The Choice to be Grateful

“Most of all, sometimes it is hard for us to be sufficiently grateful for the greatest gifts we receive: the birth of Jesus Christ, His Atonement, the promise of resurrection, the opportunity to enjoy eternal life with our families, the Restoration of the gospel with the priesthood and its keys. Only with the help of the Holy Ghost can we begin to feel what those blessings mean for us and for those we love. And only then can we hope to be thankful in all things and avoid the offense to God of ingratitude.

 We must ask in prayer that God, by the power of the Holy Ghost, will help us see our blessings clearly even in the midst of our trials. He can help us by the power of the Spirit to recognize and be grateful for blessings we take for granted. What has helped me the most is to ask God in prayer, ‘Wouldst Thou please direct me to someone I can help for Thee?’ It is in helping God bless others that I have seen my own blessings more closely.”

Henry B. Eyring, “The Choice to be Grateful,” December 2011 Ensign

 

Gratitude

“A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort—at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude. Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don’t get around to it. Someone has said that ‘feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.’

 When we encounter challenges and problems in our lives, it is often difficult for us to focus on our blessings. However, if we reach deep enough and look hard enough, we will be able to feel and recognize just how much we have been given.”

 Thomas S. Monson, October 2010 General Conference

 

Kindness

“Aren’t we rather prone to see the limitations and the weaknesses of our neighbors? Yet that is contrary to the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is a class of people who find fault and criticize always in a destructive way. There is a difference in criticism. If we can criticize constructively under the influence of the Spirit of the Lord, we may change beneficially and properly some of the things that are being done. But if we have the spirit of fault finding, of pointing out the weaknesses and failings of others in a destructive manner, that never comes as a result of the companionship of the Spirit of our Heavenly Father and is always harmful.”

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: George Albert Smith, Chapter 21

 

November Sunday Lesson Schedule

Nov. 4th: Teachings of George Albert Smith, Chapter 21: The Power of Kindness

Nov. 11th: Teachings of George Albert Smith, Chapter 22: Bringing Up Children in Light and Truth, taught by Sister Mann

Nov. 18th: Stake Conference

Nov. 25th: May 2012 Ensign,  TBD, taught by Sister Metheny

Announcements & Upcoming Events for November

Our Stake Temple Weekend is November 2nd and 3rd.

Saturday, November 3rd there is a BYU Multi-Stake Fireside at the North Stake Center at 7 pm.

Sunday, November 4th there is a YSA Planning Meeting and Pitch-in at the Stake Center at 6:30 pm.

Sunday, November 4th there is also a CES Devotional for Young Adults that will be broadcast at 8 pm.

Our RS Quarterly Activity is coming up on November 8th at 6:30 pm. We will be having dinner at Sister Carlson’s house.

There is a food drive Thursday, November 15th. For further details see our weekly email or Facebook.

There is a SA Activity Friday, November 16th at 6 pm at the Stake Center.

Stake Conference is Saturday, November 17th at 6 pm (adult session) and Sunday, November 18th at 10 am at the Stake Center.

There is a SA Temple Trip Wednesday, November 21st (11:45 am session).