LET US GIVE THANKS!

In spite of life’s challenges and stress, it’s disappointments and difficulties, we ALL have much for which to be thankful !
The event that Americans commonly call the “First Thanksgiving” was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their 1st harvest in the new world in October 1621. per Edward Winslow, a pilgrim who attended, the feast lasted three days and was attended by 90 Native American Indians and fifty-three Pilgrims.
Thanksgiving is now a national holiday in the United States that has been celebrated off and on since 1789, with a proclamation by George Washington.  In 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared a national
day of “Thanksgiving and prayer to our beneficent Father who dwells in the Heavens,” to be celebrated on the 4th Thursday in November.
As you gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving Day, surrounding a table full of your Thanksgiving favorite foods, we hope you’ll take time to ponder and pray- giving thanks to our “beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”
In the Book of Mormon, Amulek encourages the people to be thankful. (Alma 34:38)” ...live In Thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.” In contrast to Satan who rewardeth you “no good thing”, our Heavenly Father is the bestower of ALL good things and wants to multiply our blessings if we receive them with a grateful heart.  (D&C 78:17-19) ...ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you; ...the kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.  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.”
Without a grateful heart, we risk offending our loving Heavenly Father. ( D&C 59:21) “...in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things and obey not his commandments.”
At this Thanksgiving season we want you to know that we are very Thankful indeed. We are thankful to our “ beneficent Father in Heaven” for his amazing Plan of Happiness, for His Son Jesus Christ who’s atoning sacrifice made it possible to repent and try again. We are thankful for scriptures, prophets and apostles past and present, for the opportunity to make and keep sacred covenants that protect and uplift. We are Thankful for Thanksgiving, this wonderful time of gratitude and prayer; for  the opportunity, not just at Thanksgiving but daily, to bend our knees and give grateful thanks for all things. We are thankful for our privilege to serve a mission here in Ukraine and for the wonderful people we serve.
We are thankful for each other and we are thankful for every one of you, our dear children, their spouses, our grandchildren and loved ones!
Much love and gratitude-at Thanksgiving and always!                                        

The Grandparent Chronicles

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