As we approach the thankful season, I’d like to share the scripture that taught me why we need to feel and express gratitude. Apologies to the many (or even most!) who have heard me talk about this over the years. It has become a pillar of my faith and an essential skill for dealing with life’s learning opportunities. 

  D&C 97:1-3: “Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;

2 Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.

3 Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord.”

The preface to this revelation explains that it was given to saints who had just been violently driven from their homes and were destitute in winter in Jackson County Missouri. I was really rocked by the Lord’s counsel to them to be comforted, rejoice,  and even give thanks!!! Sure, I’m grateful for my blessings, but I’m supposed to rejoice and give thanks for my unmitigated disasters and overwhelming losses??? The verse clearly says  IN EVERYTHING we’re to give thanks. And this is far from the only scripture that gives this commandment.

When this scripture first leaped out of my scriptures to smack me in the face, I determined to experiment upon these words. I wasn’t able to sincerely thank the Lord that my husband had left our family and emptied our checking account. But after much thinking, I was able to be thankful that I had food for the kids and fuel for the car, and it was very easy to be thankful for the lady at the municipal office who listened to the reason I couldn’t pay the water bill, and then with tight lips closed the overdue account with his name, referred it to collections, and opened a new tenant account in my name, waiving the depost. I’m still thankful!

I’ve learned that if I carefully search for good things in the midst of bad things and honestly express thanks for them, I’m able to accept comfort and eventually even rejoice. That doesn’t preclude mourning, grief, or sadness,or fear. It does shine light into my dark times, and inoculates against bitterness. It brings great peace, growth, and eventually assurance. 

Life is good. Hard, tiring, disappointing, bewildering- and so, so good. And all the hardest parts have worked to make me stronger, wiser, more patient, and more confident in Father’s loving plan for my life. I’m so thankful!

~Nita Smith