“Every Man Is Given a Gift”

By Tawnya Warnick

I stood watching my ten-year-old cousin do her gymnastics. It was embarrassing to see all that she could do, because at age 12, I wasn’t any good at gymnastics, no matter how hard I tried. Finally, I got tired of watching and went into the house. “Why can’t I do the things she can?” I thought. “I really have to work hard, but all she has to do is see something and then she can do it. Why can’t I?”

The next day in my physical education class at school we were required to perform some gymnastics for a grade. Again my thoughts turned to my cousin, and I wondered why I couldn’t do even the simplest movements.

Sunday came around, and as I was looking through my scriptures waiting for church to start, my attention was drawn to two verses in the Doctrine and Covenants:

“For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.

“To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby” (D&C 46:11–12).

I realized then that each of us has different talents and capabilities and that we should develop those we have so we can lift and help one another. After reading those scriptures, I no longer felt bad that I can’t do gymnastics. I was happy for my cousin because she can!