Thanksgiving Thanks: Day Six: The Gospel

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is hard to express how grateful I am that the church is in my life.  The gospel is something so personal and living it is not always easy, but I know it is true.

I know this church is true with a sure, quiet knowledge.  I know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and who sent us here to give us the chance to return, the chance to learn and grow.  I know that we have an older brother, Jesus Christ, who loved us enough to take on our sins and die for us and who rose from the dead so that one day we may do the same. They love us, They know us, They know our trials and They know our joys.  They know our potential, even when we don't see it.

I know that when I am in need, I will be comforted.  That there is always time to start to make things better.  I know that the Bible and the Book of Mormon are together testaments of the life of Jesus Christ and those who followed Him.  I know that by studying these books, I can improve my own life.

I know that I am not perfect and that that is OK.  I know that if I continue to try to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, that He will make up the difference, I know that I can never repay that debt, but I need to try.  I know that serving others is the way to happiness.

I know that this is the church that Jesus Christ established when He was here on the earth. I know that is was restored in the present day by Joseph Smith, who was called by God as a prophet to restore His church.  I know that there is a prophet on the earth today, President Thomas S. Monson, who is able to receive revelation for us today, who is called to give guidance on issues that are especially important in our lives now.

I am grateful to belong to a church with the truth and the answers to many questions that I know many people in the world struggle with, or struggle to ignore.  I know where I came from, why I am here, where I am going and why bad things happen to good people.  And that is so important to me.

I am so grateful for my church, for the gospel, for this knowledge.  I hope that anyone who does not know what I know, who wants the answers, will look for them- go to mormon.org, ask that LDS guy you know, I promise you will find what you are looking for.