1 & 2 Thessalonians
"Be Not Soon Shaken in Mind, or Be Troubled"
Materials: gratitude quotes cut out and put in a bowl (see below), Poster Board, Printout (See below)
Opening Song: "Count your many blessings" (Hymnal, 254)
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: 1 These. 5:18 In every thing give athanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Attention Activity:
Last week we talked about how to have joy in the journey. Remember Elder Uchdorf said, "There is one thing we can do to make life sweeter, more joyful, even glorious. We can be grateful!" “Grateful in Any Circumstances,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 70–77. Today we are going to talk about gratitude.
Lesson:
Ask a member of your family to retell the story of the grateful leper. The story can be found in Luke 17: 11-19. How many people were healed? How many said thank you? Why do you think it's important to say thank you? When should we say thank you?
Print and cut out the quotes on gratitude below and put them into a bowl. Have each family member take a turn reading a quote from the bowl.
"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude...My sincere prayer is that we may, in our individual lives, reflect that marvelous virtue: an attitude of gratitude." (Thomas S. Monson, "An Attitude of Gratitude," April 1992).
"Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love...To express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven" (Thomas S. Monosn, "The Divine Gift of Gratitude," October 2010).
"A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It helps us develop such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love and well-being. Said the Lord, '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)" (President James E. Faust, "Grateful Heart").
"We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It doesmean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges. This is not a gratitude of the lips but of the soul. It is a gratitude that heals the heart and expands the mind" (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Grateful in Any Circumstances").
"How much better it would be if all could be more aware of God’s providence and love and express that gratitude to him. Ammon taught, 'Let us give thanks to (God), for he doth work righteousness forever.' Our degree of gratitude is a measure of our love for him" (Elder Russell M. Nelson, "Thanks Be to God").
"Gratitude requires awareness and effort, not only to feel it but to express it. Frequently we are oblivious to the Lord’s hand. We murmur, complain, resist, criticize; so often we are not grateful" (Sister Bonnie D. Parkin, "Gratitude: A Path to Happiness").
“Gratitude is of the very essence of worship. … When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives" (President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley" [1997], 250).
"You could have an experience with the gift of the Holy Ghost today. You could begin a private prayer with thanks. You could start to count your blessings, and then pause for a moment. If you exercise faith, and with the gift of the Holy Ghost, you will find that memories of other blessings will flood into your mind. If you begin to express gratitude for each of them, your prayer may take a little longer than usual. Remembrance will come. And so will gratitude" (President Henry B. Eyring, "Remembrance and Gratitude").
"We can choose to be grateful, no matter what" (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Grateful in Any Circumstances ").
"Be grateful. There are two little words in the English language that perhaps mean more than all others. They are “thank you.” Comparable words are found in every other language, such as gracias, merci, danke, obrigado, domo. The habit of saying thank you is the mark of an educated man or woman...Walk with gratitude in your hearts, my dear friends. Be thankful for the wonderful blessings which are yours." (Gordon B. Hinckley, "A Prophet's Counsel and Prayer for Youth").
Activity: Gratitude Poster
What holiday is coming up in about one month? Although we should show gratitude everyday, Thanksgiving is a special day set aside to really reflect on our blessings. Show the printout below glued to a poster board and have a family member read it aloud. From now until Thanksgiving day challenge each family member to write one thing they are grateful for each day. On Thanksgiving you can read the poster.
Optional Activity: Thankful Leper Video (found on youtube)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Triple Berry Pie Recipe Here
Pie tips: Use metal or glass bowls for mixing and keep everything as cold as possible.
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