Week 18 - November 25, 2025 - Chiba

 This week was awesome!

Highlights:

-Splits with Hemingway 長老 (Elder)

-Exchange with Heemeyer 長老 (Elder)

-Thanksgiving event!

-Visiting members with 岩永兄弟 (Brother Iwanaga)

-Impromptu Church tour!

-Pokemon donuts

-Temple day!

READ THIS PART

The main thing I want to focus on this week is Thanksgiving! I love Thanksgiving. Partially because of the food, but this week I've really appreciated the focus on gratitude.

Gratitude is a fundamental characteristic of disciples of Christ! 

To all the swimming friends this will be very famiiliar, but Coach Tom's phrase "gratitude is the oil of the brain" connects a lot to what I've learned this week. 

Since the words of living prophets can say it much better than I can, here's my favorite clips from (then) President Uchtdorf's April 2014 message, "Grateful in Any Circumstances."

Everyone’s situation is different, and the details of each life are unique. Nevertheless, I have learned that there is something that would take away the bitterness that may come into our lives. There is one thing we can do to make life sweeter, more joyful, even glorious.

We can be grateful!

It might sound contrary to the wisdom of the world to suggest that one who is burdened with sorrow should give thanks to God. But those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and understanding.

All of His commandments are given to make blessings available to us. Commandments are opportunities to exercise our agency and to receive blessings. Our loving Heavenly Father knows that choosing to develop a spirit of gratitude will bring us true joy and great happiness.

When we are grateful to God in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise. In pain, we can glory in Christ’s Atonement. In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven’s embrace.

Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges.

So through gratitude we find peace, healing, and understanding! That is such a beautiful promise! I know that promise is true as I have applied it throughout my life. 

Whenever I think about or talk about what I'm grateful for, it always brightens my day without fail. Gratitude for my Savior, who suffered for me. Gratitude for the Redeemer, who loves me so much, he bled for me. My sins were nailed to that cross, not in part, but in whole! My sins! I don't deserve such an infinite all encompassing gift, but that is how much Jesus Christ loves me. I know this is true for all of you as well! 

Please take a little bit of time this week to consider what you have to be grateful for. I know as you do so you will feel better, no matter your circumstances! 

Love you guys! 

Elder Wardle