In 1988, then-President Ezra Taft Benson issued this challenge: “We invite each member of the Church to read again and again the Book of Mormon. Those who teach or speak in Church meetings should carefully and prayerfully use the Book of Mormon to strengthen and enhance their messages and presentations.”[1] Ever since then, I have endeavored to abide by this teaching. I was asked to speak on Thanksgiving and used the Book of Mormon as my principal text.

Webster’s 1828 dictionary, which reflects the English spoken in the United States at the approximate time the Book of Mormon was translated, defines Thanksgiving as either a verb or a noun. As a verb, it is “rendering thanks for good received.” As a noun, it is “the act of rendering thanks or expressing gratitude for favors and mercy.”[2]

The Book of Mormon uses the word thanksgiving in six different places. When Ammon2 sees the Spirit of the Lord being poured out unto the Lamanites, he falls to his knees “and began to pour out his soul in prayer and thanksgiving to God for what he had done for his brethren” (Alma 18:14). Later, in Alma 26, Ammon2 glories in the strength of the Lord for bringing thousands of his Lamanite brothers and sisters unto repentance. He praises God for being mindful of the Lamanites and for his great mercy. He concludes by saying, “Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen” (Alma 26:37).

Amulek counsels the poor of the Zoramites to “contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you” (Alma 34:38).

In reference to Captain Moroni, Mormon describes him as “a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people” (Alma 48:12).

In 3 Nephi 10, just after the cataclysmic destruction after Christ’s death but before he appears unto the survivors in Bountiful. “And the earth did cleave together again, that it stood; and the mourning, and the weeping, and the wailing of the people who were spared alive did cease; and their mourning was turned into joy, and their lamentations into the praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord Jesus Christ, their Redeemer” (3 Nephi 10:10).

In each of these instances, the word “thanksgiving” is paired with the words “God” or “Jesus Christ.” Those who offer thanksgiving in the Book of Mormon do so to the Father and the Son.

Ten additional usages of thank or thanks are paired with the words give, giving, or gave, so even though the word “thanksgiving” is not explicitly mentioned, its meaning is.

For example, in 1 Nephi, after three momentous events, Lehi and his family build an altar and offer thanks to the Lord. First, they flee into the wilderness by the river Lehi named Laman. “And it came to pass that he [Lehi] built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God.” (1 Ne 2:7). Later, when their sons return from Jerusalem with the brass plates, Lehi and Sariah “did rejoice exceedingly, and did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel” (1 Ne 5:9).  When the boys return from Jerusalem a second time with the daughters of Ishmael, both the families of Lehi and Ishmael “did give thanks unto the Lord their God; and they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto him” (1 Ne 7:22).

Jacob counsels his audience to “remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night” (2 Ne 9:52). The people who heard King Benjamin’s address at the temple gave “thanks to the Lord their God, who had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem” (Mosiah 2:4). When Ammon1 discovers the Zeniffite remnant, “[King Limhi] rejoiced exceedingly, and gave thanks to God” (Mosiah 8:19).

Alma1, at the Waters of Mormon, commanded those who were just baptized “that they should observe the Sabbath day, and keep it holy, and also every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God” (Mosiah 18:23). Later when Alma and Limhi and their followers had made it safely to Zarahemla, King Mosiah2 addressed the gathered Nephites. Those who heard his address “did raise their voices and give thanks to God” (Mosiah 25:10). Alma1 then commands these people “to give thanks in all things” (Mosiah 26:39).

Moroni admonishes future readers of the Book of Mormon not to condemn previous writers of the Book of Mormon, “but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been” (Mormon 9:31).

As in all things, Christ himself sets the perfect example. Twice in 3 Nephi 19, Christ prays unto the Father, and the first thing he says is, “I thank thee” (see 3 Ne 19: 20 and 28). He first gives thanks for the Gift of the Holy Ghost, which was bestowed upon his disciples, and then he thanks his Father for purifying those he has chosen.

In each of these examples, those who render thanks or gratitude for favors and mercy thank God, not man. Thanksgiving in the Book of Mormon is expressed as gratitude to God for the many blessings he has bestowed on humankind.

As I read through these verses and others, I noticed that not only was thanks directed toward God or Christ, but two other words—joy and rejoicing — showed up a lot in association with thanks and thanksgiving.

When Nephi and his brothers return with the brass plates, Lehi and Sariah “did rejoice exceedingly… and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel” (1 Ne 5:9).

In 2 Ne 8:3, the prophet Jacob quotes Isaiah. We read of the millennial Zion, where “Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.”

Later, in front of the temple where he delivers his address, Jacob talks about the Nephite record. He tells us, “Now in this thing we do rejoice” and that his people will receive the plates “with thankful hearts, and look upon them that we may learn with joy and not sorrow” concerning his ancestors (Jacob 4:3).

King Benjamin “gives thanks to the Lord” who brought his ancestors out of Jerusalem and into the new world and thanks Him for a just leaders who taught them, “that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men” (Mosiah 2:4).

King Limhi “rejoiced exceedingly, and gave thanks to God” (Mosiah 8:19).

As Ammon2 was praying for the Lamanites “in thanksgiving to God for what he had done for his brethren,” he was “overpowered with joy” and sank to the earth. Later, he describes this experience as “my joy, and my great thanksgiving” (Alma 26:37).

After the devastation that preceded Christ’s coming into the New World, the mourning of those who were saved “was turned into joy, and their lamentations into the praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord Jesus Christ, their redeemer” (3 Ne 10:10).

Thus, joy and thanks, thankfulness, and thanksgiving are linked in the scriptures. Those who express thanksgiving also rejoice and are filled with joy. And why not? A few years ago, I pulled every instance of the word joy in the Book of Mormon and saw two things about which people were most joyful. They experienced great joy in their posterity and joy in the atonement of Jesus Christ. I, for one, am thankful for my posterity and for the atonement of Christ, who did something for me that I could not do for myself: he redeemed me from my lost and fallen state. In that, I take joy.

I feel, as did King Benjamin, who said, “And behold also, if I, whom ye call your king, who has spent his days in your service, and yet has been in the service of God, do merit any thanks from you, O how you ought to thank your heavenly King!” (Mosiah 2:19).

In this season of thanksgiving, which precedes the season celebrating the birth of the King, as you feast together as families in joy, please remember to thank God for sending his Son so that we may be redeemed from death and hell.

Along with the king of the Lamanites, King Anti-Nephi-Lehi, I say, “And I also thank my God, yea, my great God, that he hath granted unto us that we might repent of these things, and also that he hath forgiven us of those our many sins and murders which we have committed, and taken away the guilt from our hearts, through the merits of his Son” (Alma 24:10).

I rejoice in this, and I am everlastingly thankful for it.

[1] Ezra Taft Benson, A Witness and a Warning, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book (1988), viii.

[2] https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/Thanksgiving.