Avoiding Entitlement

                The world is full of people who believe they are entitled to more than they have.  Elder Kim B. Clark, President of BYU-Idaho, calls the idea the “spirit of entitlement;” he suggests we use the “spirit of gratitude” as the antidote to the “spirit of entitlement.”  

                “Brothers and sisters, gratitude is the great antidote, the great protection against the spirit of entitlement.  What we need is deep gratitude for the Lord Jesus Christ.  We need to be drenched in gratitude for Him so that we `confess … his hand in all things’ [Doctrine and Covenants 59:21] and `live in thanksgiving daily for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon [us]’ [Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Alma 34:38].

                “I would like to close by suggesting three things we can do to engender a spirit of gratitude in our lives:  pray with real intent, partake of the sacrament with our hearts and minds focused on the Savior, and worship on the temple with thanksgiving.  These are gifts from the Savior.  He has created them for us and taught us how to use them.  They are opportunities to help us always remember Him and express our love and gratitude for Him.”  (See “Drenched in Gratitude:  Protection Against the Spirit of Entitlement,” BYU-Idaho, September 14, 2010.)  

                Greg Trimble posted an article entitled “5 Ways to Actually Understand What’s Going on in the Temple.”  Mr. Trimble has some good ideas to help us “worship in the temple with thanksgiving.”  I suggest you check out his article here.  

                I know we can lessen the effect of the “spirit of entitlement” in our lives by increasing our gratitude for Jesus Christ.  I also know that we can increase our “spirit of gratitude” by praying with greater intent, focusing on the Savior as we partake of the sacrament, and gratefully worshipping in the temple.  I encourage you to activate all these practices in your life.