Come, Ye Thankful People

When God commands His children, it is for their benefit. So if we are commanded to be grateful in all things, it must be for our sake. If we are grateful, we will be happier. 

Last year's plentiful feast,
because this year's isn't photo ready yet.

Mounting social science bears that out. So does common experience. As the song says, “Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” And, in reference to the song in the title, "Come, ye thankful people, come. Raise the song of harvest home."

We set a day aside, to remind us of the blessings of being thankful. More important that the bounty of food are the family and friends we share it with.

We’re busy cooking, watching sports, and hanging out together as a family. But I want to express my gratitude here, just briefly, with a quote, and a few scripture verses especially meaningful today.

"Gratitude changes the pangs of memory into a tranquil joy."–Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Psalm 100

 1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

 2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

 3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Luke 17

11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

Mosiah 2

19 And behold also, if I, whom ye call your king, who has spent his days in your service, and yet has been in the service of God, do merit any thanks from you, O how you ought to thank your heavenly King!

 20 I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another—

 21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.

Alma 34

38 … and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.

Doctrine and Covenants 59

7 Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.

Doctrine and Covenants 78

19 He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.