"O Remember, Remember."

 

So often in the scriptures we are reminded to remember. "O remember, remember, my sons, the words" of the prophets, "remember the Lord, thy God".  We are told this because we so often, and easily forget the hand of the Lord when a new trial comes. This Thanksgiving season I hope that we can all commit to remembering the Lord everyday, and not just during this Holiday season. I would like to share a few things that help me stay grateful all year round.

Reading the Scriptures Daily: In Psalms 77 it says, "I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old." We are told to remember the Lord in the present, and in the past. Heavenly Father has given us many tools so that we might feel his love, and feel remembered by Him. Elder L. Tom Perry said, "I guess one of the greatest mysteries of mortality is why mankind fails to learn from history." Heavenly Father has no doubt put obvious patterns of behavior in the scriptures for our benefit and learning, to help us avoid the same problems in our own lives. Through the scriptures we can find trials similar to ours and learn how others have over come their challenges. The scriptures remind us that Heavenly Father loves us, and we are reminded through them all the blessings he's given us. 

Keep a gratitude journal: President Henry B. Eyring, a member of the 12 apostles, shared the following experience: "I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that come because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance—even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened."

Give only thanks: Once a month say a prayer and only give thanks to Heavenly Father. You will come to find that you have so much more to be grateful for than you realize. Even in times when you are desperately seeking a blessing, there will always be something to be grateful for.


Keep perspective: President Eyring said, "The challenge to remember has always been the hardest for those who are blessed abundantly. Those who are faithful to God are protected and prospered. That comes as the result of serving God and keeping His commandments. But with those blessings comes the temptation to forget their source. It is easy to begin to feel the blessings were granted not by a loving God on whom we depend but by our own powers." Even when we feel like we are in control of our lives, and aren't needing for something, we must remember ALL comes from our Heavenly Father. 

Our Heavenly Father has given us so much to be grateful for, even the greatest gift of all, eternal life."If thou wilt do good, yea, and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation."

I pray that we will be able to follow the counsel of President Monson by developing an attitude of gratitude all year round. "Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His word. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude."