Thanksgiving is a wonderful reminder for us to count the blessings we have and recognize the Lord's hand in our lives.  President Monson was a shining example of this throughout his life.  In this talk he teaches about the importance of gratitude as the virtue that leads to many other virtues.  Enjoy this talk and count your many blessings on during the Thanksgiving week.

This is an excellent talk about learning how to listen to an be edified by others.  In this devotional given a the beginning of the semester at BYU, President Eyring talks about sustaining others and the importance of instructing one another.  He counsels us to do four things to prepare to be instructed by the Holy Ghost through others: 1) pray diligently, 2) study and learn, 3) live righteously, and 4) serve in the church.  He also shared the secret his father used to never be in a bad meeting - a story that has stuck with me since I first heard this talk years ago.  Are you receiving the message the Spirit is trying to tell you as you listen to others? 

In his talk Elder Callister teaches us about the truths Joseph Smith learned while in the sacred grove and about his mission to restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Elder Callister likens the gospel to a puzzle.  Through the prophet Joseph Smith, many pieces of the gospel missing from religions of his day were restored.  These pieces answer questions of the soul, help us better understand our relationship with God and Jesus Christ, and our fruits of a prophet called in our day.  Take some time today to ponder the restored gospel and what impact these restored truths have had on your life.

In this talk, Elder Gong talks about how the Savior is our Good Samaritan and invites us to make his church an Inn that is a refuge for all.  As we seek to follow the Savior's example and prepare an Inn for others we learn 5 things:  1) We come to the Inn as we are, imperfections and all.  2) The Lord wants us to make his Inn a place of grace where all are welcome.  3) Perfection is in Jesus Christ, not in the perfectionism of the world.  4) In his Inn we become part of a gospel community centered on Jesus Christ.  5) God loves His children in our different backgrounds, circumstances, and origins.  What are you doing to help others feel welcome and cared for in the Lord's Inn?  

President Hinkley talks to the young men of the church about the attributes they should develop as they prepare for marriage and an eternal relationship.  This include obeying the law of chastity, avoiding pornography, and keeping our hearts and minds clean, pure, and faithful.  We should also obey the Word of Wisdom, be slow to anger and use a soft and kind tone in our homes.  He also discusses the importance of work and getting a good education and being engaged in the gospel.  We should be our spouses greatest support and cheerleader - focusing on their virtues rather than their weaknesses, and be quick to forgive.  Young women, President Hinkley describes the attributes you should look for in a young man.  There are so many great pieces of advice I would encourage you to listen to this with a notebook out so you're ready to catch the many one-liners that can be your motivation as you prepare for an eternal relationship.

Sister Beck talks about the challenges facing youth today and the important decisions they will soon make.  As we make those decisions we must keep in mind our divine lineage and potential.  Patriarchal blessings are a way the Lord has given us to see the blessings he has in store for us if we are faithful in keeping the covenants we have made.  Patriarchal blessings are also a guide to help us navigate the difficult decisions and challenges we will face.  Have you read your patriarchal blessing lately?  If not, read it and pick out a couple lines that will help you today.

President Nelson teaches that repentance is changing our mind, knowledge, and spirit and describes the joy of repentance.  He reminds us that it is never too late to repent and return to the covenant path.  Repentance may seem like a daunting task if you've strayed from the path but we return one step at a time.  He specifically admonishes men to repent in the way they treat their families and their bodies.  Repentance will help us access the power of the priesthood.  After listening to President Nelson's talk, ponder what your efforts to repent look like.  

In this talk Elder Holland discusses the principle caring for the poor and needy which the Lord teaches frequently in the scriptures.  When we recognize that we are all beggars we can begin to empathize and see people, regardless of their circumstances, as children of God.  Elder Holland teaches that, if we are not sure how to help, turn to God for answers - he knows how we can help.  Elder Holland discusses several ways we can help the poor and needy.  What are you doing to follow the Saviors commandment to care for the poor and needy?

With all that the Lord asks of his disciples, some wonder why anybody would want to join a church that demands so much.  Elder Uchtdorf answers this question during this talk.  He also teaches that it's okay to have questions about aspects of the gospel and lovingly encourages us to continue on with the knowledge that everybody has a place in the Lord's church.  This is a wonderfully comforting message.  Can you think of someone who would benefit from this message?  Share it with them.

Elder Eyring teaches what the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood is, what we covenant, and the blessings that come from fulfilling our covenants.  The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood is the standard we should strive to achieve and is something that everyone should understand, men and women alike.  It is tightly connected to our temple covenants.  Sisters, the link below talks about how the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood can be accessed by women.  What does the Lord expect you to do as you accept and fulfill the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood?

Link for Sisters:  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2017/04/oath-and-covenant-of-the-priesthood?lang=eng