Address by Pres. Nelson on 11/20/20 - "The Healing Power of Gratitude"

[smac97]

Streaming now: 

 

 

Edited November 20, 2020 by smac97

[smac97]

Brief summary:

He addresses the severity of COVID, and then notes that it is one of several ills in our time.

He speaks of the "healing power of gratitude."

He quotes Paul: "in everything give thanks."

He says "Counting our blessings is far better than recounting our problems."

Gratitude is a fast-acting and long-acting spiritual prescription.  It does not spare us from paid and difficulty, but it soothes our feelings, helps us perceive a greater purpose and about the joy in life.

He spoke of the moment his first wife passed away.  They were watching television when she collapsed.  There was nothing he could do.  He also notes that he has lost two of his ten children.  He expresses gratitude for the 60 years spent with his wife, for his memories with her, for his current wife.  He is grateful that he will see his two departed daughters again.  We can be grateful for the beauty of the earth, which gives us an inkling of the vastness of eternity.  We can be grateful for life, for music and literature, for repentance, for personal improvement, for family and friends, for the opportunity to help and serve each other.  We can even give thanks for our trials, and what we learn from them.  Most of all, we can give gratitude to God, the Father of our spirits, which makes us a great family.  

He gives two suggestions to experience the healing power of gratitude.  First, turn social media into your "Personal Gratitude Journal."  Talk about what you find about which to be grateful.  Use the hashtag #GiveThanks.  Sharing gratitude will in part fulfill the promise given to Abraham, than through his descendants all the world will be blessed.  Let us unite in thanking God through daily prayer.

He concluded by offering a prayer for the world and everyone in it.

Very touching.

Thanks,

-Smac

[Okrahomer]

I'm grateful for President Nelson.  As one of the commentators on the YouTube channel noted:  His eyes say "I love you!"  #GiveThanks

Edited November 20, 2020 by Okrahomer
spelling

[bluebell]

This was one of the best things I've watched in a long time.  

[Calm]

It the title correct?  Pres. Oaks?

[smac97]

1 hour ago, Calm said:

It the title correct?  Pres. Oaks?

Fixed it.  Thanks.

[Tacenda]

I like it very much, and his sweet prayer at the end. 

[MustardSeed]

An acquaintance of mine recently left the church because he does not believe thatPresident Nelson speaks for God.
 

This man has raised his entire family righteously in the Gospel and it confounds me, to my core, that this is his position.  His family has followed him.  
 

I couldn’t be more grateful for president Nelson right now. 

[pogi]

I needed this prescription.  Give me an IV STAT. 

I love this man!

Thanks doc

[stemelbow]

6 hours ago, smac97 said:

 

He gives two suggestions to experience the healing power of gratitude.  First, turn social media into your "Personal Gratitude Journal."  Talk about what you find about which to be grateful.  Use the hashtag #GiveThanks.  Sharing gratitude will in part fulfill the promise given to Abraham, than through his descendants all the world will be blessed. 

Okily dokily.  #give thanks.  

I'm grateful to be freed from the divisive religious dogma that is the church.  

[Duncan]

I recently came into contact with one of the elders that taught my Dad and baptized him in 1962. It literally fell into my lap. I found the other elder some years ago. It was weird last week my Mom and I talked to this second elder and his wife about my Dad. He knew my Dad before my Mom did, 💥💥 She did most of the talking, as all those three  remember 1962 and I don't so...........but tomorrow i'm putting up the two photos of these elders from back then. They live, in get this, Utah

[MorningStar]

1 hour ago, stemelbow said:

Okily dokily.  #give thanks.  

I'm grateful to be freed from the divisive religious dogma that is the church.  

And that's not divisive? 

It's been an ugly, horrible, fearful, stressful, violent, angry, etc. time and news feeds are clogged with it even though the holidays are coming. I was grateful for the reminder today, but predictably people were posting things like, "Do you think there are going to be any big revelations or just the same old same old?" Was it surprising the message was about gratitude? No. Did we need to be reminded to be grateful? Yes. There was no indication given that President Nelson was going to make a big announcement, but I personally needed to hear comforting words from him and his sweet prayer too during this time. We all need to see more happy things and have fewer arguments with each other about politics, masks, and all the other stuff people have argued about for 8 plus months. I'm sick of watching people end friendships and even cutting off family. 

I think it's true that if social media is flooded with gratitude instead of anger, it will be contagious and maybe more of us will feel happier even though things are hard. Sadly it's not surprising to see people turning gratitude into a negative thing just because it came from our church. 

[stemelbow]

23 minutes ago, MorningStar said:

And that's not divisive? 

It's been an ugly, horrible, fearful, stressful, violent, angry, etc. time and news feeds are clogged with it even though the holidays are coming. I was grateful for the reminder today, but predictably people were posting things like, "Do you think there are going to be any big revelations or just the same old same old?" Was it surprising the message was about gratitude? No. Did we need to be reminded to be grateful? Yes. There was no indication given that President Nelson was going to make a big announcement, but I personally needed to hear comforting words from him and his sweet prayer too during this time. We all need to see more happy things and have fewer arguments with each other about politics, masks, and all the other stuff people have argued about for 8 plus months. I'm sick of watching people end friendships and even cutting off family. 

I think it's true that if social media is flooded with gratitude instead of anger, it will be contagious and maybe more of us will feel happier even though things are hard. Sadly it's not surprising to see people turning gratitude into a negative thing just because it came from our church. 

Are we supposed to condemn other people's posts of gratitude?  If that is Nelson's intent then never mind, I guess.  

I cant help that the church has been divisive.  I'm grateful to be free of it.  

[pogi]

3 hours ago, stemelbow said:

Okily dokily.  #give thanks.  

I'm grateful to be freed from the divisive religious dogma that is the church.  

Please spare us this one thread.  I would be grateful. 

Edited November 21, 2020 by pogi

[Scott Lloyd]

I’ve already made two entries to social media for my “personal gratitude journal,” one expressing gratitude for my family and the other for our faithful dog, whom we got 13 years ago as a shelter puppy. 
 

I like how the effort has made me feel. So I’ve already found it to be “fast-acting.” It remains to be seen how “long-lasting” it will be, but I intend to continue it daily through the week, consistent with President Nelson’s challenge. 

[stemelbow]

1 hour ago, pogi said:

Please spare us this one thread.  I would be grateful. 

Whose the "us" you want me excluded from?  I figured president nelson wanted everyone to express gratitude.  If I'm grateful for something why does it bother you?  

I'll happily leave if that's what is preferred.  I don't mean to be a bother.  

Edited November 21, 2020 by stemelbow

[pogi]

1 hour ago, stemelbow said:

Whose the "us" you want me excluded from?  I figured president nelson wanted everyone to express gratitude.  If I'm grateful for something why does it bother you?  

I'll happily leave if that's what is preferred.  I don't mean to be a bother.  

Can you find one or two things to give gratitude to the church for?  Has there been nothing positive to come from your membership?  Instead of being divisive and mocking the church and thus those who deeply believe in it, can you reach deep in your heart and try to offer some gratitude for the church in the spirit of friendship and unity with those you may disagree with.

The gratitude you expressed, though it may be real, was disingenuous in its intent here. The point of his message was to allow for gratitude to dismantle strife, not to use it as a tool to stir up contention.  It is just more toxic 2020 poison.

Edited November 21, 2020 by pogi

[stemelbow]

1 hour ago, pogi said:

Can you find one or two things to give gratitude to the church for?  Has there been nothing positive to come from your membership?  Instead of being divisive and mocking the church and thus those who deeply believe in it, can you reach deep in your heart and try to offer some gratitude for the church in the spirit of friendship and unity with those you may disagree with.

The gratitude you expressed, though it may be real, was disingenuous in its intent here. The point of his message was to allow for gratitude to dismantle strife, not to use it as a tool to stir up contention.  It is just more toxic 2020 poison.

You want to direct what I am grateful for after coming after me for expressing something I'm grateful for?  I didn't know he put stipulations on what we should be grateful for.  

I'm still not sure why you are trying to exclude me, but again I mean no offense. It appears you guys are offended, so have fun.  I apologize for the hurt I caused.  

[Meadowchik]

I've enjoyed reading my friends talk about things they are grateful for. It is welcome optimism in a difficult time.

[bluebell]

11 hours ago, pogi said:

The point of his message was to allow for gratitude to dismantle strife, not to use it as a tool to stir up contention.  It is just more toxic 2020 poison.

Quoting for truth.  

[MorningStar]

22 hours ago, stemelbow said:

Are we supposed to condemn other people's posts of gratitude?  If that is Nelson's intent then never mind, I guess.  

I cant help that the church has been divisive.  I'm grateful to be free of it.  

It's not actual gratitude. It's a passive-aggressive dig. This is like a grown kid who moves out of the house, comes home for Thanksgiving because he doesn't have anywhere else to go, Mom says, "Let's go around the table and say what we're thankful for" and the kid says, "I'm thankful I don't live here anymore." Is that meant to make Mom feel good? Is your comment meant to uplift others? The point of sharing gratitude is to uplift. The kid could think of something positive to be thankful for. I'm guessing you have many things to be thankful for like clothes, shelter, food, friends, technology, family, nature, etc. But you intentionally picked something that you know would make people here feel sad.  

Kid says, "I'm free from this horrible family!" Comes home to do his laundry every weekend. Eats family's food. Bums around on the couch playing video games. Is he really free from the family? 

 

Edited November 22, 2020 by MorningStar

[mrmarklin]

On 11/20/2020 at 5:02 PM, stemelbow said:

Okily dokily.  #give thanks.  

I'm grateful to be freed from the divisive religious dogma that is the church.  

Sad.    

[mrmarklin]

I should clarify my comment. I’m not sad. Stemelbow is. 

[juliann]

On 11/20/2020 at 6:02 PM, stemelbow said:

Okily dokily.  #give thanks.  

I'm grateful to be freed from the divisive religious dogma that is the church.  

So original. Exmo hangouts thought this was a hilarious troll that they all should engage in. Rather telling And not in a happy way but each to their own. 
 

I’m grateful that I can Enjoy retirement, the best time of life,  and do it around family. Love, love, love my grand babies. 

[Nemesis]

I’ve kicked him out of the thread.  No need to address him anymore. 
 

Nemesis