Considering it's Thanksgiving weekend, I'm doing to write this post on the most corny and generic thing I can: Gratitude.

But really, think about it for a second: Myself and most of those reading this are among the most blessed people in the history of the world!! This is something that I realized a little while ago. We have the Gospel restored in it's fullness here on the earth. That in and of itself is something to be pretty darn grateful for.

Because of the Gospel, none of us have to fear death, the one thing people have fear since the beginning of time, because we know that we will live again. Also, we know that beyond this Vale of Tears is a paradise waiting for us, where we can not only spend eternity with those we love, but progress eternally and eventually become Gods. Is there anything more amazing than that? I don't think so.

With the Gospel comes the Priesthood. At no other time (to my knowledge), except maybe Christ's time have families been blessed with the fullness of the Priesthood within their own homes. The powers to heal, guide, and bless, in the fingure tips of the men of the Church. That's pretty amazing.

I could go on and on about the Gospel, but I'm going to move on now. We live in a world of technology and modern conveniences, and more importantly, the means and abilities to access them. We live in a prosperous and growing country and have the ability to grasp all of temporal blessings this day and age has to offer. That's pretty dang cool.

Beyond that stuff is also the amazing people we associate with in our daily lives, and out families; two of the greatest blessings we could ask for. These are the things I think of when I tell my Heavenly Father how grateful I am.

And more important than all of that, we have a Savior, and Elder Brother, who suffered and died for us. The Prefect Man, who descended below all things, and bore all things, and sweat drops of blood  that we might be SAVED!!! A God loved us enough to take on all of Hell and thensome so that we wouldn't have to. Does it get better than that?

When we actually take the time to think about our blessings, when we actually think about all the things we do have, I think we can see that have very, very little to complain about. I complain about the fact that I have to do homework! What kind of joke is that!? How many children never had the oppritunity to learn? How many children stayed up all hours of the night so that they could get in a little bit of precious homework after a long day's work in the field? What would they have given to be able to do homework and read all day long? When I think about it that way, I feel kinda silly, to be honest.

And more than that, Gratetude will being us joy. When we are focused on what we have, on our blessings, on our joys, life is pretty good.

There's my Thanksgiving thought of the week.

Etiquette Simulation 2012. . . Amazing. Just amazing. Most of you reading this were there, or have gone before. I've been to all four simulations, and this is the best one we have ever had. This one was so good because somehow, we all got it by the end. The Spirit was able to teach us all so much.

After processing everything I learned at the Simulation, I have gained a much greater understanding of what the role of a man is. I was thinking about it in church today, and it can all be summed up in these words: The role of a man is to take care of women and children, and to lead them. It can also be described as creating an environment in which a woman can fulfill her role, that of motherhood, while taking care of all the outside issues and obligations.

I always kinda knew this, I didn't understand it. I do now. It's a really good feeling, to understand what my job is.

So there's this idea. It's called commitment. Without it, you can't do anything awesome. And my musical theater class, unfortunately, doesn't have it. And it makes me want to scream at them.

AAAAUUUUGGHGHGHG!!!!

That will have to do.

    But seriously though. Commitment, loyalty, integrity: doing and being what and who you say your going to. Without this basic human value, things kinda fall apart. Trust is so vital to all human relationships. Without it, none of us would ever be able to go out on a limb. We'd never be able to risk anything. Also, none of us would ever be able to accomplish the things that require more than one person. We would all be so focused on not being hurt that we wouldn't be will to accomplish anything that requires more than one person.
    Trust, loyalty... yeah, they're big. They make society possible. Thank you to all of you that I can trust.