as the gift of tongues. The Lord gave that gift and we can do as we please with regard to seeing; we can use the sight of the eye to the glory of God, or to our own destruction. {Brigham Young's Discourses, page 250).

(See for other statements, Alma 9:21; 3 Nephi 26:16; Doctrine and Covenants, Section 46:24-25; Section 90:11),

Now my son, this letter has grown into a little book. I warned you in the beginning that there was much to say about the matters raised in your questions. I cannot presume to speak “as one having authority,” on doubtful and difficult points, but I can make and have made suggestions and quoted and cited scripture that will not, I trust and believe, lead you far astray. I need not say that I shall be happy to try to help you again should you need help.

While I would not discourage inquiry and thought on the principles of the Gospel, yet do not be disappointed if all things do not clear up for you immediately. There are probably many things in our philosophy which it is not given to man to understand at this stage of our intellectual development. So do not let it worry you that you are not able to understand everything. Let your subconscious mind deliberate on these things while your conscious mind is working on the things which are necessary for your daily work.

Physically, mentally, spiritually, we grow by slow and painful degrees. We may no more expect to understand the Gospel in a day, than we may expect to get a college education in a day. Moreover, just as we must learn the multiplication table before we go to analytical geometry or conic sections, so we must master the first principles of the Gospel—not only by understanding them in the abstract, but by living them—before we may hope for light upon the deeper and more abstruse principles of the philosophy of the Gospel. But of this much you may be sure—the Lord will give you what light and knowledge you need, just so fast as you need it and are entitled to it, by your faith, your prayers, and your daily living.

May the Lord bless you spiritually with a rich outpouring of the gift of the Holy Ghost, that there may come to you such spiritual gifts as will aid you in reaching the honest in heart. May He give you faith, humility, wisdom, and cleanliness of spirit. May He bless you mentally that you may have cleanliness of mind, that your understanding may be quickened, your memory strengthened, your mental processes intensified and enlarged, that you may comprehend more and more the Gospel, aud be able to impart it to others to bring them to a knowledge of the truth. May He bless you physically with cleanliness of body, with health and strength and endurance, that you may run and not be weary, that you may walk and not faint; that if you drink any deadly thing it shall not harm you; that the destroying angel may pass you by—may you have the strength and power to keep the commandments of the Lord, are the constant prayers of your devoted Father.