Often times in the scriptures, Moses, Nephi, and other prophets went up in the mountains to feel close to God. There they learned great things. They learned of their potential as sons of God. They learned of His infinite power in creating the universe. Holy prophets saw angels, visions of the last days and the gospel being spread to all the earth, and even the birth, life, and Atonement of Jesus Christ Himself. For this reason, I believe that nature and mountains can be a sacred place for each of us to be taught new things that God would have us know and understand. (**Although, if we are humble and seeking we can be taught anywhere we need to be)
Last saturday, I went on a hike with my ward (congregation). We started off at around 11. The sun started to beat down on us. I quickly became very hot. My water did little to cool me down. The beautiful trail occasionally opened up to reveal breaktaking vistas of the surrounding mountains that pierced the sky, some still topped with snow. Countless pine trees stretched to reach the light emanating from the sun. As the trail steepened, my view narrowed more and more to simply trudging onward, and I became less and less observant of the beauty around me. My objectives dwindled down to making it to the top and back down for the lunch provided afterward.
We have all heard the cliche that life is a journey, but do we ever become so focused on a distant goal that we stop enjoying the path that takes us there? What of all the beauty that surrounds us, the "small and simple things" that Heavenly Father provides for us simply because He loves us and wants us to be happy? The scriptures teach us to "...press forward, with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men..." and promise eternal life if we will do so. (2 Nephi 31:20) Pressing forward is not easy. Discipleship is not easy. It is meant to test the deepest part of our souls, every ounce of our integrity, faithfulness, courage, and determination we possess. We will only discover that strength if we are tested. But our journey does not need to be drudgery. This life is not meant to be consistent misery until we expire and return to meet God. The prophet Lehi taught, "Men are that they might have joy." Joy is one of the purposes of our creation! That joy, that perfect brightness of hope, and love of God and of all men comes from gratitude. "A grateful heart is the catalyst of all Christlike virtues." It comes from seeing the beauty in our circumstances, as imperfect or challenging as they are. Everything that God gives us is a blessing. He wants us to have joy! "Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; Yea for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul. And it please God that he hath given all these things unto man...And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled save those who confess not his hand in al things, and obey not his commandments." (Doctrine and Covenants 18:21) In storms or sunlight, darkness or day, in deep sorrow or peaceful contentment, there is and always will be something to thank our Heavenly Father for. Even when trials come, if we choose to be grateful, we can have peace and joy in our hearts. The apostle Paul wrote, "In everythign give thanks, for this is the will of God." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
God also has inspired His servants to teach this doctrine today. In October 2008, President Monson shared a few ideas in a talk called Finding Joy in the Journey. He said,
This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now....Our realization of what is most important in life goes hand in hand with gratitude for our blessings.
Said one well-known author: “Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend … when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.”....May we be found among those who give our thanks to our Heavenly Father. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Despite the changes which come into our lives and with gratitude in our hearts, may we fill our days—as much as we can—with those things which matter most. May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and in deed.
In closing, I pray that all of us will reflect gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His glorious gospel provides answers to life’s greatest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where does my spirit go when I die?
He taught us how to pray. He taught us how to serve. He taught us how to live. His life is a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved."
There is power in gratitude. There is joy to be found in the simple things. There is much to thank God for.
"Men are that they might have joy." Why? Because God loves us and because He wants it to be so.
{CTR Always, ETTE}
"The ancient Roman philosopher Horace admonished, 'Whatever hour God has blessed you with, take it with grateful hand, nor postpone your joys from year to year, so that in whatever place you have been, you may say that you have lived happily.' ”
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