Vol 3 xxii Gratitude for Testimony

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Dr. Roy E Howard

November 26, 2015

SERMONCITOS Gratitude for Testimony To me, the core values, beliefs and practices of a person are his religion. What you do on Sunday, what decorates your home, what you select to view and read, how you spend your time and how you treat others are signs of who you are. In 1962 my father gave me a copy of the Book of Mormon with his handwritten inscription, “Dear Roy, this book contains the secret of joy Dr. Roy E Howard and real success”. In 1966 when I graduated from Thanksgiving Proclamations: high school he gave me a http://www.pilgrimhallmuseum.org/ copy of the Bible with this thanksgiving_proclamations.htm inscription, “Reading, believing, and doing God’s work The 1863 Thanksgiving brings joy”.

Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln, the first in the unbroken string of annual presidential Thanksgiving proclamations, is regarded as the true beginning of the national Thanksgiving holiday.

During the next 12 months I focussed my time, talents, and energies to living the gospel, obeying the commandments, and studying the books my father had given me. I fasted and prayed to know if God lives, if the Book of Mormon were true, if Joseph Smith had really been called of God, and if this way of life were the correct path for me. I am grateful for the powerful witness of the Spirit that I received.

I am grateful for my testimony.

Sermoncitos

Thanksgiving Messages

Volume 3xxii

page 1


Dr. Roy E Howard

November 26, 2015

1777 Continental Congress The first ever National Thanksgiving Proclamation - 1777 by the Continental Congress: IN CONGRESS November 1, 1777 FORASMUCH as it is the "Now my brethren, we see that indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending God is mindful of every Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude people, whatsoever land they their Obligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore may be in; yea, he numbereth such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of: And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy, not only to continue to us his people, and his bowels of the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence; but also mercy are over all the earth. to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary Now this is my joy, and my War, for the Defense and Establishment of our unalienable great thanksgiving; yea, and I Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased, will give thanks unto my God in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops, and to crown our Arms with most forever. Amen." (Alma 26:37)

signal success: It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive Powers of these UNITED STATES to set apart "I do not have the THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for language at my command to SOLEMN THANKSGIVING and PRAISE: That at one Time express the gratitude to God and with one Voice, the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the for this knowledge that I Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that, together with their possess. Time and time again sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the my heart has been melted, my penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had eyes have wept tears of forfeited every Favor; and their humble and earnest gratitude for the knowledge Supplication that it may please GOD through the Merits of JESUS CHRIST, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of that He Lives and that this Remembrance; That it may please him graciously to afford his gospel called Mormonism is in Blessing on the Governments of these States respectively, and very deed the plan of life and prosper the public Council of the whole: To inspire our salvation, that it is the only true Commanders, both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with gospel upon the face of the that Wisdom and Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of Almighty GOD, to secure earth, that it is in very deed the for these United States, the greatest of all human Blessings, gospel of the Lord Jesus INDEPENDENCE and PEACE: That it may please him, to Christ. That God may help prosper the Trade and Manufactures of the People, and the you and me and everyone to Labor of the Husbandman, that our Land may yield its live it, is my constant and Increase: To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, so earnest prayer" (Heber J. necessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety, under his nurturing Hand; and to prosper the Means Grant, Gospel Standards, p, of Religion, for the promotion and enlargement of that 197-198).

Kingdom, which consisteth "in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost." And it is further recommended, That servile Labor, and such Recreation, as, though at other Times innocent, may be unbecoming the Purpose of this Appointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion. Read more at http:// festivals.iloveindia.com/thanks-giving/continental-congress/1777.html#Ti4jQTLsqTqVSpOC.99 Sermoncitos

Thanksgiving Messages

Volume 3xxii

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