More Thoughts on Gratitude

Brigham Young
“I do not know of any, excepting the unpardonable sin, that is greater than the sin of ingratitude.” Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 228 / 14:277


Gordon B. Hinckley
“Where there is gratitude, there is humility, as opposed to pride. Our society is afflicted by a spirit of thoughtless arrogance unbecoming those who have been so magnificently blessed. How grateful we should be for the bounties we enjoy. Absence of gratitude is the mark of the narrow, uneducated mind. It bespeaks a lack of knowledge and the ignorance of self-sufficiency. ... We have seen our beaches, our parks, our forests littered with ugly refuse by those who evidently have no appreciation for their beauty. ... Where there is appreciation, there is courtesy, there is concern for the rights and property of others. Without appreciation, there is arrogance and evil. Where there is gratitude, there is humility, as opposed to pride.” Conf Report, Oct, 1964 / Ensign, Aug 1988

“It is acknowledgment of the Almighty that gives civility and refinement to our actions. It is accountability to Him that brings discipline into our lives. It is gratitude for His gracious favors that takes from us the arrogance to which we are so prone.” (see Mosiah 3:19) Provo City Community Centennial Services, BYU Marriott Center / August 4, 1996

“Let us cultivate a spirit of thanksgiving for the blessing of life and for the marvelous gifts and privileges each of us enjoys. The Lord has said that the meek shall inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5) I cannot escape the interpretation that meekness implies a spirit of gratitude as opposed to an attitude of self-sufficiency, an acknowledgment of a greater power beyond oneself, a recognition of God, and an acceptance of His commandments. This is the beginning of wisdom. Walk with gratitude before Him who is the Giver of Life and every good gift.” Faith, the Essence of True Religion “With All Thy Getting Get Understanding” , p. 82

“And so, ... let us rejoice together now as we celebrate with appreciation the wondrous doctrines and practices which have come as a gift from the Lord in the most glorious time of His work. ... Let us ever be grateful for these most precious gifts and privileges and act well our part as those who love the Lord.” (Gen. Conf., April 1997)


Thomas S. Monson
“Think to thank. In these three words is the finest capsule course for a happy marriage, a formula for enduring friendship, and a pattern for personal happiness.” (Pathways to Perfection, p. 254)

“If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.” (“An Attitude of Gratitude,” Ensign, Feb. 2000)

“[We should have/reflect] personal gratitude:
First, ... gratitude for our mothers.
Second, ... gratitude for our fathers.
Third, ... gratitude for our teachers.
Fourth, ... gratitude for our friends.
Fifth, ... acknowledge gratitude for our country.
Sixth, ... supremely – reflect gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He taught us how to pray, to serve, to live. He healed the sick, lifted the downtrodden, saved the sinner. He forgave. He is our Master. He is our Savior. He is the Son of God. He is the author of our salvation. Let us follow Him. Let us emulated His example. Let us obey His word. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude.” (“An Attitude of Gratitude,” Ensign, Feb. 2000)

Having a Heart Full of Thanks ~ "The prophet Alma urged, 'Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day' (Alma 37:37)." (President Thomas S. Monson, "The Profound Power of Gratitude," Ensign, Sept. 2005, 4)

Gratitude for Parents ~ "First, may I ask that we express thanks to our parents for life, for caring, for sacrificing, for laboring to provide a knowledge of our Heavenly Father's plan for happiness.
"From Sinai the words thunder to our conscience, 'Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee' (Exodus 20:12)." ("The Profound Power of Gratitude," Ensign, Sept. 2005, 4)

Spencer W. Kimball
"Let us remember, too, that greatness is not always a matter of the scale of one’s life, but of the quality of one’s life. True greatness is not always tied to the scope of our tasks, but to the quality of how we carry out our tasks whatever they are. In that attitude, let us give our time, ourselves, and our talents to the things that really matter now, things which will still matter a thousand years from now." (Spencer W. Kimball, "A Gift of Gratitude", Tambuli, Dec 1977)

James E. Talmage
“Gratitude is twin sister to humility; pride is a foe to both. The man who has come into close communion with God cannot fail to be thankful; for he feels, he knows, that for all he has and all he is, he is indebted to the Supreme Giver; and one would think that there is no need of commandment in the matter of thanksgiving. Yet we find that because of man’s propensities toward forgetfulness and selfishness the Scriptures abound in admonitions to render thanks unto the Lord.” Sunday Night Talks by Radio / Deseret News Press, p. 483


Bruce R. McConkie
“The sin of ingratitude, how common it is! As Jesus cleansed ten lepers physically, so He cleanses all His saints spiritually from the leprosy of sin. Are we more grateful for our blessings than were the healed lepers who hastened on their ways, heedless of the beneficent goodness of the One whose words had made them new creatures?”


Hugh B. Brown
“How rich and radiant is the soul of a man who has a thankful heart! His gratitude increases with his unfolding awareness of himself, the universe and his Creator. Appreciation, like love, enriches both giver and receiver, and, when spontaneously expressed in word or deed, reveals a depth and delicacy of fine-grain character. True gratitude is motivated by a recognition of favors received. Its counterfeit is fawning anticipation of favors to come.
“Serious consideration of the mystery of life, its vastness and incalculability, gives depth to appreciation for blessings gratuitously bestowed. They who have eyes to see, ears to hear, understanding hearts, will see the bounteous love of God everywhere manifest ....” Gratitude Is a Spiritual Attribute,’ Instructor, Nov. 1957, p. 332


Russell M. Nelson
“Spiritual self-esteem begins with the realization that each new morning is a gift from God. Even the air we breathe is a loving loan from Him. He preserves us from day-to-day and supports us from one moment to another. (See Mosiah 2:21)
“Therefore, our first noble deed of the morning should be a humble prayer of gratitude. Scripture so counsels: ‘Pray unto God, and He will be favourable unto [you]; and you shall see His face with joy.’” Job 33:26 (See also Alma 34:21; 37:37) “Joy Cometh in the Morning,” Ensign, November 1986, p. 67


George Q. Cannon
“The sin of ingratitude. ... Many more sins might be mentioned which are of a very grave character; but we will only mention one now. It is the sin of ingratitude, a sin that is far too common.
“Probably some of our readers may not understand what this sin is. We will explain. God, our Heavenly Father, blesses His children with His Spirit and health, food, raiment and other favors. Those who receive these and do not feel thankful to Him for them are guilty of ingratitude.” Gospel Truth: “Habits -- Good and Bad”, p. 453


Howard W. Hunter
“Of the ten men who were healed, only one returned to express appreciation. This must have been a disappointment to the Master, but there are many who receive blessings, many who are endowed with good things in life, yet never take the time or go to the effort to show gratitude to the benefactor or express appreciation to God. Happiness and joy from blessings are never complete until there is a deep feeling of gratitude within oneself which moves an expression of appreciation.” (CR, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden Area Conf, 1974, p. 27)


Joseph F. Smith
“We are almost daily put under obligations to one another, especially to friends and acquaintances, and the sense of obligation creates within us feelings of thankfulness and appreciation which we call gratitude. The spirit of gratitude is always pleasant and satisfying because it carries with it a sense of helpfulness to others; it begets love and friendship, and engenders divine influence. Gratitude is said to be the memory of the heart.
“And where there is an absence of gratitude, either to God or man, there is the presence of vanity and the spirit of self-sufficiency. Speaking of Israel, Paul says: "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." (Rom. 1:21)(Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [SLC: Deseret Book Co., 1939], 262)


J. Reuben Clark
“Hold fast to the blessings which God has provided for you. Yours is not the task to gain them, they are here; yours is the part of cherishing them.” (Church News, 6-14-69)


Gene R. Cook
“Pray as fervently in gratitude after your faith is rewarded as you did while asking for the thing you received.” Raising Up a Family to the Lord; Teaching Your Family to Live by the Power of Faith, p. 170

True Gratitude ~ "True gratitude is the ability to humbly see, feel, and even receive love. Gratitude is a form of returning love to God. Recognize His hand, tell Him so, express your love to Him. As you come to truly know the Lord, you will find an intimate, sacred relationship built on trust. You will come to know He understands your anguish and will, in compassion, always respond to you in love."
Gene R. Cook, "Charity: Perfect and Everlasting Love," Ensign, May 2002, 83)


Henry B. Eyring
The Sin of Ingratitude ~ "You could follow the command, 'Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things' (D&C 59:7). President Benson suggested prayer as a time to do that. He said:
"'The Prophet Joseph said at one time that one of the greatest sins of which the Latter-day Saints would be guilty is the sin of ingratitude. I presume most of us have not thought of that as a great sin. There is a great tendency for us in our prayers and in our pleadings with the Lord to ask for additional blessings. But sometimes I feel we need to devote more of our prayers to expressions of gratitude and thanksgiving for blessings already received. We enjoy so much.' (God, Family, Country, SLC: Deseret Book Co., 1974, p. 199.)" (Henry B. Eyring, "Remembrance and Gratitude," Ensign, Nov. 1989, 12-13)


Gordon T. Watts
“Gratitude begins with attitude. .... Joy and happiness are born of gratitude. A cheerfulness is generated by [international saints] gratitude for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the blessings derived from living the principles taught. .... The depth and the willingness with which we serve is a direct reflection of our gratitude.” ~ Gordon T. Watts (GC, Oct. 1998)


“Happiness is a grateful heart.” Young Women’s Manual #2, p. 161


George Albert Smith
"How grateful our souls should be when we contemplate our surroundings and our wonderful opportunities!" (George Albert Smith, general conference, October 1946)


Romaine
“Gratitude to God makes even a temporal blessing taste of heaven.”


James E. Faust
“A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness.” (“Gratitude as a Saving Principle,” Ensign, Dec 1996)

“I desire to discuss gratitude as an expression of faith and as a saving principle. The Lord has said, “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments” (D&C 59:21). It is clear to me ... that to “thank the Lord thy God in all things” (D&C 59:7) is more than a social courtesy; it is a binding commandment.
“One of the advantages of having lived a long time is that you can often remember when you had it worse. ... Rather than create in us a spirit of envy or anger for what we did not have, it developed in many a spirit of gratitude for the meager.
“One of the evils of our time is taking for granted so many of the things we enjoy. (See D&C 88:33) Paul described our day: “men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy” (2 Timothy 3:2). These sins are fellow travelers, and ingratitude makes one susceptible to all of them.
“A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being.
“As with all commandments, gratitude is a description of a successful mode of living. The thankful heart opens to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us. J. Reuben Clark: “Hold fast to the blessings which God has provided for you. Yours is not to gain them, they are here; yours is the part of cherishing them..” I hope we may cultivate grateful hearts so that we may cherish the multitude of blessings that God has so graciously bestowed. May we openly express our gratitude to our Father in Heaven and our fellow men.” (“Gratitude as a Saving Principle,” Ensign, December 1996)


Marvin J. Ashton
Be of Good Cheer and Gratitude ~ "We need to find the abundant life as we go along. How can we be happy tomorrow if our “nows” are filled with self-inflicted unhappinesses and unwise delays? Generally speaking, those inclined to count their daily blessings have more to count because they help make more possible as they learn gratitude. A constant waiting for a brighter future may cause us to lose the beautiful today. Some spend so much time getting ready to live for an unknown future, too late they discover there is no time to live. Very often in our anxiousness for the joys of the future we run away from the very things we are wanting and needing today. An appropriate examination of the passing moment will prove it leads to eternity. We need to constantly remind ourselves eternity is in process now." (Marvin J. Ashton, "The Time Is Now," Ensign, May 1975, p. 85)