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The Attitude of Gratitude

I’ve come to believe that a negative attitude hinders, if not destroys, the power of faith. And since we’re approaching Thanksgiving, please let me show you what I mean.

Long ago, at the time of the Tower of Babel mentioned in the Book of Genesis, there lived a group of people favored of the Lord. As a blessing from the Almighty, their language was not confounded as was the rest of Babel’s tower-building miscreants. Moreover, as a further blessing from the Lord, He promised them a new and bounteous land far away across the ocean. A Promised Land.

Accordingly, they built eight small unique crafts with which to cross the ocean. These ships “… were built after a manner that they were exceedingly tight, even that they would hold water like unto a dish; and the bottom thereof was tight like unto a dish; … and the door thereof, when it was shut, was tight like unto a dish.” (Ether 2:17)

So these barges then are airtight, watertight, and light-tight. Well, the Lord helped them make the barges inhabitable. And after loading their animals, their food, and their families into these small crafts, they set out for the promised land.

“And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters…and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind. They were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind[s]. And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to blow towards the promised land while they were upon the waters.” (Ether 6:5-8)

“And thus they were driven forth three hundred and forty [and] four days upon the water.” (Ether 6:11)

Have you ever been seasick? These people are locked inside a small airtight, light-tight barge with no means to steer or control their vessel. They are violently driven before fierce winds; pitching and rolling the whole time. Sometimes they’re above the water; sometimes they’re beneath. I can picture them rolling and tossing like ping-pong balls in a barrel. Can you just imagine the living conditions under those circumstances, not to mention being confined with your barnyard animals and rampant seasickness— and all of that for nearly one full year? Even by the imagination, it’s nearly enough to make one ill.

Now, if you were there, what do you suppose your attitude and mood would have been? I know what mine would have been. But this is where the story takes a most startling twist.

The record says, “And thus they were driven forth before the wind. And they did sing praises unto the Lord; …and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord.” (Ether 6:8-9) “And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon [the face of] the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord.” (Ether 6:12)

Now, why? – because they were finally on dry land again? No! They shed tears of joy, “…because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them.” (Ether 6:12) They were so grateful to God!

Now my friends, a large part of humility is being able to grab a hold of a wrong attitude and make it right. Faith grows when we tell our mind what to think and believe. And lastly, gratitude begins with attitude. To be truly grateful under terrible conditions is the mark of a disciplined and refined soul, and the Lord loves that soul!