At Passover, Jewish families sing a celebratory song called Dayenu, which means “It would have been enough.” It is a song of expanding gratitude, listing the miraculous blessings Israel received from God. Here are a few of the traditional blessings in that song:
If [God] had brought us out from Egypt, and had not carried out judgments against them Dayenu.
If He had carried out judgments against them, and not against their idols Dayenu.
If He had destroyed their idols, and had not smitten their first-born Dayenu …
We sing the hymn “Count Your Blessings,” which may inspire us to create lists of things we are grateful for. We can be amazed at the magnitude and quantity of God’s miracles in our lives from a simple, ever-growing, unordered list. The Dayenu pattern adds additional meaning. We can recognize the cumulative nature of God’s blessings, often building upon blessings previously received. We can also develop greater contentment and a deeper sense of being loved, as we recognize that so many of the blessings we receive are wonderful but not essential.
Ammon’s words of thanksgiving and praise at the end of a fourteen-year mission to the Lamanites echo the Dayenu pattern. As he and his missionary companions prepare to return home, he marvels:
My brothers and my brethren, behold I say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?
And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?
Alma 26:1-2
Here are some of the blessings he lists, organized as a Dayenu song:
If we had been the means of saving some soul but not many, Dayenu.
Based on Alma 26:30-34
If we had been the means of saving many but they had not loved us, Dayenu.
If they had loved us but had not been willing to sacrifice their lives, Dayenu.
If they had been willing to sacrifice their lives but had not buried their weapons deep in the earth, Dayenu.
Today, I will express gratitude for my blessings in the form of a Dayenu. I will recognize that so many of the blessings I have received from God would have been sufficient for me, and I will marvel at the gifts He continues to give me, even though I have enough.
Beautiful connections, Paul!! May we all sing a Dayenu song of the restoration, If He had given Joseph the First Vision Dayenu! If he had sent Moroni to prophecy, Dayenu! If He had directed Joseph to the stone box, Dayenu! If He had given Joseph the Urim and Thumim, Dayenu! If He had given Joseph power to translate the Book of Mormon, Dayenu! If He had sent John to Baptize, Dayenu! If He had sent Peter, James and John to deliver the priesthood, Dayenu! If He had directed Joseph to build the Kirtland temple, Dayenu! If He had If He had sent Moses, Dayenu! If He had sent Elias, Dayenu! If He had only sent Elijah, Dayenu! If He had only given the sealing power, Dayenu! If He had only directed the Nauvoo temple to be built, Dayenu! If He had only sent the saints west, Dayenu!! And so the song could go on and on until this very day, giving us apostles and prophets to guide and bless us!! Such joy!! DAYENU
Wow! Thank you for sharing that Restoration Dayenu!
You might enjoy this Dayenu song too: https://youtu.be/CZgDNPGZ9Sg?si=m9ON6zBRHTmi89Li
This and comment earlier from Kara Dunkel
Thanks for sharing! That’s a fun video!
So cool!
I love celebrating Passover – Especially a “Christian Themed Passover”
I love the Dayenu song.
I love your comparison with Ammon’s service.
I also loved the comparison to our own Dayenu Song … We sing the hymn “Count Your Blessings,” which may inspire us to create lists of things we are grateful for.
Agreed. I love enriching my own spiritual growth by learning and finding common ground with other religious people. I’m glad you enjoyed the post!