Why gratitude can open your heart to receiving revelation

This article is from The Joseph Smith Papers and is shared with permission.

Have you ever listened to a talk and wanted to chant, “Yes! Yes!” all the way through? That was me when I listened to Bishop Gerald Caussé’s message.

In this week's episode of This Is is the Gospel, Becky endures soul-rending pain after losing her oldest daughter, Amber, to suicide. But while going through Amber's belongings, Becky discovers her daughter had secretly been donating to an orphanage in India. Intrigued, Becky eventually makes her way to the orphanage where she begins her work helping those with a crippling disease she thought had been eradicated long ago.

Editor’s note: “This week from the pulpit” highlights recent messages from General Authorities, General Officers, and leaders of the Church. This story may be updated throughout the week.

In several spots in scripture, God promises that “as ye keep the commandments, ye shall prosper in the land.”

The February 2021 issue of the Liahona provides many messages of hope focused on the topic of incarceration.

One Latter-day Saint hymn poses a pressing question: “Oh say, what is truth?” The hymn goes on to compare the worth of truth to “the fairest gem that the riches of worlds can produce,” and “the brightest prize to which mortals or Gods can aspire.” This question of discerning truth is perhaps more relevant now than ever.

Latter-day Saints recognize that, rather than an aberration in God’s plan, lack of knowing is a central and defining feature of mortal experience.

The Bible translator William Tyndale wrote, Evangelion (that we call the gospel) is a Greek word and signifieth good, merry, glad and joyful tidings, that maketh a man’s heart glad, and maketh him to sing, dance, and leap for joy. Yet in our interactions with Saints throughout the world, we have found many hurting members asking the same questions: If God weeps over our misery, why does Christ need to allay God’s wrath? If Christ promises to “wipe away all tears,” why do we anticipate sorrows to come in the next world? Too many of the wounded and struggling are wondering why a restored Church that heralds joy here and hereafter seems at time to inflict or add injury rather than proffer the balm of Gilead.