When we receive a gift, we have a natural desire to do something for the giver. Perhaps it is our intuitive sense of justice which tells us that good deeds ought to be repaid. Of course, the way this life is structured, it is impossible for us to pay back many of those who have... Continue Reading →
How Should I Express Gratitude?
When the prophet Alma heard that that group of people called the Zoramites were "perverting the ways of the Lord," he assembled a team of missionaries to visit them and preach the gospel. When they arrived, their first stop was a worship service. Alma was horrified at what he saw: rich people gathering to congratulate... Continue Reading →
When Should I Express Gratitude?
The Book of Mormon clearly teaches that we should always be grateful: Alma taught his people at the waters of Mormon that they should observe the sabbath day once a week, but that "every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God" (Alma 18:23). Amulek urged the Zoramites to "live in thanksgiving daily"... Continue Reading →
What Should I Be Thankful For?
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the United States. In preparation for that holiday, I have been thinking about some of the things I am thankful for. Here are some ideas that occurred to me as I studied the Book of Mormon today: I'm grateful to be alive (Mosiah 2:20-21, Mosiah 7:12). I'm grateful for food and... Continue Reading →
How Can I Recognize the Hand of the Lord in My Life?
After warning the people of Jerusalem of their imminent destruction, Lehi was commanded by the Lord to take his family out of the city into the wilderness (1 Nephi 2:1-2). He had to defend this decision many times as the family undertook a difficult journey across the land and the sea to a promised land... Continue Reading →
From Whence Their Blessings Come – Mormon 5:10
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... Continue Reading →
Ammon Teaches His Brothers – Alma 26
Setting After serving for approximately fourteen years as missionaries among the Lamanites, Ammon and his brothers reflected on the success they had experienced. Purpose Ammon's purpose in teaching his brothers was to express his gratitude for the blessings they had received from the Lord during their mission. Outline Could we have guessed at the beginning... Continue Reading →
Moroni Was a Strong and a Mighty Man – Alma 48:11-13
11 And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery; 12 Yea, a man whose heart... Continue Reading →
They Poured out Their Thanks to God – Mosiah 24:21-22
21 Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out their thanks to God because he had been merciful unto them, and eased their burdens, and had delivered them out of bondage; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it were the Lord their God. 22 And they gave thanks... Continue Reading →
