"The Nine Society" - Gratitude

Lesson on Gratitude

In the October 2002 General Conference, Elder David B. Haight of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles taught about gratitude. He quoted the record in Luke where one day the Savior entered a village where there were ten lepers. Leprosy, that terrible....that dreaded disease....anciently, but not common today...was thought of like AIDS is in our day.

Ten lepers came to the Savior and said "Master, have mercy upon us who have that terrible ailment of leprosy."

The Savior replied: "Go visit your priest and he will take care of you." And they did. They went to see their priests and all ten were cleansed.

A short time later, one of them returned to the Savior and fell on his face and on his hands and knees, thanking the Savior for blessing him and making him well from that terrible disease.

And the Savior said to the one man, "were there not 10? What has happened to the other nine? Where are they?" (Luke 17:11-19).

Inspired question: Elder Haight then asked the poignant question - "How would you like to be part of the "nine society?" Wouldn't it be terrible to be numbered among those who failed to return and acknowledge the Savior for the blessings He had given them?

The Mystery of the Vanishing art. Grandma Polizzi often spoken of the vanishing art as the 5 J's were growing up. After much guessing and persistent pestering by the grandchildren, she finally would reveal what was the mysterious vanishing art - ironing. Young people today do not know how to iron.

Personal Thank you Notes. I personally feel that the vanishing art is that of writing "thank you" notes. We do not do this enough. While serving as bishop in Burlington, Ontario, I will never forget an experience one Sunday where Sister Linda Beatson approached me in tears following Sacrament meeting. She held in her hand a "thank you" note from Sister Jarvis, another sister in the Ward, who had been touched by the Sacrament meeting talk given by Amy Lawson, Sister Beatson's daughter. Sister Jarvis was thanking Sister Beatson for being the type of mother that would raise such a daughter.

Action Plan. Since that moment, it has been a frequent pitch of mine to students, missionaries and our own children to go and do likewise. Respond to the prompting to express gratitude for something someone does...this can be termed as random acts of kindness....when people are not expecting such a reaction, it becomes most memorable.

Example. One of our missionaries had as his trademark, the practice of leaving yellow stickie notes in bathrooms, on mirrors, on refrigerators, and on windshields with a little "thank you" note expressing appreciation for whatever the couple, the investigator, or member had done for him.

Activity:

1. Sit down and write a thank you note to a teacher, a speaker in Church, a relative or anyone who recently blessed your life.

2. Follow the counsel of President Eyring in General Conference and make a journal entry every day about some way the Lord has blessed your life.

3. Resolve today that you will not be part of the "nine society" but rather continually express gratitude to Heavenly Father for His countless blessings.