So Much To Be Thankful For...

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"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things only hoped for." 

-Epicurus

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 Today is Thanksgiving, and we are overwhelmed with all that we have to be thankful for. The lists are endless. Our Father in Heaven is so good. His blessings are abundant. And His love and care are never ending.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to sit down and contemplate, really contemplate, all our many blessings. Gratitude is an imperative thing. As Marion G Romney reminded us, "Gratitude is not merely a courtesy, but a commandment."

We need to be thankful. We need to be grateful. We need to thank our Heavenly Father on a regular and daily basis for that with which we are blessed. Sure, there are certain seasons and times in life when our blessings are much easier to see and count. But no matter our circumstances, there is always something to be grateful for. Something to thank Him for. And especially during the times we feel more lack than abundance, when we take the time to thank Him for what we do have, we will find more peace, contentment, and more things that we are thankful for. The blessings will be easier to see, when we look for them with a grateful heart.

Contentment and true happiness will come when we are at peace with what we have, and realizing that it is enough for now. There will always be things that we don't have...Whether they be material possessions, or personal attributes. Let us be happy with what God has given us for the moment. For whatever it is, it is a gift. Improvement is always possible. Let us seek it, but not at the cost of not being happy in the moment we find ourselves in or at the cost of our self acceptance.

Our Heavenly Father loves us. We know this. It is evident in everything around us. The beauty of the earth and it's creations. In the love of the family and friends that surround us. It is everywhere...

He knows us. He knows every detail of our circumstances and situations. He knows our needs. And He will send that which we stand in need of. And often times, even more. God is good. He is our Father. And He loves us beyond comprehension. Knowledge of these things alone, is something to be daily and eternally thankful for...

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."

D&C 78: 19 

An Attitude of Gratitude...

Blessings...

We've all received them. Big. Small. The obvious, and the unnoticed. But constantly, daily, we are being blessed by our Father in Heaven. He is giving us those things which we stand in need of. Sure there are times that we feel far from blessed...those times of difficulty and struggle. The times when things aren't turning out just like we think they should. In those moments, we must remember that God loves us deeply and completely, and because of this He will always do what is best for us, giving us what we need, rather than what we want. Those two things, may be very different. Nevertheless, let us remember that He is blessing us. During those times that we may not feel so blessed, let us remember the words of Marion G Romney, he said "Gratitude is not a courtesy, but a commandment." When we are thankful...When our hearts are filled with gratitude...When we see the haves, rather than the have nots...That is when we are happiest. It is when we are able to feel peace. Gratitude is a vehicle that brings us closer to Him.

Then there are the times that the blessings flow so abundantly and obviously, and we are overwhelmed and humbled by what we are receiving, wondering what we ever did to deserve such goodness and grace.

Have you ever sat back and done as the hymn suggests..."Count your many blessings, name them one by one?" It is a very humbling experience. And might we say, impossible? Impossible in the fact that we could not ever count or quantify all the blessings He has given us. There are too many. They are incalculable. He blesses us daily with things big and small, the seen and the unseen. It will not be until we are Home, that we will be able to see just how much He blessed our lives...

On Friday, this was the view of the Brigham City Temple...

Seeing this magnificent sight brought to mind the words of President Hinckley, "Be grateful. Be thankful to the Almighty for His wonderful blessings upon you. You have all that this great age has to offer, and beyond that the marvelous blessings of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. How lucky can you be. Walk with appreciation and respect for the blessings of life and happiness which you enjoy."

Let us count our blessings. We have so much to be thankful for. Our Father in Heaven lives and loves us, and blesses us each day of our lives. May we do our best to always maintain 'an attitude of gratitude'...

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"...render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you...

"...serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another...

"...all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper... 

"...he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted to him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?"

(Mosiah 2:20-24)

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Bitter and Sweet

"...for if they never should have bitter 
they could not know the sweet---"  

-D&C 29:39

This scripture is a vital aspect of gratitude. 

It is not always easy. 

Nor is it always pleasant.

But it is vital, so that we may appreciate,

truly appreciate the goodness and tender mercies of the Lord.

So Much To Be Thankful For...

Wishing you all a most wonderful Thanksgiving!

There is so much we are thankful for. Blessings big and small. Our hearts are drawn out in deepest gratitude to our Father in Heaven, for He is the source of each and every blessing and good thing we enjoy...

Appreciation For All The Good...

"Someone has said it is better to appreciate the things you don't own than to own things you don't appreciate. I hope we will have with us a spirit of appreciation for all of the good things we enjoy, all the blessings that we have, many of which have come so easy to us, with very little effort on our part, and yet they are very real and very choice and are truly rich blessings." 

-Ezra Taft Benson

Sunday Thought

"Gratitude is not a courtesy,
but a commandment."
-Marion G Romney

Mosiah 26:39
"...being commanded of God
to pray without ceasing,
and to give thanks in all things."

We must remember to thank God always.
Even in the most trying and difficult times of our lives.
For He is always with us, always blessing us.