This talk was given in the Valley View Ward in Cedar City, UT in November 2019…
My name is Elizabeth Grant and the short version of my life story is that I moved here from Northern California to live near family and I’m working as the Academic Director at Discovery Ranch for Girls. I am divorced and have 4 children who live in Colorado, France, North Carolina and Atlanta.
These surface level details don’t tell you much about my spiritual wrestle and journey, however, so I’m here today to share with you a little bit about the commandment that has changed my life.
That commandment is to be grateful. What? you say? that’s not a commandment. And I would say to you…Are you sure about that?
Consider these scriptures…
D&C 98:1 Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;
Mosiah 26:39And they did admonish their brethren; and they were also admonished, every one by the word of God, according to his sins, or to the sins which he had committed, being commanded of God to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all things.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
D&C 59:7 – Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things
In my own life things have not always gone the way I have wanted. For many years the challenges in my marriage and my heartbreaking divorce devastated me. I have been anxious, depressed and fearful. I thought I would never be able to heal. I thought I would never feel happy again.
So when I first read these scriptures I had to stop and read them again. Give thanks for everything? Is that even possible? All things? Really? We are supposed to give thanks even for bad things like being persecuted or bullied? Even for the illness or death of a loved one? Even if you lose your job or home? Even for the heartbreak of divorce? Even for the sorrow of your children no longer attending church? Every thing?
With these scriptures I had to reconsider how I was choosing to think about my life. Even if I was going through a divorce, I could be thankful for the people who were helping me. Even if I was anxious and depressed I could be grateful that I had a job. Even if my children were not attending church I could be thankful that I felt the spirit and was uplifted when I went to the temple.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, April 2014 shared in his talk… Grateful in Any Circumstances,
Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges.
This is not a gratitude of the lips but of the soul. It is a gratitude that heals the heart and expands the mind.
Now let’s be real, this is not an easy thing that God is asking of us. It is not an easy task to be thankful in all things. At a particularly sad and dark time in my life the Book of Mormon story of Alma taught me about how Heavenly Father makes it possible.
Alma had been one of King Noah’s wicked priests but he began his journey of change when he heard the teachings of the prophet Abinadi. This prompted him to repent of his wickedness and begin teaching others what he had learned and they moved to a place where they could be safe and practice their religion freely. You might think that because they were trying to do the right thing everything would work out…
Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. (Mosiah 23: 21-22)
Well things did go well for a while until their enemies, the Lamanites, invaded and took control of the city. Naturally they were terrified…
But Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God and he would deliver them. Therefore they hushed their fears, and began to cry unto the Lord that he would soften the hearts of the Lamanites (Mosiah 23:27-28)
As they exercised their faith the Lord did soften the hearts of the Lamanites, but that didn’t mean that they were freed. Lamanite guards controlled their city, Alma’s people were persecuted, bullied and treated as slaves, and they weren’t allowed to pray out loud or else they would be put to death.
Some experiences in our lives can be like that, so overwhelmingly difficult, discouraging and heartbreaking.
President Uchtdorf:
It is easy to be grateful for things when life seems to be going our way. But what then of those times when what we wish for seems to be far out of reach?
Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be.
The Lord taught Alma and his people, and us, how he helps even if and when things are going badly…
And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. (Mosiah 24:13-14)
As I look back now on my own dark years of sorrow I can also stand as a witness that the Lord does visit us in our afflictions. When I hushed my fears I know of a surety that he has visited and eased my burdens of fear, hurt, anger, doubt and confusion. He has visited and strengthened me in many ways including through the kindness of family and friends and through specific and sacred scriptures, hymns and experiences in my life.
Why does God command us to be grateful? asks President Uchtdorf?
All of His commandments are given to make blessings available to us. Commandments are opportunities to exercise our agency and to receive blessings. Our loving Heavenly Father knows that choosing to develop a spirit of gratitude will bring us true joy and great happiness.
So what are the blessings that come from giving thanks in all things? You’ll have to try it to find out. Let’s experiment upon the word and see if hushing our fears and consistently practicing gratitude in all things will help us become aware of the many ways that the Lord visits, strengthens and eases our burdens in our afflictions whatever they might be.
I know we have a loving Father in Heaven who wants to bless us and I’m grateful we have a Savior who has given us the opportunity to repent and change and who helps us to do so if we will ask.
