Thanksgiving, Gratitude

On FB friends of mine have been posting things they are thankful for daily because of Thanksgiving, I'm sure. I have not posted for a long time and am now 12 days behind. So I thought I'd catch up by posting to my blog.

Today, I want to share with you some quotes from the Prophet (President Thomas S. Monson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint). His Sunday morning conference talk was entitled “The Divine Gift of Gratitude”.
After telling the story from Luke chapter 17 the ten lepers, he said “My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love.”
President Gordon B. Hinckley said 'When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives.'"
…”We all have experienced times when our focus is on what we lack rather than on our blessings. Said the Greek philosopher Epictetus, 'He is wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.' …”Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings.”

…”This is a wonderful time to be on earth. While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are many things that are right and good. There are marriages that make it, parents who love their children and sacrifice for them, friends who care about us and help us, teachers who teach. Our lives are blessed in countless ways.”
...”If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes it place among the noblest of virtues.”

President Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church, provided an answer. Said he: 'The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him and the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life.' He continued: 'Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!' “President Smith is telling us that a prayerful life is the key to possessing gratitude.”

“Do material possessions make us happy and grateful? Perhaps momentarily. However, those things which provide deep and lasting happiness and gratitude are the things which money cannot buy: our families, the gospel, good friends, our health, our abilities, the love we receive from those around us. Unfortunately, these are some of the things we allow ourselves to take for granted.” ...”We often take for granted the very people who most deserve our gratitude. Let us not wait until it is too late for us to express that gratitude.”
“A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort- at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude. Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don't get around to it. Someone has said that 'feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.'
...”When we encounter challenges and problems in our lives, it is often difficult for us to focus on our blessings. However, if we reach deep enough and look hard enough, we will be able to feel and recognize just how much we have been given.”

He ended his talk with this “My brothers and sisters, to express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven. As I close this morning, it is my prayer in addition to all else for which we are grateful, we may ever reflect our gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His glorious gospel provides answers to life's greatest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we her? Where do our Spirits go when we die? That gospel brings to those who live in darkness the light of divine truth.
He taught us how to pray. He taught us how to live. He taught us how to die. His life is a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved.
Ultimately, He stood alone. Some Apostles doubted; one betrayed Him. The Roman soldiers pierced His side. The angry mob took His life. There yet rings from Golgotha's hill His compassionate words: 'Father, forgive them, for they know what they do.' 'Who was this 'man of sorrows,... acquainted with grief'? 'Who is this King of glory,' this Lord of lords? He is our Master. He is our Savior. He is the Son of God. He is the Author of Our Salvation. He beckons, 'Follow me'. He instructs, 'Go, and do thou likewise'. He pleads, 'Keep my commandments'.
Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His words. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude.
My sincere, heartfelt prayer is that we may in our individual lives reflect that marvelous virtue of gratitude. May it permeate our very souls, now and evermore. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, amen.”