Gratitude the Key to Righteousness

As we read in the scriptures about the tender mercies of God, what do we feel concerning our Savior’s Atonement? I hope we feel gratitude. We feel gratitude when we understand that it is through the symbols and covenants of the temple endowment that we may, through the Atonement, symbolically enter into the Father’s presence. These ordinances lead to the blessing of literally sitting down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the hereafter. We will sit together again in the heavenly council and “inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths, . . . continuation of the seeds forever and ever. . . . Then shall [we] be gods” (D&C 132:19‒20, 37).

As the mysteries of the kingdom unfold to us, we begin to understand and appreciate the doctrines of the temple; we become filled with gratitude as the Spirit witnesses to us. We then begin to feel an overwhelming desire to follow our Savior and become even as He is (see 3 Ne. 27:27). We desire to become perfect, even as we have been commanded (see 3 Ne. 12:48). We truly want to follow Moroni’s counsel to deny ourselves of all ungodliness (see Moro. 10:32). We come to understand the power of godliness as we are taught and make covenants and receive the sacred ordinances in the house of the Lord.

We are also filled with gratitude when we recognize that after all we can do, we literally are perfected through Christ; only through Him can we come into the presence of the Father. The closing words of Moroni eliminate any misunderstanding:

Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot. (Moroni 10:32‒33)

There are at least eleven specific doctrines and principles taught in those two verses (shown by the italicized words and phrases), and they will be quoted repeatedly in the pages that follow. Remember, repetition is good. Read carefully each time you see these verses, just as you worship in the temple with an attentive spirit.

The word of God is found in every covenant, ordinance, and teaching in the temple. It is also found in scripture and in the words of our living prophets, which God has given to lead us to light, truth, and exaltation. God our Father, our Savior Jesus Christ, and the prophets of God seek to bless us by inviting us to the Lord’s house so we can partake of the blessings there: “I gave unto you the commandment that ye should go to the Ohio; and there I will give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with power from on high” (D&C 38:32). If we are not moved by these promises, we may be guilty of one of the greatest sins—the sin of ingratitude. President Ezra Taft Benson reminded us:

You could follow the command, “Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things” (D&C 59:7). Prayer is a time to do that. 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, 199)

How can we overcome the sin of ingratitude? Take a moment to ponder and thank the Lord. Dedicate a notebook or journal as a “gratitude journal,” and write down at least one thing a day that fills your heart with gratitude. Occasionally share your book with family and special friends. Several years ago as I wrote regularly in my “gratitude journal” it was amazing to see how my attitude and actions were increasingly more reflective of the Savior as time went by. To be grateful is a choice we make every moment of every day. And when we are grateful we are moved to action through the desire to help others and build up the kingdom of God.

Ed J Pinegar