Happy Thanksgiving!

As ya'll may know it's Thanksgiving this week!  So of course the popular topic is gratitude of which I have a few words on too.  The way I think of it is we can never have too much gratitude, right?  Well, don't I think so.  First, I guess you could say there are many things to be grateful for in this life.  One of the things my companion, Elder Lauese, has been bringing up is being grateful for your trials.  Now first I think, when we hear this we think "yah okay, let me do that."  That's because it's hard to think about it in that way as a gift.  I think of it as more of an exciting thing.  As we know the Lord gives us trials to test our faith.  As we know from Nephi 3:7 he always provides a way for us to accomplish these things.  That's the way I look at it when Heavenly Father gives me a hard trial.  All it means is that he believes in me!  He knows I can overcome the trial.  What a great blessing that is to know that He is actually expressing his love and hope in us as he gives us these hurdles to overcome!  Not to mention when we do overcome them.  We do it with a greater knowledge and understanding of something.  So we do gain from trials.  D&C 58:4 tells us after much tribulations comes the blessings.  Now, think about it that way and think to yourself,  is this trial a blessing?  If anything I have just said makes sense, you might find yourself saying yes.  So what do we do next?  We remember this Thanksgiving of the temporal things, of course, to be thankful for, but also don't forget the spiritual things because they are the things to be truly grateful for.  The gospel, the atonement, and the love of our Heavenly Father.  Take the time to think about all He has done for you.  The little things.  His tender mercies as in Nephi 1:20.  Let your heart be filled with gratitude.  I know that as you do that it can change your whole countenance.  It will help you realize blessings.  Others will see that change in you.  Most importantly, your Father in heaven will, and He will bless you beyond measure if you show Him your thanks. I hope ya'll have a Happy Thanksgiving.  Spend a lot of time eating, and a lot of time praying for your blessings.  I thank all ya'll for your support on my mission