The cure for all social ills

On March 15, we had ward conference. I know from ward council that our bishop was planning on addressing Strengthening the Family. The ward counsel has been discussing ways to fight the many evils confronting the youth in the ward and has decided to focus on starting with their families through three monthly meetings. During these meetings, it has been suggested that the bishopric address video gaming, pornography, obscene texting, chat rooms, and simply wasting time in idle pursuits. I went to our Ward Conference expecting to hear a talk about strengthened parenting and stronger rules, etc. Instead, the bishop said that he had been inspired to change his talk. He proceeded to address the age-old issue of gratitude. He admonished us to be happy with what we have and to find joy in our ordinary blessings- which are really extraordinary gifts from God. We went home and spoke about it with our kids and I was reminded all week to count my blessings.

Now, as it has been 3 weeks since that talk, I have had more time to think about the meaning of that message. Why would the Lord tell our bishop to teach about gratitude instead of the issues that we confront directly?

Because the root of all of these evils, these addictions, is an aching and yearning for more- an emptiness. Why do people play video games excessively? Why do people get addicted to pornography? Why do any of us get addicted to shopping or complaining or anything that wastes our time? Because we have a void. We are bored or lonely or aching somewhere inside. We are unfullfilled. And the Lord counseled our bishop to address being happy with what we have. Gratitude fulfills us and brings us to praise God! It makes us feel that our lives are worthwhile so that we wish to fill them with noble pursuits, goals and dreams. Even when things don't turn out as we would wish, we can sit down and see the things that have turned out.

My patriachal blessing ends with an admonition I have memorized and think about often. It says,

Take time to examine your life and recognize the positive benefits you have had. If you will do this, you will divert the negative feelings and experiences and develop a cheerful and positive personality that can appreciate the blessings of life and the association of the spirit.

Through gratitude we can divert the negative feelings. Think of all of these idle pursuits as diversions- they divert our minds. From what? From the voids and emptiness we feel. And that is why they are so addictive. When you spend your time on empty pursuits, it makes you feel more empty. Then, when you feel empty, you need even more to become fulfilled again. But when we take time to recognize the blessing we have received and to bring the Lord's love into our lives, it really does fulfill us and encourages us to do things that are meaningful. Diversions are wonderful and necessary, but take care that your diversions bring you back around to God- so that you can avoid negative feelings and experiences.

As I was sharing my thoughts with a friend, she opened my eyes to a quote President Monson quoted in October 2010's conference talk on Gratitude (http://lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/the-divine-gift-of-gratitude?lang=eng&query=gratitude). He says,

We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that “gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”

President Joseph F. Smith, quoted in the same talk said,

The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life.Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!

So now, we come full circle- gratitude drives darkness out of our lives! I have no doubt at all that our bishop was inspired as he changed his talk from one that reaches only some in his audience to the root of the whole problem and one that reaches every member of the human race. How small is our vision, yet how much broader it can be if we will listen to the Lord, and prayerfully see our blessings.