"But wait, there's more!" (RIP Billy Mays)

Fruity Pebbles comes in big bags now....not just Fruity Dyno Bites, no no no...Fruity Pebbles! Miracles do happen. I'm so grateful for that.

I've realized, as I was emailing Scotter just now, that gratitude is going to be the key to success for my Year of Happiness. I realized this because of a lot of different things that have happened.

First, could you, Mama, try to find my father's blessing that mentions Captain Moroni? I remembered it this past week and I need to work on what it told me to do. "But wait, there's more!" It seems there always is...in those infomercials and in real life, but especially in the scriptures.

In Alma 48, it talks about the mighty Capt. Moroni. Alma 48:11-13, 17 describe him with things like "perfect understanding", "a man who did labor exceedingly", "firm in the faith of Christ", and then probably one of the coolest things that could be said of a person, "the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men" if we all were more like him. But why did he have such amazing things said about him? How does he do it? See verse 12. It says he was "a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God." Kaboom. So, how he does it, aka how we can do it, is by working to have our hearts "swell with thanksgiving to [our] God. That's not something that just comes to us, necessarily. We have to work at it, actively searching for things, however small, to be thankful for. As my man Josh Groban put it so well, "There's so much to be thankful for." Isn't there? Listen to that song again and think about it.

What can we do to show more gratitude to God? That includes showing gratitude to those around us because as He said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt. 25:40) Anyone who reads this, I would like your ideas of how you show gratitude. I want to be so full of gratitude to God that I become like Moroni. Why not? I pray for it (along with happiness) every day in the morning and throughout the day, then I thank Him (gratitude) for His help throughout the day in my evening prayer. Keeping Him involved is so important, in everything.

Some of the things I'm grateful for from this past week: 1. I got to go running for about 45 min a week ago, on Monday. (Even with the shin splints. They're gone now.) 2. This Monday (yesterday) we got to be outside and play some sand volleyball. It was actually kinda warm/hot outside...and it's January. Crazy. 3. Our investigator with a baptismal date for Feb. 1 is still on track and improving. 4. His family members are almost all investigating now too. 5. The Lord sent me to Oklahoma. These people are the best. 6. The desires of my heart are recognized by the Lord, even when I don't show it as well through my actions. So I can be forgiven. 7. I'm understanding the stories of the Book of Mormon stories better than I ever have before, this time through it. (Just finished Mosiah today.) 8. The work is picking up again here in Seminole. 9. We got a referral from an investigator in the OTM (Hear that Al?) whose Mama lives in our area and we have an appointment with her Thursday. 10. Our Recent Converts are doing well (Ladybug and Bro. Grier). 11. My family always has my back. No matter what.

Those are just a few. So many more. There really is "so much to be thankful for".

I love y'all. Make it a HAPPY and THANKS-FILLED week.

Love,
Elder Tanner
-I Love the Lord-