In our lives, in our stewardships, and in our relationships God would have us love, strengthen succor and bless His children.

Today we talk about what true gratitude is. If you wok up tomorrow and everything you thanked Heavenly Father for in your prayer tonight was gone, would you still thank and praise God? Elder Uchtdorf tells us that true gratitude is about being grateful in any circumstance. 

In these verses I feel like Heavenly Father is desperately trying to reach us and show us all the things that He has in store for us as we are willing to follow Him. We are "little children." We can't know or begin to comprehend all the things of eternity. But He does, because it is all in His hands, and as we let go and follow Him, all that He has will be ours.

The Lord commanded His saints to organize a storehouse clear back in section 42, and it still hasn't happened yet. So here when giving Joseph the command to organize the storehouse as well as the printing press he also gives Him the command to counsel with the saints on how to accomplish it! I love this pattern in the Lord's church. It is never supposed to be one person doing it all alone, rather the Lord has organized us into counsels so that we can share and lead together!

After being knee deep in John's revelation and all the second coming, not quite feel good symbols that he studies there, it would seem that Joseph's mind has gone to the preparedness of his people. Temporally, he gets specific on how to set up the bishop's storehouse, but then, even more importantly, he is concerned with how to get the doctrine into the hands of the believers. When it comes to our preparation, we have to be as intently focused on our spiritual preparation as we sometimes get on our physical. 

In Revelations John sees 4 beasts each with 7 eyes and wings before the throne of God worshipping Him. Joseph wanted to understand why they had the eyes and wings and the Lord let him know that the eyes represent the light and knowledge the animals had and the wings represented their agency to choose. I love what this teaches us. These animals with all the wisdom and knowledge and with the ability to be anywhere else, they choose to be with God worshipping Him. You and I don't have to wait until we are before the throne of God to worship Him. We can worship Him and show our love for Him as we reach out and love His children. 

Today we learn even more about revelation! What the "Sea of Glass" teaches about revelation in the eternities, and what we can learn from the fact that Joseph pondered on this scripture for 11 years before finally gaining the bigger revelation and understanding. 

One of the greatest lessons that we can learn from the Doctrine and Covenants, especially in this section and in section 76, is that scripture study and pondering can lead to revelation! As we study the scripture and ask questions as we go, we can receive revelation for our lives and our challenges. 

If we remember nothing else about section 76, I hope we can remember that it reflects the love of a merciful God more than any other teaching in Christianity! A loving Father in Heaven who is anxious to bless all His children with glory and to bestow upon them resurrected vessels of light, glory and joy!

I love verse 67, it makes me feel like when we enter the Celestial Kingdom there will be no shortage of people who have made it. Sometimes I think we loose sight of the idea that God created this plan to exalt His children, and that means to exalt you as well. It isn't just a perfect plan to redeem others, it is a perfect plan to redeem you!