Making Thankfulness a Daily Discipline: Singing Our Gratitude to the Lord

Brothers and sisters, if there’s one thing the Savior taught us through His discipleship, it’s that the gospel isn't just a set of doctrines; it’s a *way of living*. It’s a constant, joyful conversation with our Heavenly Father. Sometimes, when we’re deep in the study of the Book of Mormon, or wrestling through a tough doctrinal question with Davee, we get so focused on the *next* thing—the next lesson, the next transfer, the next call—that we forget to pause and just *feel* the gratitude for the now.

I was recently reminded of this principle while listening to a talk on Psalm 92. It hit me right where my heart is when I think about how easy it is to take the blessings we receive for granted. We live in a world with so much amazing goodness—the beauty of a sunrise, the laughter of our children, the quiet moments of study in HolyPlaces—and it’s easy to treat those good things like background noise.

It’s Good to Give Thanks to the Lord

The scripture is clear: “It is good to give thanks to the Lord.” But notice the emphasis. It’s not just *nice* to be thankful; the speaker says it’s *good*. It’s a spiritual discipline! It’s like physical exercise for the soul. It requires intention. It means moving beyond just acknowledging the good things in our lives (which are wonderful!) to acknowledging the Giver of all good things—our Heavenly Father.

As we prepare for the field, or even just navigating the day-to-day as returned missionaries, we often focus on *what* we need to do. We focus on the curriculum, the timings, the conversations. But this Psalm reminds us that the act of gratitude itself is part of the work. It’s a testament to our faith, and it’s a beautiful example to those we teach.

Singing Our Praise: A Communal Act of Faith

What really struck me was the second part: “and to sing praises to your name, O Most High.” Singing! If you’ve ever been to an MTC session or a temple hometeaching, you know that singing praises is a natural part of our culture. But the speaker pointed out how unusual it might seem to an outsider—a group of people gathering just to sing to God. It speaks to a deep, internal knowledge of covenant. It’s a language the Spirit speaks to us!

And here’s a key takeaway for all of us, whether we are in the seminary, in the field, or just doing our morning scripture study: Don't let the perceived skill level stop you. If you’re not a great singer, that’s okay! God doesn't require a professional choir; He requires a willing heart. If you feel hesitant to sing praises, remember that the Lord is more interested in the *spirit* of your gratitude than the pitch of your voice.

Proclaiming Love Morning and Night

Finally, the call to declare God's loving kindness in the morning and in the evening. This isn't just a nice habit; it's a rhythm of discipleship. It means that when we wake up, our first thoughts shouldn't be about the to-do list, but about the covenant love we share with our Father. It means that before we rest, we pause to recount His faithfulness throughout the day.

My challenge to you this week, as we continue to be diligent in our roles as Internet missionaries, is to institute a small "Morning Thanks" ritual. Before you open LivingBook or start your day, take two minutes. Think of one specific blessing—maybe the ability to gather with your ward, or the gift of knowledge from an Iron Rod author—and sincerely thank Him for it. Let that gratitude permeate your entire day.

Remember, every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time. Let’s make our gratitude a visible, audible, and constant part of our testimony.

If you want to deepen this study, I highly recommend checking out the Book Clubs feature in HolyPlaces, or perhaps spending some time with Davee. He's excellent at walking through the "why" behind the scriptures, which often leads right back to the heart of thankfulness. For further reading on covenant love, I found the insights on Abraham and Isaac in the *Iron Rod* series particularly moving.

If you're looking for more ways to deepen your study, don't forget to check out the free weekly Disciple Challenge—it’s a wonderful way to keep the momentum going!