November Newsletter
Bishopric Message
Brothers and Sisters,
I hope that we can all take time to recognize our blessings during this Thanksgiving season. We have so much to be grateful for, no matter our situation and circumstances. Of course, this can be much easier said than done. We all have our trials, big and small, and it can be difficult to remember to have gratitude.
Elder Uchtdorf shared this wise counsel about gratitude:
"Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be. We can choose to be grateful, no matter what.This type of gratitude transcends whatever is happening around us. It surpasses disappointment, discouragement, and despair."
Having gratitude is important as we look to strengthen our foundations in Jesus Christ. It allows us to more humbly seek to follow His example and helps us recognize and accept our Father in Heaven's will for us.
I am thankful for all of you and hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Bishop Densley
Spiritual Message
The crunch crunch sound of leaves, the spell of Pumpkin Spice and the anticipation of the upcoming holiday season. I love the time to reflect on gratitude and then prepare for Christmas, celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. The definition of thanksgiving is, “the expression of gratitude, especially to God.” That made me think- around the holiday of Thanksgiving- do I really take the time to express my gratitude to God? I make a gratitude list, and we talk about what we are grateful for around the dinner table- but in my prayers do I thank my Heavenly Father? I have made this my goal for this Thanksgiving- really express my gratitude to God. We have this wonderful opportunity to live during this time of Space X, electricity, iPhones, and so much more that makes our lives better and easier. (I don’t know about you- but I am SUPER grateful for indoor plumbing!) In thinking about expressing my gratitude to God, I have noticed that I have been more positive throughout the day, and feel a stronger loving connection to God.
President Thomas S. Monson has taught, “To express gratitude is gracious and honorable, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven” (“The Divine Gift of Gratitude,” Ensign, Nov. 2010, 90).
~Becca Kirkman
