Gratitude

[Guest tomk]

I'll be giving a talk on the Power of Gratitude in a few months.

I welcome any thoughts people want to share.

I'll also be using this post to track my own thoughts.

==========

-"Whatsoever things" Alma 7:23.

Alma 7: 23

23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

Express gratitude for HOW and WHAT God chooses to bless us with, even and particularly if it is not **quite** what we asked for. We ask God for a fish. We think "catfish". God gives us salmon. Instead of complaining or murmuring, can we instead stop and ask ourselves, "Huh, now why did God give me a salmon instead of a catfish?" The answer may surprise us as we ponder it. Try to understand why God answers the way He does, including when He remains silent!! Silence from heaven can sometimes teach more than words can.

-Opens our minds to God's blessings. We realize, "Wow, I have been abundantly blessed, more than I thought!"

-To those who "receive" more is given. To those who thank God, God reveals more ways that He has blessed them. By knowing the ways God blesses us, we are taught about Him and His nature. We can learn of His mysteries in this fashion, for how God chooses to bless us is revealing of His nature and wisdom and how He thinks.

-Gratitude takes our focus off of our problems and places our focus on Christ

-Seems to help us maintain humility. Can a person full of pride offer thanks without having that pride reduced?

-Ways to express gratitude? Prayer, Fasting Scripture Study, Service, Sacrament, Tithing, Fast Offering.

-Scriptural examples of gratitude and what they teach us.

(thanks Hemidakota)

...the very essence of gratitude is learning to love what is instead of endlessly wishing for something different"

Gratitude is key to our exaltation

32 And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.

33 For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.

34 And again, verily I say unto you, that which is governed by law is also preserved by law and perfected and sanctified by the same.

Gratitude has to do with the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood:

33 For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies.

34 They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.

35 And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;

36 For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;

37 And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;

38 And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him. 39 And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.

40 Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.

We don't just receive the priesthood, like signing for a FedEx package. We exercise it. We express gratitude for it. We seek to receive the gifts it bestows. How can we properly receive the priesthood without being thankful for it?

(thanks lilered)

For one to express gratitude sincerely, indicates that an individual is willing to acknowledge ones own reliance on someone else or something. Expressing gratitude to another indicates humility, sincerity, and a sense of fairness (credit where credit is due).

(thanks Loudmouth)

Forgiveness and gratitude are linked

Alma 37: 37

37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for blessings or benefits we have received. As we cultivate a grateful attitude, we are more likely to be happy and spiritually strong. We should regularly express our gratitude to God for the blessings He gives us and to others for the kind acts they do for us.Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for blessings or benefits we have received. As we cultivate a grateful attitude, we are more likely to be happy and spiritually strong. We should regularly express our gratitude to God for the blessings He gives us and to others for the kind acts they do for us.

The Lord has promised, "He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious" (D&C 78:19). Gratitude is an uplifting, exalting attitude. People are generally happier when they have gratitude in their hearts. We cannot be bitter, resentful, or mean-spirited when we are grateful.

We should be thankful for the wonderful blessings that are ours and for the tremendous opportunities we have. We can be thankful to our parents, family, friends, and teachers. We should express appreciation to everyone who has assisted us in any way.

We should thank our Heavenly Father for His goodness to us by acknowledging His hand in all things, thanking Him for all that He gives us, keeping His commandments, and serving others. We should especially thank Him for His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, for the Savior's great example, for His teachings, for His outreaching hand to lift and help, for His infinite Atonement.

"Remembrance and Gratitude" Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, Nov. 1989, 11–13

Remembrance is the seed of gratitude which is the seed of generosity. Gratitude for the remission of sins is the seed of charity, the pure love of Christ.

= means "leads to", or "results in"

Remembrance = Gratitude

Gratitude = Generosity (Mercy?)

Gratitude For The Remission Of Sins = Charity, the pure love of Christ.

1 Ne. 15: 27

27 And I said unto them that the water which my father saw was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water.

Gratitude takes our mind off of filthiness (worldly distractions) and puts our focus on Christ.

[lilered]

For one to express gratitude sincerely, indicates that an individual is willing to acknowledge ones own reliance on someone else or something. Expressing gratitude to another indicates humility, sincerity, and a sense of fairness (credit where credit is due).

[skalenfehl]

I used to always pray for God to give me this or give me that. I need this and I need that. I seldom took the time to just say thanks for everything. I then began to learn to thank Him in my prayers for "everything that I take for granted". I then began to think about and thank Him for everything that I take for granted in my life. The list grew forever and turned into many prayers to accommodate the time I needed to thank Him for everything that I enjoyed in life. We are truly a blessed people.

We have the gospel, we have scriptures, we have tv and internet for watching general conference and making friends on lds.net. We have food in he pantry and things like toothpaste and shoes and toilet paper. What would life be like in a third world country where people live in a small one room home with a dirt floor? And some of us complain because our beds are too stiff.

The more I look around me every day, especially as I get older, the more I find that I have to be thankful for. Here in Utah we are getting a lot of rain and snow. I hear people on the news complain. Why? Soon we'll be in a drought again and wishing we had all that rain and snow again. I thank the Lord for all the rain and snow. It's still cold and annoying, but I'm thankful because it's a gift.

The Lord already knows what we need better than we do. He knows if we need a particular job or of coming opportunities and if we but seek to align our will with His, we'll find that we will have what He knows is best for us and our families. That is how we'll be happiest. By continually feeling grateful this way, I've been able to stay busy with work in a terrible economy. I've been able to see where the Lord has led and I'm grateful for it.

I have found that by continually expressing my gratitude to the Lord, my life is in so much more harmony with Him and I literally feel His love and his hand in everything in my life. It can be so illuminating and literally uplifting. One day I was driving to work and I was so grateful to have work that I was excited about the prospect. I felt like getting out of the car and doing cartwheels like daffy duck because I am finding more work offered to me (two new opportunities just arose this week!).

I can imagine when the prophets in the Book of Mormon felt this. They were so overjoyed with gratitude and love, especially the sons of Mosiah when they reunited after years of missionary work. Of course it's not very dignified to jump and and down like Daffy Duck, but I can see why people in the scriptures danced when they rejoiced in the Lord. It was an expression of joy. The prophets, particularly Alma, if I remember correctly felt this great joy and described it as the "song of redeeming love". I've always wondered what that song was and if I'd ever hear it or understand it. I understand it now. It's the song of your heart when it is filled with the love of the Lord. You just want to climb a mountain and shout it from the roof tops. You want everyone to feel it, like Lehi did with his family in his vision of the Tree of Life. Gratitude truly goes a very, very long way.

Sorry for rambling. I got caught up in the moment.

[NeuroTypical]

I am unable to keep forgiveness and gratitude apart. Whenever I accomplish one, the other is always close behind.

LM

[Guest tomk]

I am unable to keep forgiveness and gratitude apart. Whenever I accomplish one, the other is always close behind.

LM

Can you elaborate on this?

[Guest tomk]

GUIDE TO THE SCRIPTURES

Thankful, Thanks, Thanksgiving

See also Bless, Blessed, Blessing; Worship

Gratitude for blessings received from God. Expressing gratitude is pleasing to God, and true worship includes thanking him. We should give thanks to the Lord for all things.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, Ps. 92: 1. Come before his presence with thanksgiving, Ps. 95: 1-2. Be thankful unto him, and bless his name, Ps. 100: 1-5. Cease not to give thanks, Eph. 1: 15-16. Be ye thankful, Col. 3: 15. Blessing, and glory, and thanksgiving, and honor be unto our God, Rev. 7: 12. O how you ought to thank your heavenly King, Mosiah 2: 19-21. Live in thanksgiving daily, Alma 34: 38. When thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God, Alma 37: 37. Ye should do all things with prayer and thanksgiving, D&C 46: 7. Ye must give thanks unto God, D&C 46: 32. Do these things with thanksgiving, D&C 59: 15-21. Receive this blessing from the hand of the Lord, with a thankful heart, D&C 62: 7. He who receives all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious, D&C 78: 19. In everything give thanks, D&C 98: 1 (1 Thes. 5: 18). Praise the Lord with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving, D&C 136: 28.

[Guest tomk]

TOPICAL GUIDE

Thanksgiving

See also Ingratitude; Praise; Prayer; Rejoice; Thank; Thankful; Thanks

Lev. 7: 12offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Lev. 22: 29(Amos 4: 5) offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Neh. 11: 17principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer.

Ps. 50: 14Offer unto God thanksgiving.

Ps. 95: 2come before his presence with thanksgiving.

Ps. 100: 4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving.

Ps. 147: 7Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving.

2 Cor. 4: 15grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

2 Cor. 9: 11which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

Philip. 4: 6with thanksgiving let your requests be made known.

Col. 2: 7abounding therein with thanksgiving.

1 Tim. 4: 4(D&C 78: 19) nothing . . . refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.

Rev. 7: 12thanksgiving . . . be unto our God.

Alma 34: 38live in thanksgiving daily.

3 Ne. 10: 10mourning was turned into . . . thanksgiving unto the Lord.

D&C 46: 7(D&C 136: 28) doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving.

D&C 59: 15do these things with thanksgiving.

D&C 78: 19he who receiveth all things with thankfulness.

D&C 89: 11to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.

D&C 97: 13place of thanksgiving for all saints.

D&C 136: 28praise the Lord with . . . prayer of praise and thanksgiving.

[Guest tomk]

Sometimes the inverse is also helpful:

TOPICAL GUIDE

Ingratitude

See also Thanksgiving

Gen. 40: 23 chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

Ex. 17: 3 people murmured against Moses.

Deut. 8: 14 thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord. [PRIDE]

Deut. 32: 6 do ye thus requite the Lord.

Deut. 32: 15 forsook God which made him.

Mal. 3: 8 (3 Ne. 24: 8) Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me.

Luke 6: 35 kind unto the unthankful.

Luke 17: 17 Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine.

Rom. 1: 21 they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful.

2 Tim. 3: 2 disobedient to parents, unthankful.

2 Ne. 29: 4 what thank they the Jews for the Bible.

Mosiah 2: 19 how you ought to thank your heavenly King.

D&C 46: 32 give thanks unto God in the Spirit.

D&C 59: 21 wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand.

See also Num. 16: 2; 1 Kgs. 11: 6; Hosea 11: 7; Matt. 18: 33; Luke 17: 10; Alma 38: 14.

[Guest tomk]

Brother of Jared:

1 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared, (now the number of the vessels which had been prepared was eight) went forth unto the mount, which they called the mount Shelem, because of its exceeding height, and did molten out of a rock sixteen small stones; and they were white and clear, even as transparent glass; and he did carry them in his hands upon the top of the mount, and cried again unto the Lord, saying:

2 O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires.

3 Behold, O Lord, thou hast smitten us because of our iniquity, and hast driven us forth, and for these many years we have been in the wilderness; nevertheless, thou hast been merciful unto us. O Lord, look upon me in pity, and turn away thine anger from this thy people, and suffer not that they shall go forth across this raging deep in darkness; but behold these things which I have molten out of the rock.

4 And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea.

5 Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.

[Guest tomk]

Gospel Topics

Gratitude

Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for blessings or benefits we have received. As we cultivate a grateful attitude, we are more likely to be happy and spiritually strong. We should regularly express our gratitude to God for the blessings He gives us and to others for the kind acts they do for us.

[Guest tomk]

Additional Information

The Lord has promised, "He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious" (D&C 78:19). Gratitude is an uplifting, exalting attitude. People are generally happier when they have gratitude in their hearts. We cannot be bitter, resentful, or mean-spirited when we are grateful.

We should be thankful for the wonderful blessings that are ours and for the tremendous opportunities we have. We can be thankful to our parents, family, friends, and teachers. We should express appreciation to everyone who has assisted us in any way.

We should thank our Heavenly Father for His goodness to us by acknowledging His hand in all things, thanking Him for all that He gives us, keeping His commandments, and serving others. We should especially thank Him for His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, for the Savior's great example, for His teachings, for His outreaching hand to lift and help, for His infinite Atonement.

—See True to the Faith (2004), 78–79

[Hemidakota]

You may want to read the chapter 'Moments of Gratitude', in the book called, 'Living Gospel Principles'; by J. Spencer Kinard.

[Guest tomk]

• "Gratitude" Steven E. Snow, Ensign, Nov. 2001, 43–44

  Gratitude may be increased by constantly reflecting on our blessings and giving thanks for them in our daily prayers.

• "An Attitude of Gratitude" Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Feb. 2000, 2–7

  We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude.

• "Gratitude" Gordon T. Watts, Ensign, Nov. 1998, 83–84

  Joy and happiness are born of gratitude.

• "Gratitude as a Saving Principle" James E. Faust, Ensign, Dec. 1996, 2–6

  A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. . . . It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being.

• "Gratitude for the Goodness of God" Robert D. Hales, Ensign, May 1992, 63–65

  Gratitude is a state of appreciation, an act of thanksgiving, which causes us to be humble because we recognize an act of kindness, service, or caring from someone else which lifts us and strengthens us.

• "Remembrance and Gratitude" Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, Nov. 1989, 11–13

  Remembrance is the seed of gratitude which is the seed of generosity. Gratitude for the remission of sins is the seed of charity, the pure love of Christ.

• "Gratitude and Thanksgiving" Marion G. Romney, Ensign, Nov. 1982, 49–51

  Commandments . . . put us under a solemn obligation to develop gratitude and the spirit of thanksgiving. We should be thankful and express appreciation for all of our blessings.

[Guest tomk]

You may want to read the chapter 'Moments of Gratitude', in the book called, 'Living Gospel Principles'; by J. Spencer Kinard.

Is the book online?

[Guest tomk]

This struck me:

"Remembrance and Gratitude" Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, Nov. 1989, 11–13

Remembrance is the seed of gratitude which is the seed of generosity. Gratitude for the remission of sins is the seed of charity, the pure love of Christ.

= means "leads to", or "results in"

Remembrance = Gratitude

Gratitude = Generosity (Mercy?)

Gratitude For The Remission Of Sins = Charity, the pure love of Christ.

[Hemidakota]

No...sorry.

[Hemidakota]

The Power of Gratitude or the simple act of having a grateful heart is immeasurable. We are told, "And he receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious, and the things of this earth shall be added unto him [her added here], even an hundred fold, yea more." [D&C 78:19]

Talk given by Sister Susan Fletcher Green, 1994 Women Conference.

[MorningStar]

You get three months notice to give a talk? Nice! :) I'm sure it will be very well prepared - You already have some very wonderful thoughts.

I think there was a quote by President Hinckley that said something like, "Nothing offends Heavenly Father more than ingratitude."

[Guest tomk]

No...sorry.

No worries.

Thank you.

[MorningStar]

Something I noticed here, I have been thanked a lot more than I have thanked. I should probably do something about that. :)

[Hemidakota]

No worries.

Thank you.

Ok, like I said, you had me looking up something and by chance when I viewed my PB right now, it quotes that verse D&C 78 twice. Wow! Always learning something new.

Let me see if I can scan it.

[Guest tomk]

^^^^^ my attempt at a joke ^^^^^^^^^ (my thanking MorningStar)

[Guest tomk]

Ok, like I said, you had me looking up something and by chance when I viewed my PB right now, it quotes that verse D&C 78 twice. Wow! Always learning something new.

Let me see if I can scan it.

D&C 78?

[Hemidakota]

No the chapter for you. It goes through several different stages of Gratitude. Elder Kinard as you may know had his own spot in the morning - The Living Word - hosted by the church.

[Guest tomk]

1 Ne. 15: 27

27 And I said unto them that the water which my father saw was filthiness; and so much was his mind swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water.

Gratitude takes our mind off of filthiness (worldly distractions) and puts our focus on Christ.