A Thanksgiving for religious freedom

They sought to breathe a freer air,

To worship God unchain?d ?

They welcomed pain and danger here,

When rights like these were gain?d.

?Author Unknown

As the United States celebrates Thanksgiving this year, citizens across the nation gather with family and friends to commemorate the shared gratitude between the English Pilgrims and the local Native Americans. During this season, many recount the history of these English Pilgrims.

According to Robert W. Weir in his book, Embarkation of the Pilgrims, ?Persecuted, arrested and fined for their form of Christianity, these so-called separatists fled their beloved mother country to find what the governor of Plymouth, William Bradford, called ?freedom of religion for all men.? After a ten-year sojourn in Holland, the separatists prayerfully decided to depart for America.?

In the 18th century, the founders of the United States established religious freedom for all citizens through the Bill of Rights. This newly secured liberty allowed for the lawful establishment of the variety of churches, mosques, temples, meetinghouses and places of worship which dot our landscape today.

Yet, this truly national American holiday, has become a global hope...a global desire...the freedom to worship as one choses. The Pilgrims? historical role in fostering religious freedom and their example of gratitude resonates with people around the world.

In 1843, Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said with regard to religious liberty, ?I am bold to declare before Heaven that I am just as ready to die in defending the rights of a Presbytarian [sic], a Baptist or a good man of any other denomination; for the same principle which would trample upon the rights of the Latter-day Saints would trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or of any other denomination.?

?A grateful heart ? comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives,? said President Thomas S. Monson, current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ?This requires conscious effort?at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude. ? When we encounter challenges and problems in our lives, it is often difficult for us to focus on our blessings. However, if we reach deep enough and look hard enough, we will be able to feel and recognize just how much we have been given.?

In the United States of America and many other nations around the world, people are grateful to God for their blessings during this time of year; among these blessings is that of religious freedom. In the words of that familiar gospel hymn:

?Count your many blessings,

Name them one by one.

Count your many blessings,

See what God has done.?