I saw a notice on one of the social networks about November being the month of THANKSgiving and challenging us to tell what we are thankful for each day of the month. So, I thought I would blog about this each day. They will be smaller than normal posts and will contain this same header.

Today, as I contemplated which of the myriad of blessings I am grateful for, I kept returning back to one in particular, so I think I am meant to blog about this one. Today, I am grateful for the talents which The Lord has entrusted to me. I have blogged about this before, but feel it especially pertinent this month of THANKSgiving. We have all been given talents. Those talents vary from communications, arts, organizational, and many others. We, as parents can see which talents that our young children are leaning towards - but, conversely, we may not see those talents right away. We may not have child prodigies, or Mesna candidates, but those talents which we have been given will manifest themselves at least one time in our lifetime. Only The Lord knows of every talent we are capable of and I have found it to be absolutely true that callings extended and accepted can open those new talents to our view.

In the Savior's parable of the talents, He talks about talents, which really is a sum of money, or coin. But I think if we take the literal word of talents as those aptitudes given to us by The Lord, we can see this parable in a whole new light:

 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 25:14-30

What can we learn from this?  This is what I take way from it:
  • Talents are not meant to be hidden. If we have talents, use them!
  • We need to recognize the source of those talents. The Lord gave us everything.
  • The more one uses their talent, the more it is enlarged. 
  • We use our talents to bless the lives of others. They are not necessarily for us individually.
  • If we do not use them, they can be taken away from us.
Every Sunday at Music and the Spoken Word broadcast, I look at the congregation and I see, or perceive people in various stations in life. I see the person sitting there, who looks like the weight of the world is upon their shoulders. I see those, who have never attended or seen The Mormon Tabernacle Choir before (as evidenced by tbeir raising their hand when asked if this is their first time). I see the mentally challenged being wheeled in. I see the ones who obviously enjoy certain pieces of music we perform. There is a wide mix of members and non-members alike.

But after the broadcast is ended, I see the person who seemed to have the weight of the world on their shoulders with a different disposition. I see others talking to them and smiles coming across their faces. I see the look of awe and the tissues from wiping their wet eyes. I see the mentally challenged with their big grins, and a general happiness. I see people willing to assist another.

It is for this, that I am grateful for the talent of singing and being able to be a part of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I love using my talents freely and without expectation of compensation. The people in the audience - those who have felt something they have never felt before, those which a particular song or piece of music was done has touched their hearts, and those whose trials were lifted - if even for the short time. All of those are why I am grateful.

"... If ye have done it to the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me"

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