The Hebrew song Dayenu helps us to recognize the cumulative nature of God's blessings. It also helps us develop a greater contentment and a deeper sense of being loved, as we recognize that many of the blessings we receive are wonderful but not essential. Ammon echoes this pattern at the end of his fourteen-year mission.
A Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving
The Lord advised the early Saints to offer prayers of "praise and thanksgiving." Thanksgiving is informed joy, with an awareness of its source. Praise is generalized gratitude, directed to the Giver of joy. The two are complementary. We can thank God for specific blessings and acknowledge Him as the ultimate Giver of all good gifts.
Receiving All Things with Thankfulness
God invites us to receive all things with gratitude. One reason this is important is because gratitude opens our hearts to receive more blessings from Him. If we receive all things with thankfulness, we will eventually inherit all things.
Thy Daily Walk
The Lord emphasized to Martin Harris that we need to focus on our "daily walk," living every day according to the counsel we have received. Two essential components of our daily walk with Him are prayer and gratitude.
Gratitude and the Book of Ether
We learn the following from the book of Ether about gratitude: 1. Be grateful even in difficult circumstances. 2. Express gratitude promptly. 3. We make better decisions when we remember our blessings. 4. Remembering God's blessings gives us confidence.
Bountifully
The word "bounty" refers to a generous gift. Amulek reminded the Zoramites that the gospel had been taught to them "bountifully." We can be grateful for the countless blessings God has bestowed and continues to bestow bountifully on His children.
“Give Thanks in All Things”
Alma and his fellow church leaders "[gave] thanks in all things." Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained that gratitude is not transactional. Instead, it is "an expression of hope and testimony." We can be grateful even for blessings we have not yet detected.
Prospering by Degrees
God was slow to hear the prayers of the people of Limhi, but they did begin "to prosper by degrees." God's blessings often come incrementally, so if we're looking for the big blessing, we may miss the small ones that come along the way.
Thanksgiving
We should "live in thanksgiving daily," even when we're going through difficult times. We should include expressions of gratitude in every prayer. When we are happy, we can express that joy with a "prayer of praise and thanksgiving."
In Everything Give Thanks
Paul advised the Thessalonians to give thanks continually. Amulek gave the same counsel to the Zoramites. President Nelson has taught us that gratitude is one of the surest antidotes for despair, discouragement, and spiritual lethargy.