On Nov. 20, 2020, President Nelson released a video on the healing power of gratitude. “Gratitude provides us with a greater perspective on the very purpose and joy of life,” he said.
President Nelson spoke about seeing almost everything in his 96 years of life — a Great Depression, a world war and a global pandemic, to name a few. And he proposed gratitude as a remedy to help find joy in hard times.
“Practicing gratitude may not prevent us from experiencing sorrow, anger or pain, but it can help us look forward with hope,” said President Nelson in the video.
It’s exactly what happened for Laura Hudson in Calgary, Alberta. Gratitude helped her family find joy during a hard time. Her husband had lost his job at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, he had been gone all summer, and the odd jobs he was doing were starting to dry up with the cold weather. She was pregnant, and they were feeling discouraged about Christmas for their children.
“I had every reason to wallow and whine,” said Hudson. “The invitation to give thanks, and have the accountability of doing it online, was really helpful. Even with all the hard things, having the Prophet ask me to look at the good really lifted my spirits.”
Hudson said her mom recently reminded her just how scary those times were. “I had truly forgotten. I really think the act of gratitude is what got me through it.”
“I think it will help everyone from now on through the Church. They will want to talk about gratitude and President Nelson’s invitation.”
Church members have now been invited to “Light the World” for Christmas 2021 in the annual initiative from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The new #LightTheWorld daily calendar and new children’s service calendar can be found here.
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