Our Blessings

Excerpts From a talk by President Thomas S. Monson

General Conference 2010

My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? 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.

My beloved friend President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “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.” ³

“Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things. …

“And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things.” ⁶

In the Book of Mormon we are told to “live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which [God] doth bestow upon you.” ⁷

Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings.

My brothers and sisters, 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.

“May you always have work for your hands to do.  May your pockets hold always a coin or two.  May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.  May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.  May the hand of a friend always be near you.  And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.”

Irish Blessing “A good memory is one that can remember the day's blessings  and forget the day's troubles” ~ Anonymous

Come, Let Us Sing an Evening Hymn

Come, let us sing an evening hymn
To calm our minds for rest,
And each one try, with single eye,
To praise the Savior best.

Yea, let us sing a sacred song
To close the passing day,
With one accord call on the Lord
And ever watch and pray.

Oh, thank the Lord for grace and gifts
Renewed in latter days,
For truth and light to guide us right
In wisdom’s pleasant ways,

 For ev’ry line we have received
To turn our hearts above,
For ev’ry word and ev’ry good
That fill our souls with love.

 Oh, let us raise a holier strain
For blessings great as ours,
And be prepared while angels guard
Us through our slumb’ring hours.

Oh, may we sleep and wake in joy,
While life with us remains,
And then go home beyond the tomb,
Where peace forever reigns

Text: William W. Phelps, 1792–1872. 

Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835.

Music: Tracy Y. Cannon, 1879–1961

Collosians 3:  16-17

Let the ^aword of Christ dwell in you richly in all ^bwisdom;^cteaching and admonishing one another in psalms and ^dhymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, ^ado all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving ^bthanks to God and the Father by him.