2014-05-00-ensign-eng

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Latter-day Saints throughout theworld gather for the 184th AnnualGeneral Conference. Pictured clockwisefrom top left are Church membersand missionaries in Vienna,Austria; São Paulo, Brazil; MexicoCity, Mexico; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia;Highlands Ranch, Colorado, USA;Sydney, Australia; Saint Petersburg,Russia; and Norcross, Georgia, USA.
It is easy to be grateful for thingswhen life seems to be going our way.But what then of those times whenwhat we wish for seems to be far outof reach?Could I suggest that we see gratitudeas a disposition, a way of life thatstands independent of our currentsituation? In other words, I’m suggestingthat instead of being thankful forthings, we focus on being thankfulin our circumstances—whatever theymay be.There is an old story of a waiterwho asked a customer whether hehad enjoyed the meal. The guestreplied that everything was fine, butit would have been better if they hadserved more bread. The next day,when the man returned, the waiterdoubled the amount of bread, givinghim four slices instead of two, but stillthe man was not happy. The next day,the waiter doubled the bread again,without success.On the fourth day, the waiter wasreally determined to make the manhappy. And so he took a nine-footlong(3-m) loaf of bread, cut it in half,and with a smile, served that to thecustomer. The waiter could scarcelywait for the man’s reaction.After the meal, the man looked upand said, “Good as always. But I seeyou’re back to giving only two slicesof bread.”Being Grateful in Our CircumstancesMy dear brothers and sisters, thechoice is ours. We can choose to limitour gratitude, based on the blessingswe feel we lack. Or we can choose tobe like Nephi, whose grateful heartnever faltered. When his brothers tiedhim up on the ship—which he hadbuilt to take them to the promisedland—his ankles and wrists were sosore “they had swollen exceedingly,”and a violent storm threatened toswallow him up in the depths of thesea. “Nevertheless,” Nephi said, “I didlook unto my God, and I did praisehim all the day long; and I did notmurmur against the Lord because ofmine afflictions.” 4We can choose to be like Job, whoseemed to have everything but thenlost it all. Yet Job responded by saying,“Naked came I out of my mother’swomb, and naked shall I return . . . :the Lord gave, and the Lord hath takenaway; blessed be the name of theLord.” 5We can choose to be like theMormon pioneers, who maintaineda spirit of gratitude during their slowand painful trek toward the Great SaltLake, even singing and dancing andglorying in the goodness of God. 6Many of us would have been inclinedto withdraw, complain, and agonizeabout the difficulty of the journey.We can choose to be like theProphet Joseph Smith, who, while aprisoner in miserable conditions inLiberty Jail, penned these inspiredwords: “Dearly beloved brethren, letus cheerfully do all things that lie inour power; and then may we standstill, with the utmost assurance, to seethe salvation of God, and for his armto be revealed.” 7We can choose to be grateful, nomatter what.This type of gratitude transcendswhatever is happening around us. Itsurpasses disappointment, discouragement,and despair. It blooms justas beautifully in the icy landscapeof winter as it does in the pleasantwarmth of summer.When we are grateful to God in ourcircumstances, we can experience gentlepeace in the midst of tribulation. Ingrief, we can still lift up our hearts inpraise. In pain, we can glory in Christ’sAtonement. In the cold of bitter sorrow,we can experience the closenessand warmth of heaven’s embrace.We sometimes think that beinggrateful is what we do after ourproblems are solved, but how terriblyMay <strong>2014</strong>75
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THE ENSIGN OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS C
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6By Elder Jeffrey R. HollandOf the
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And what of those who just want tol
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12By Elder Carlos H. AmadoOf the Se
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kindness and tenderness, He pleaded
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Raymond, Alberta, CanadaWe as leade
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By Elder Neil L. AndersenOf the Quo
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After declaring her belief in tradi
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22By President Henry B. EyringFirst
Page 26 and 27: shall have glory added upon theirhe
Page 28 and 29: SATURDAY AFTERNOON SESSION | April
Page 30 and 31: Church Auditing DepartmentReport, 2
Page 32 and 33: not combine the two. How could I do
Page 34 and 35: NOTES1. When a baby is born, the um
Page 36 and 37: prepare for future opportunities an
Page 38 and 39: diminishes God’s standards in our
Page 40 and 41: When he arrived home, and pressurew
Page 42 and 43: can ye, except ye abide in me.“I
Page 44 and 45: easonable amount of time, each of u
Page 46 and 47: 44By Elder Quentin L. CookOf the Qu
Page 48 and 49: the family organization, in the mor
Page 50 and 51: the ultimate question raised by Job
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Page 54 and 55: In the eyes of God, whether inthe C
Page 56 and 57: our future, no matter our history,
Page 58 and 59: 56By Randall L. RiddSecond Counselo
Page 60 and 61: Third: Owning a Smartphone Does Not
Page 62 and 63: Those who serve others will notslee
Page 64 and 65: sanctified by the Spirit unto there
Page 66 and 67: how, during that day. That will tak
Page 68 and 69: By President Thomas S. MonsonBe Str
Page 70 and 71: In an interview published in anatio
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Page 75: THE FIRST QUORUM OF THE SEVENTY(in
Page 79 and 80: who promises eternal blessingswitho
Page 81 and 82: encouraged members to pray to beled
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Page 85 and 86: hand in their lives and often expre
Page 87 and 88: The words of the Apostle Paul seems
Page 89 and 90: By Elder David A. BednarOf the Quor
Page 91 and 92: “And I will also ease the burdens
Page 93 and 94: By President Thomas S. MonsonLove
Page 95 and 96: that the reasons do not matter. If
Page 97 and 98: The revelations promise that “wha
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Page 101 and 102: Hyrum. But they carried on! Theysta
Page 103 and 104: the team ever believes that it does
Page 105 and 106: Too often we think of obedienceas t
Page 107 and 108: Priesthoods, elders, high priests,d
Page 109 and 110: In working with many membersover th
Page 111 and 112: their works ye shall know them; for
Page 113 and 114: By Elder D. Todd ChristoffersonOf t
Page 115 and 116: thoughts. Because He redeemed usfro
Page 117 and 118: By President Thomas S. MonsonUntil
Page 119 and 120: Stay standing, girls, while everyon
Page 121 and 122: By Bonnie L. OscarsonYoung Women Ge
Page 123 and 124: Her bishop solemnly replied, “Sis
Page 125 and 126: een prepared to do! Regardless ofwh
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By President Henry B. EyringFirst C
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from seeing that a sister and daugh
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Conference Story IndexThe following
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overcome “spiritual whirlwinds,
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ARTISTS INVITED TO ENTERCOMPETITION
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Technology and Social MediaExpand W
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The Mexico City Temple Visitors’
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Church AppliesWelfare Principlesin
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Elder Lynn G.RobbinsPresidency of t
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Elder Hugo E.MartinezSecond Quorum
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© ELSPETH YOUNG, MAY NOT BE COPIED
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