Gratitude Israel Jackie

 My dear friend, Jackie, and I were chatting through text.  She is speaking in church on Sunday and was asking me some questions in preparation for her talk.  Then she shared this:  

"I did have a thought about President Nelson's message of gratitude. Obviously, the timing seems appropriate with Thanksgiving and all, but I specifically asked "Why else?" And I immediately heard "To prepare us". What an interesting thought! I have been thinking about it, and isn't it true that we are going to really NEED to rely on gratitude for our blessings as the world gets more and more wicked? We are going to have to SEE our blessings, and what a better way than to have them recorded?? As memories pop up on FB, we are taken back to the time that we were posting about. This probably doesn't make sense, as I am still processing those thoughts, but I think it may fit into my talk somewhere.

It reminds me of the prophets in the BOM exhorting their people to look to the experiences of their fathers to remember the blessings and promises of the Lord. Maybe our future generations will need to look back at our recording of how we were blessed during 2020..."

When I read these words, I literally got chills.  I'd immediately knelt to say a prayer of gratitude and to ask forgiveness when I heard President Nelson's words.  But I hadn't really taken time to reflect on WHY gratitude and why that was what would heal us and why right now?   (Aside from, of course, Thanksgiving.)  I HAD been really touched by his words that perhaps this was one fulfillment of the covenant promise that through Abraham's seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed.  Jackie's thoughts connected with some of the things I had been considering and so I shared this:  

"You know I think his invitation in conference was similar...to look for the blessings promised to covenant Israel, reflect on them and talk about them with friends and family.  I hadn't thought about it quite like this but first, it reminds us of all that God has already done...for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob...but also for the Nephites and Lamanites and other members of the house of Israel.  And it helps us see the promises that have been given but not yet fulfilled so we can watch for them.  AND as we read of these promises it can and should help us recognize that God is fulfilling many of these promises in OUR lives right now also.  I know that on weeks where I am really diligent about studying, watching for and writing about the promises I am happier and feel more peace and see God's hand more easily.  I think it's all connected."

God's people in the past have been richly blessed and protected by Him.  He has led them and delivered them and strengthened them and blessed them.  And the same is true for us.  And I think we are going to need that knowledge and going to need to see clearly all the good that God is doing in our lives to be able to survive spiritually through the hard things that are happening now and the hard things that are to come!  I don't love hard things.  But I do love God and I want so much to qualify for His blessings.  I LOVE studying the blessings of covenant Israel.  Truly, I love it.  It's been such a blessing for me.

LESSONS LEARNED:  Gratitude.  Gratitude.  Gratitude.

Recognize, record and remember the great things that the Lord has done.

The blessings of covenant Israel are for me.  And for you.  For each child of God if they will make and keep covenants with Him.

Nelson Promises Israel

 In General Conference, President Nelson extended this invitation: "As you study your scriptures during the next six months, I encourage you to make a list of all that the Lord has promised He will do for covenant Israel. I think you will be astounded! Ponder these promises. Talk about them with your family and friends. Then live and watch for these promises to be fulfilled in your own life."

As part of my studies, I am also reading conference talks related to covenants and Israel. Last night I read his talk Covenants (given in 2011) and was so touched by the promises he gave:

*Jesus the Christ would be born through Abraham's lineage.

*Through Israel, all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

*Eternal increase and priesthood.

*Turning away every one of you from his iniquities (maybe that doesn't stand out as a promise at first...but the more I think about it, the more I love that promise...He can help us turn from sin and iniquity and weakness and turn toward Him and repent.)

*We can receive patriarchal blessings which give us a vision for the future and a connection with the past.

*Children of the covenant have the right to receive His doctrine and know the plan of salvation.

*We will be joint heirs to the blessings of an eternal family.

*We can/will know who we are and what God expects of us. (I think this is such a precious blessing...closely tied to the blessings of a patriarchal blessing.)

*The Law will be written in our Hearts.

*He is our God. We are His people.

*The sting of death is soothed.

*Our spiritual stamina will be strengthened.

*We can dwell with God in a neverending state of happiness.

Already President Nelson is correct that I am "astounded" by the promises given and how blessed we are! I have already filled pages with notes about what I'm learning.

Also, listening to a podcast entitled Unshaken, I really love what Jared Halverson said about exclusivity that leads to inclusivity. He has a "chosen people" but the intent is that those who have made covenants don't do so just to earn blessings for themselves but invite others to come unto Christ so that all of God's children can and will be blessed. I'm so grateful for these (and so many other) promises that I'm coming to understand a little better.