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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Thankful For His House...

Yesterday we had the chance to go to the Temple with two of our friends. They wanted to get a quick picture afterwards. Here is what Take 1 looked like:

Hey brother...Yes, we know we're standing in holy places, but could ya aspire a little higher and maybe catch our faces?...

 Take 2:

There we go! A shot with not just our feet, but our entire bodies in it...Success!
With our friends Becky and Shannon.

We are so thankful for the opportunity we have to spend time at the Temple. It is a true refuge from the storms of life. During a difficult time of our lives or even on just a hard day, we can enter into the walls of that sacred House of God and be gently wrapped in His love and reassured by the covenants we have made with Him.

We love what Sister Patricia Holland said, "On those days when I feel off center, out of focus, or off balance, when I feel that I don't have enough time, insight, or strength to solve my problems, I know that comfort is as close as the temple."

The Temple is truly the House of the Lord. His spirit dwells there. He longs for you to come and seek and learn and spend time with Him. Consider these reassuring words of Elder David B Haight:
"Come to the temples worthily and regularly. Not only do you bless those that are deceased, but you may freely partake of the promised personal revelation that may bless you life with power, knowledge, light, beauty, and truth from on high, which will guide you and your posterity to eternal life...You will come to know your Lord there. As your relationship with Him grows and deepens, you will grow increasingly confident in His love, in His compassion for your difficulties, in His power to bear you up and bring you back to His presence."

The Temple is such a gift from our Father in Heaven. A source of power and love and hope. And a reminder that He loves us, and wants us to be with Him...FOREVER...

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"And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and that thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them;" -D&C 109:22 

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Sunday Thought...

"The temple is a place where the Lord's people have always gone to be fortified, strengthened, and blessed before the performance of arduous, challenging, difficult tasks. It was so in the past; it is so today. The temple is the ultimate place of refuge and blessing."

-Andrew Skinner
("Temple Worship 20 Truths That Will Bless Your Life" p.10)