a week of gratitude...Day 1

The Gospel

I am thankful...



For my belief and understanding of the Trinity. A testimony that I know, without any doubt or reservation, that God is my Heavenly Father and that He loves me as much, even more, than my earthly father does. And because of that love he provided a way for us to live with Him again. That Jesus Christ is his only begotten son, and my heavenly brother, has shown me how to live and serve. That because of Him and His sacrifice and His "one-ness" with God, I have a blueprint on how to live my life in accordance to His will. That He provided a perfect example for me. And that because He can't physically walk beside me all the time, he gave us the supernal gift of the Holy Ghost to help us. To comfort us, guide us, give us peace, assurance, direction and companionship. He rejoices when I am right, and reminds me when I am wrong.

That I know that Heavenly Father has His hand directly in my life. He knows my fears, my tears, my joys, my desires and my rejoicings.



For the restored Gospel on the earth. That we can follow the same gospel teachings, ordinances, covenants, and doctrines as Christ preached during his time here on earth.



That Heavenly Father loved His people enough to provide modern-day revelation--that we have a prophet, seer, and revelator to guide us during these times on the earth.



For my testimony that fear is not of God. Fear destroys that feeling of confidence God's child should feel in a loving Heavenly Father.



For the opportunities that I have had to truly, genuinely Come Unto Him, and He did give me rest.



And through those opportunities, I have come to KNOW Him.



That I have had opportunities to experience those character-building experiences necessary to be counted as God's "tried and proven people" to help build His kingdom and to follow His will for me, not my will for myself, or society's will for me.



That God is all-knowing and that He directs my life with immortal vision even when I get frustrated with my mortal vision.

That my Bishop knows my name, and even though we've never had a significant conversation I can feel his love and concern for me.

For men who act in God's name through the Priesthood. And consider that authority sacred through their actions.

For times when I can actually prove my faith in the Lord and His Gospel. Those times when faith is not just a word, but an action.

For the many, many believers of the Gospel who, like the Apostle Peter, lack in many mortal areas and have many mortal weaknesses. But they continue on in faith and overcome and build many splendid, eternal things.

For forgiveness. That it is given to me by so many and that I am able to give it to others.

But most importantly, for the forgiveness of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through their gift of the atonement. That my older brother, Jesus Christ, considers me His friend, and volunteered to be my Savior, to redeem me from inadequacies and wrong doings. To fulfill the law.

I am thankful that I know His cross was for me, and I can reflect and show gratitude every Sunday while partaking of the sacrament.

For the remissions of my sins...again, and again...

"The gospel of Jesus Christ encompasses much more than avoiding, overcoming, and being cleansed from sin and the bad influences in our lives; it also essentially entails doing good, being good, and becoming better. Repenting of our sins and seeking forgiveness are spiritually necessary, and we must always do so. But remission of sin is not the only or even the ultimate purpose of the gospel. To have our hearts changed by the Holy Spirit such that 'we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually' (Mosiah 5:2), as did King Benjamin's people, is the covenant responsibility we have accepted. This mighty change is not simply the result of working harder or developing greater individual discipline. Rather, it is the consequence of a fundamental change in our desires, our motives, and our natures made possible through the Atonement of Christ the Lord. Our spiritual purpose is to overcome both sin and the desire to sin, both the taint and the tyranny of sin."

David A. Bednar

For HOPE in all the Heavenly Father has promised me.

For the virtue of Patience, which I attempt to emulate in my life everyday. The Savior was 30 before He started His ministry. He spent that time learning the things necessary...line upon line, precept upon precept.

For Sacrifice. For people who are willing to sacrifice for the gospel's sake. Echoing their love and devotion by physically showing their love for their Heavenly Father.

That I am able to go to church every Sunday to be edified and buoyed up and to feel the Spirit to remind me why I do the things I do.

That I am peculiar. And that I have a wise, humble prophet to follow instead of the teachings of man.

That I feel His love even when I am not the most obedient.

For the overwhelming blessings received in the House of the Lord.

For the blessings and peace of obedience.

For the opportunities in the temples to do something for someone who cannot do it for themselves, just as Jesus Christ did something for us that we all could not do for ourselves.

For the spiritual strength I receive inside the Lord's House and my perception after I leave.

That my parents made individual decisions in their lives so that I could be born in the covenant. And continued in the faith to rear me in the gospel. And that we can be together in the eternities.

That I have been enabled to walk back in the presence of my Heavenly Father, and that one day I can fall to His feet in humility and utter sincere gratitude and rejoice with Him.