Jared and his family sat in enclosed barges while a “furious wind” blew them across the sea toward the promised land. They were “tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind.” They were “many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them” (Ether 6:5-6). This does not sound like a comfortable journey!
How did they respond?
They did sing praises unto the Lord; yea, the brother of Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did thank and praise the Lord all the day long; and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord.
Ether 6:9
We can express gratitude to God even when our current circumstances are difficult.
When they arrived at the promised land, “they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them” (Ether 6:12). They must have had many other concerns and interests, including exploring their new home and learning how to provide food, water, shelter, and protection to their families. But their first instinct was to take the time to thank God for bringing them safely there.
We should express gratitude promptly, immediately after receiving a gift or blessing.
The Jaredites’ first king, Orihah, “did walk humbly before the Lord, and did remember how great things the Lord had done for his father” (Ether 6:30). As a result, his reign was long and prosperous. (See Ether 7:1.) Subsequent kings, including Shule and Shez, ruled in righteousness because they “remembered the great things that the Lord had done for [their] fathers in bringing them across the great deep into the promised land.” (See Ether 7:27, Ether 10:2.)
We make better decisions when we remember the blessings we have received, even blessings which predated our birth.
Moroni overcame his feelings of inadequacy by remembering the magnitude of the Savior’s sacrifice:
I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men.
Ether 12:33
Remembering and appreciating God’s blessings can give us confidence.
Today, I will “thank and praise the Lord all the day long.” I will remember the blessings I have received during my life and the blessings I inherited from prior generations, and I will express my gratitude to my Father in Heaven for “the multitude of his tender mercies.”
Happy Thanksgiving!
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