Latter Day Mormon: December 2009

December 2, 2009

Gratitude

I was thinking the other day about showing gratitude to God. Why do we do it? Why should we do it?
Well I caught myself doing it because I've been told to. Thats not bad, at least I'm showing it. But I don't think I'm feeling it. We can show our gratitude to god in many different ways. The best way is in the book of mormon when king Benjemin says "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your god." But if we truly want to be serving God with grattitude, then we need to change our attitude. In Moroni chapter 7 of the book of mormon, Moroni explains how we must have the real intent of our heart as we serve god.
     "For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.
     For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness
     For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God."
So if we want to serve god by serving others we must have the right attitude. Now here is the thought that helped me out most.
     Look at what God has done. His purpose as found in the scriptures is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" and so he does it by creating a world and all that is in it. He creates all things both in the heavens and on earth. Why? for us. Well we have heard this time and time again in our lives, but have you ever asked yourself "what's in it for God?". What God gets out of it is simply the joy that comes from seeing us succeed. He wants us to succeed. He never wants us to fail. So if God gave us all things just to see us succeed and draw closer to him, then it makes it easier for us to understand that we need to show him our love. Thats what he looks forward to. He wants us to love him, and for us to know that he loves us. He wants us to help others to be happy, because it is through us that he can do the most good in others lives. I love God and know he Loves every single person out there.

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Quotes

For God So Loved the World

“There is no greater evidence of the infinite power and perfection of God’s love than is declared by the Apostle John: ‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son’ (John 3:16). Another Apostle wrote that God ‘spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all’ (Romans 8:32). Think how it must have grieved our Heavenly Father to send His Son to endure incomprehensible suffering for our sins. That is the greatest evidence of His love for each of us!”

Dallin H. Oaks, “Love and Law,” Ensign, Nov., 2009, 26

The Light of the Atonement

"[Jesus Christ] is the Light of the Atonement fulfilled in the Garden of Gethsemane and on Golgotha, who took upon Himself the sins of the world, that all mankind may obtain eternal salvation. He is the Light of the empty tomb. . . . He is my Light, my Redeemer, my Savior--and yours."

Robert D. Hales, "Out of Darkness into His Marvelous Light," Ensign, May 2002, 71–72

Topics: Atonement

Learning by Personal Experience

“It is clear that for us to have [God’s] gift [of eternal life] and to be given [the] trust [of our Heavenly Father], we must be transformed through making righteous choices where that is hard to do. We are prepared for so great a trust by passing through trying and testing experiences in mortality. That education can come only as we are subject to trials while serving God and others for Him.”

Henry B. Eyring, “Adversity,” Ensign, May 2009, 24

Topics: Righteousness, Atonement, Sacrifice

Agency

"We tend to think of agency as a personal matter. If we ask someone to define 'moral agency,' the answer will probably be something like this: 'Moral agency means I am free to make choices for myself.' Often overlooked is the fact that choices have consequences; we forget also that agency offers the same privilege of choice to others. At times we will be affected adversely by the way other people choose to exercise their agency. Our Heavenly Father feels so strongly about protecting our agency that he allows his children to exercise it, either for good or for evil."

M. Russell Ballard, "Answers to Life's Questions," Ensign, May 1995, 23

Topics: Agency

Decisions

"Life's journey is not traveled on a freeway devoid of obstacles, pitfalls, and snares. Rather, it is a pathway marked by forks and turnings. Decisions are constantly before us. To make them wisely, courage is needed: the courage to say, 'No,' the courage to say, 'Yes,' Decisions do determine destiny. The call for courage comes constantly to each of us. It has ever been so, and so shall it ever be."

Thomas S. Monson, "The Call for Courage," Ensign, May 2004, 54-55

Topics: Choice and Accountability, Courage, Agency

Being Grateful Will Make Us Happy

"Mercies and blessings come in different forms--sometimes as hard things. Yet the Lord said, 'Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things' (D&C 59:7). All things means just that: good things, difficult things--not just some things. He has commanded us to be grateful because He knows being grateful will make us happy. This is another evidence of His love."

Bonnie D. Parkin, "Gratitude: A Path to Happiness," Ensign, May 2007, 35

Gratitude Defines Noble Characters

"Gratitude is a mark of a noble soul and a refined character. We like to be around those who are grateful. They tend to brighten all around them. They make others feel better about themselves. They tend to be more humble, more joyful, more likable."

Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Live in Thanksgiving Daily," Ensign, Sept. 2001, 8

Topics: Gratitude

Believe in God

“If you cannot remember believing in God or if you have ceased to believe or if you believe but without real conviction, I invite you to seek a testimony of God now. Do not be afraid of ridicule. The strength and peace that come from knowing God and having the comforting companionship of His Spirit will make your efforts eternally worthwhile.

“Even more, with your own testimony of God, you will be able to bless your family, your posterity, your friends, your own life—all those you love. Your personal knowledge of God is not only the greatest gift you will ever give, but it will bring you the greatest joy you will ever have.”

Robert D. Hales, “Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 32

Topics: Testimony

Meeting Your Goliath

“The battle for our souls is no less important that the battle fought by David. The enemy is no less formidable, the help of Almighty God no farther away. What will our action be? Like David of old, ‘our cause is just.’ We have been placed upon earth not to fail or fall victim to temptation’s snare, but rather to succeed. Our giant, our Goliath, must be conquered.”

Thomas S. Monson, “Meeting Your Goliath,” New Era, June 2008, 5

Topics: Courage, Opposition, Adversity

Be Believing

"I ask everyone within the sound of my voice to take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He 'would fight [our] battles, [our] children's battles, and [the battles of our] children's children' (D&C 98:37; emphasis added). And what do we do to merit such a defense? We are to 'search diligently, pray always, and be believing. [Then] all things shall work together for [our] good, if [we] walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith [we] have covenanted' (D&C 90:24). The latter days are not a time to fear and tremble. They are a time to be believing and remember our covenants."

Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Ministry of Angels," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 30

Topics: Prayer, Faith, Courage