9 And it came to pass that they did rejoice exceedingly, and did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel.
10 And after they had given thanks unto the God of Israel, my father, Lehi, took the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass, and he did search them from the beginning.
Lehi and Sariah were both relieved when their sons returned from a dangerous mission. Even though Sariah expressed anxiety when her sons’ return was delayed (1 Nephi 5:1-3), and even though Lehi comforted her with words of faith (verses 4-5), I imagine they were both anxious as long as their sons were away. When they returned, Lehi and Sariah immediately expressed their gratitude to the Lord.
I’m impressed that giving thanks was their first action under those circumstances. I think that when an obstacle is removed or a potential tragedy is averted, our natural reaction is to move on to the next challenge. To Lehi’s and Sariah’s credit, they had developed the habit of expressing gratitude, and they did so consistently when they received blessings. (For other examples, see 1 Nephi 2:6-7, 1 Nephi 7:22, 1 Nephi 16:32.)
Today, I will express my gratitude to the Lord for the blessings I enjoy, including my family. As I receive blessings from Him throughout the day, I will strive to follow the examples of Lehi and Sariah and thank Him first, before moving on to other activities.
Book of Mormon Study Notes 
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