Oliver's Gift

by Robert Rosskopf

A revelation was given to Oliver Cowdery in April, 1829, through Joseph Smith the prophet.

"3. ...Now this is not all, for you have another gift, which is the gift of working with the rod: behold it has told you things: behold there is no other power save God, that can cause this rod of nature, to work in your hands, for it is the work of God; and therefore whatsoever you shall ask me to tell you by that means, that will I grant unto you, that you shall know.
4. Remember that without faith you can do nothing..."
(Book of Commandments, 1833 edition, Chapter 7)

Compare to Doctrine and Covenants, Section Eight
" 6 Now this is not all thy gift; for you have another gift, which is the gift of Aaron; behold, it has told you many things;
7 Behold, there is no other power, save the power of God, that can cause this gift of Aaron to be with you.
8 Therefore, doubt not, for it is the gift of God; and you shall hold it in your hands, and do marvelous works; and no power shall be able to take it away out of your hands, for it is the work of God.
9 And, therefore, whatsoever you shall ask me to tell you by that means, that will I grant unto you, and you shall have knowledge concerning it.
10 Remember that without faith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith..."

There is a strong possibility that the gift of Oliver was the gift of divining. He appears to have needed confirmation that the gift was of God. Divining was popular in Joseph Smith's day, and there are still a few old-timers that believe in the power of a diving rod. Like the Liahona, a divining rod works by faith. When the 11 apostles needed to replace Judas, they cast lots. Like the directions of the Liahona or the subtle pull of the divining rod, it takes faith to believe that the outcome of a cast of lots is God's will. It takes a measure of spirituality too, lest one be fooled by the power of the adversary.
Many modern Christians would be shocked at such beliefs, relegating them to spiritualism or the occult. The fact is that many of the spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible have counterparts in the occult. A spiritual gift by its very nature promises a window into the world of spirits, akin to spiritualism. The only difference between them is the source. Rather than call upon some ancestor, or some stone image, or upon some witch, God would have us go directly to him. His gifts are based on righteousness. It is said that faith precedes the miracle, but the type of faith that is needed for a miracle is the faith to be righteous and obey all of God's commandments.