10 And now behold, this I speak unto their seed, and also to the Gentiles who have care for the house of Israel, that realize and know from whence their blessings come.
(Mormon 5:10)
Gratitude leads to charity. When we understand the source of our blessings, particularly the sacrifices made by other people to provide those blessings, we feel love toward those people.
In the passage above, Mormon speaks to the descendants of his enemies. He knows that they will care about the tragic battles between his people and their ancestors and the terrible toll those battles took on everyone involved.
And he also knows that his words will be of interest to other people: Gentiles who accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because his people were part of the house of Israel, and because these Gentiles have received such great blessings from Israel’s posterity, Mormon knows that these people will also feel a connection to his people and will feel sorrow for their suffering.
When we know where our blessings come from, we appreciate those blessings more. When we know where our blessings come from, we take an interest in the people who made those blessings possible, caring about their welfare and happiness. When we know where our blessings come from, we are more likely to safeguard those blessings and avoid damaging or losing them.
Today, I will take a few moments to list some of the blessings I have received. Then, I will write down where each of those blessings came from, with a particular focus on the people who played a role in providing those blessings to me.
