This is a post that I sent to a good friend of mine on Facebook.  It captures my feelings concerning the Supreme Court's decision on gay marriage:

My greatest fear is not the average person who has demanded tolerance for many years. History has proven it is the ACTIVIST groups, factions (yes, I said FACTIONS), and "community organizers" that have promoted progressive policies for nearly a century that have slowly pushed our country further and further to the left and away from the founding principles upon which we were based. These groups have pushed their agenda forcing the hand of more ACTIVIST judges to trample the Constitution. And if they will trample on the Constitution, there's no reason why these groups wouldn't trample on the founding Judaeo-Christian principles on which our country was created. Marriage is not a right. It is a great desire. It is a wonderful thing to be a part of. But it isn't a right! You are not fundamentally born with an absolute DEMAND of getting married. If it were a demand and a right, I would have commissioned the government to provide me a wife 20 years ago (preferably Christy Turlington). In fact, the government shouldn't be involved at all. It is a religious ceremony. So those that have been trying to redefine marriage have been ultimately fighting against religion--forcing, nudging, litigating if necessary a cultural shift to defy God and His commandment of one man and one woman. If you think this is the end of it and all activists can go home proclaiming victory never to be seen again, you are kidding yourself. This is just the beginning. The irony here is, for the all the talk about "separation of Church and state" (which is vastly misinterpreted by the progressive left), we have now in this country a new state religion: secularism. And little by little they have pushed God away and forced Christian religions by fiat or by activist law to compromise principle and demand compliance. M. J. Sobran said, ‘A religious conviction is now a second-class conviction, expected to step deferentially to the back of the secular bus, AND NOT TO GET UPPITY ABOUT IT’ (Human Life Review, Summer 1978, pp. 58–59). Neal A. Maxwell said, 'This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions. Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened.' What is remarkable is these statements were said decades ago. And now they've come to their prophetic conclusion. We don't know the effect yet of what this law will bring. But I guarantee you, our society is now forever changed. Our children will have a more difficult time understanding the importance of THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL UNIT of society, for society is abandoning it. Ideal situations of families will become more difficult to achieve. The lines between accepted natural law concerning gender continue to morph and blur and we may in 20, 30 years not even recognize a traditional family anymore for it will become the anomaly, instead of the ideal. Those who support this Supreme Court decision think that they have won a historic battle and feel that society has made progress. But sadly, it will be a hollow victory. And the progress we've made will drive us closer to a dangerous cliff, one that history has shown ends in calamity.

                Gratitude, as stated by the Oxford Unabridged, can be defined as the quality of being thankful; but there is another part that is inherent in the definition that we often overlook.  Gratitude is also (according to Oxford) a readiness to show appreciation for and return the kindness given.   That’s a deeper connotation than simply being thankful.  Gratitude is somewhat, or at least hinted at, that it is supposed to be reciprocal in nature.  If we are grateful for the blessings we readily receive of the Lord, then isn’t it required that we bless others to show our thanks?  For when we are in the service of our fellowman, we are only in the service of our God.

There is much in this world that seems to impede many from being grateful.  If one is disposed to the negative in life, challenges both temporal and spiritual can certainly make the weak doubt and question.   The scriptures teach us that “Satan is abroad in the land and he goeth forth to deceive the nations—seeking whom he will devour”.  But much more in our lives is predisposed to be quite merciful and loving if we look, like the Israelites of old, to the Savior and live.  As we look at the generous consecration of God’s, love, mercy, and gifts to us, we will find that His promises are always kept, and His ways are always leading us to a better place.  Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said the following: “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.” He continued: “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!”   President Smith is telling us that a prayerful life is the key to possessing gratitude.

The Scriptures are replete with the concept of gratitude and what is often stated as thanksgiving.   The Israelites of old were commanded to give offerings to the Lord in thanksgiving as well as supplication and prayer. In Psalms 50:14, 15 we read, “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”  Paul to the Corinthians compared the blessings of God to the temporal needs of man which are satisfied by the Lord-- “Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.  For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; (2^nd Corinthians 9: 10-12).  Paul again to the Philippians 4:6: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God”. 

It is not by happenstance that the gratitude in prayer seems to be routinely coupled with a command by the Lord to call upon him and to make our requests known by the prayer of faith.  It would seem that this would make sense, as commonly we are taught that prayer is done as follows: Address our Father in Heaven, thank Him for our abundant blessings, ask for the desires of our heart following the Spirit, and close with, as we do all things in the Church, in the name of Jesus Christ.  Yes, that is the pattern of prayer, but I think that the Lord is asking for something much deeper when it comes to prayer and thanksgiving.  In the Book of Mormon,  In Ether 1 verse 34 were introduced to the brother of Jared, a faithful, favored servant of the Lord during the time of the Tower of Babel.  We read: (read Ether 1: 34-39).  Okay, we know now what transpires after that story, but I there was a little struggle before the miracles happened that the brother of Jared had to experience.  In Ether 2, we read: (Ether 2: 13-14).  Now the Lord forgave Ether and he was able to have the most wonderful experience of seeing the premortal Christ.  But the message I think is clear.  I find it hard to believe that the brother of Jared didn’t pray for four full years.  It would seem contrary to the character of a favored prophet of the Lord.  But to call upon the Lord denotes something more, it means to cry unto Him, to supplicate, to be genuine, perhaps to fast with all sincerity—so that we learn to exert faith, patience, and grow spiritually.  When we do, we understand and have a greater capacity for gratitude.  Perhaps some opposition and affliction is not only necessary, but requisite to us gaining a truer understanding of the Lord’s constant protection, love, deliverance, forgiveness, and power.  When we understand it, we are grateful indeed. 

Let’s give another example from the scriptures:  One of the great parts of the scriptures is Lehi’s vision of the tree of life.   In 1 Nephi 8: 5-12.  Lehi was in the space for many hours, before he began to plead for the tender mercies of the Lord.  And then the blessing came, and it filled him with joy.  And then he began to share it.  All of these events are patterned after other examples in the scriptures.

We show are gratitude by sharing the blessings that we receive from God with others.  We show are gratitude by acknowledging his hand in all things; in fact it is the height of ingratitude as find in D&C 59:21—“And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments”. 

And yes, we show our gratitude, uniquely, and extraordinarily by calling on the Lord for specific blessings, rescues (for both ourselves and others), and for miracles to occur if it be the will of the Lord.  Brothers and sisters we receive not, because we ask not.  Are we not in the midst of darkness today?  I certainly think we are and I know that I’m just as culpable as the brother of Jared in forgetting to call upon the Lord, and like Lehi, ask for the darkness to lift for both myself and my brethren.  We may say to ourselves, I don’t want to burden the Lord.  My problems must seem minuscule compared to the suffering of others, I don’t want to appear that I’m complaining to the Lord.  Supplication is not complaining; and the Lord is not too busy for you—in fact he wants us to ask, he is pleading for us to ask; in fact, He may give us trials, just so we will ask. For if we have no need, wherein would we supplicate the Lord—if we have no want, for what purpose would we be grateful?  The challenges are before us so that we will first call upon the name of God, plead for his deliverance, come closer to Christ, and our gratitude to Him will be undeniably full (and reciprocate). 

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the Gospel, it is that the Lord exudes mercy, love and generosity concerning the gifts he wishes to give us.  I truly marvel at that.  I know how sometimes I can let anger get the best of me, or a careless word or two can be insensitive, or just the frailties of human condition and weakness, can make it seem hard for the Spirit to work in me.  And yet it does, and the Lord still uses me, despite my imperfections.  Of this I’m most grateful.  Dieter F. Uchtdorf said the following this year to the young women of the Church:  “Part of our challenge is, I think, that we imagine that God has all of His blessings locked in a huge cloud up in heaven, refusing to give them to us unless we comply with some strict, paternalistic requirements He has set up. But the commandments aren’t like that at all. In reality, Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us.  The Lord’s commandments are the loving instructions and the divine help to close the umbrella. Should we not cherish the light posts (or the commandments) He has given that guide us through the darkness and the trials of mortality? They mark the way back to our heavenly home!”  I’m so grateful for the commandments that teach me the correct way to live the Gospel and return to my Father in Heaven.

How important is it to cultivate a spirit of thankfulness? Joseph Smith said this about giving thanks:  If you will thank the Lord with all your heart, every night, for all the blessings of that day; you will eventually find yourself exalted in the kingdom of God.”  A testament to gratitude!  And a lesson to us all.  Also in the Doctrine and Covenants 78:19: "And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."  

Gratitude brings forth the blessings of heaven.

Welcome to my first ever blog.  I've been wanting to do this for awhile, but had neither the time nor the gumption to make it happen.  But there have been a number of reasons, promptings, and certainly no shortage of life events, that have made this blog almost...necessary.  I hope the messages that I will send out will be inspirational, informative, and ultimately compelling.  

This is...PHILBLOG NATION!