A Thanksgiving Talk

This world is a stewardship from God
November, 2002

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This is the text of a talk that I gave in Sacrament meeting the Sunday before Thanksgiving, in 2002.
And 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.  (D&C 78:19)

I’ve been asked to speak about thanksgiving; about receiving and giving with humility.  I’m going to suggest that we consider four principles:

God has given us everything, and we should be grateful
Our Heavenly Father has given us many things.  Let’s name a few:  our life and health, freedom and knowledge, family and friends, rain and sunshine, food and drink, clothing and shelter, talents and gifts.  
Some families have a Thanksgiving tradition, where they try and name all of the things that they are thankful for.  Is there any good thing that we don’t owe thanks to God for?

Before Moses died, he told the Children of Israel to never forget their God.  Please open your scriptures to (Deut 8:7-14, 17-18) and try to remember these words after your Thanksgiving dinner this week:  
7 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  (1 Thess 5:18)

But are we willing to recieve ALL things from God?  Sometimes we are reluctant to receive some of His gifts:  trials and disappointments, His servants and His word, instruction and admonition.  Sometimes the hardest thing for us to receive gratefully is His will--especially when it conflicts with what we want.

For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.  (D&C 88:33)

At this time of year, our family has a tradition.  We meet together and share a Thanksgiving feast of good things to eat.  This is fitting and proper, according to the Lord’s revelation:
And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man--Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.  Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;  (D&C 89:10-12)

After reading the words of Isaiah to his people, Jacob spoke of a spiritual feast that the Lord offers us:
Come, my brethren, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.  Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.  (2 Nephi 9:50-52)

Let’s resolve to be willing to receive everything that Our Father offers us.

If we are grateful, we will thank God for his gifts
Elder James E. Talmage said, “Gratitude is twin sister to humility; pride is a foe to both.”  Luke records an incident in the life of Jesus:
And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up [their] voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.  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.  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on [his] face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.  And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where [are] the nine?  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.  (Luke 17:12-18)

Do we return and give thanks and glory to God for our blessings?
I have always been taught that when I pray to Heavenly Father, I should first thank Him for my blessings, before I ask Him for more things.
And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.  (Alma 7:23)

God has told the Latter-Day Saints that He wants to bless us with good things:
And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, ..., the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;  Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;  Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;  Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.  And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.  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 59:15-21)

Let’s resolve to thank Our Father in Heaven, and recognize that we have received alll things from Him.

If we are humble, we realize that we are stewards of earthly blessings
If we believe that the Lord has given us everything that we have, then we are really stewards over our own things.  This makes us responsible to God for what we do with them.
For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures.  I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine.  And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.  But it must needs be done in mine own way; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low.  For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.  Therefore, if any man shall take of the abundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment.
(D&C 104:13-18)

Let’s resolve to use our gifts and resources to serve God, and to build His kingdom.

If we are obedient, we will share God’s abundance
King Benjamin said that if we want to serve God, we should start by serving our brothers and sisters here on earth.  Our Lord gave us the following counsel:
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away  (Matthew 5:42)

... freely ye have received, freely give.  (Matthew 10:8)

He promised that we would be blessed for following His advice:
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.  (Luke 6:38)

I love this story which Boyd K Packer related in conference a while back:
Joseph Millett, who served a mission to Canada in the early days of the Church, was suffering through very, difficult times. He recorded the following account in his journal:  “One of my children came in and said that Brother Newton Hall’s folks was out of bread, had none that day.  “I divided our flour in a sack to send up to Brother Hall.  Just then Brother Hall came.  “Says I, ‘Brother Hall, are you out of flour?’  “ ‘Brother Millett, we have none.’  “ ‘Well, Brother Hall, there is some in that sack. I have divided and was going to send it to you. Your children told mine that you was out.’ “Brother Hall began to cry. He said he had tried others, but could not get any. He went to the cedars and prayed to the Lord, and the Lord told him to go to Joseph Millett.
“ ‘Well Brother Hall, you needn’t bring this back. If the Lord sent you for it you don’t owe me for it.’ ” “You can’t tell me how good it made me feel to know that the Lord knew there was such a person as Joseph Millett” (Diary of Joseph Millett, holograph, Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City).

Brothers and Sisters, I believe that we now live in a land of plenty, and in prosperous times.  Let’s be grateful for what our Father has given to us.  Let’s resolve to share our abundance with those who surround us--not only the good things to eat, but also the spiritual food which is only found within the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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