Sunday Snippet

Sister Andrea Groombridge taught us from President Thomas S. Monson's Oct 2010 conference address "The Divine Gift of Gratitude".
We began by listening to Lilian read from Luke 17 about the ten lepers that Jesus healed and how only one gave thanks.
President Monson asks "Do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive?"
Marj read "Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognise our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love."
Grace then read "President Gordon B. Hinkley said, When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives."
Gratitude is a wonderful virtue. and our focus needs to be on what we have and not on what we lack. The Greek philosopher Epictetus, "He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has."
The Lord declared through a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith: "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things. ... Emi read "And in nothing doth man offend God or against none is His wrath kindled, save those who confess not His hand in all things."
We offend God when we don't thank Him. In the Book of Mormon we are told "to live in thanksgiving daily for the many mercies and blessings which God doth bestow upon you"
We need to develope an 'attitude of gratitude' and refuse to remain in negative thoughts. Being positive helps us recognise the blessings we all have.
Hannah read "If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."
Jana read a quote from President Joseph F Smith, " the grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life. Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man."

Being prayerful is the key to possessing gratitude.

Andrea asked if material possessions can make us happy? And we discussed some things that we are grateful for; health and strength, family, the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Earth, our abilities, friends, things that are lasting and good. President Monson said that unfortunately these are some of the things we allow ourselves to take for granted.
Debbie read a quote from Aldous Huxley, "Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted."
When we are grateful to someone we should express our gratitude, let them know. Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. Tell those we love "I love you" often, as we never know when it may be too late.
President Monson, "to express gratitude is gracious and honourable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven. ... we may ever reflect our gratitude for our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. His glorious gospel provides answers to life's greatest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do our spirits go when we die? That gospel brings to those who live in darkness the light of divine truth."
"He taught us how to pray. He taught us how to live. He taught us how to die. His life is a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved. "

He was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. He is the author of our salvation. We owe Him our gratitude.

Thank you Andrea for such an inspiring lesson.

We had a bit of time left over and we discussed things that we are grateful for:
Our amazing health compared to others of our age.
Our Gratitude books that President Prebble asked us to keep.
For the everyday little things.
Grateful for everything; we have to find the positive in the negative.
Things that aren't easy make us better people, it softens our hearts and makes us more empathetic; we become a nicer person.
Accept it and make of it what you can.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Wed 30th March
Combined YM/YW please bring a plate

Sun April 3rd
Single Adult fast breaker and fireside
5pm at the chapel

Wed April 6th
Primary Activity night

9th and 10th April
Video Conference
(meeting times next week)

11th Hall floor is being resealed