"One of the evils of our time is taking for granted so many of the things we enjoy," said Elder James E. Faust at the April 1990 general conference. Then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve and now second counselor in the First Presidency, he referred to the Lord's question as recorded in D&C 88:33: "For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift?"

Elder Faust said that the Apostle Paul described the present day to Timothy when he wrote that in the last days "men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy." (2 Tim. 3:2.)"These sins are fellow travelers, and ingratitude makes one susceptible to all of them," Elder Faust declared.

"The story of the thankful Samaritan has great meaning. As the Savior went through Samaria and Galilee, 'he entered into a certain village, (and) there met him ten men that were lepers' and who 'lifted up their voices and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.' Jesus told them to go show themselves unto the priest.

"'And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

"'And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God.

"'And fell down ... at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

"'And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

"'There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

"'And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.'" (Luke 17:12-19.)

Elder Faust said that leprosy was so loathsome a disease that those afflicted were not permitted under the law to come close to Jesus. "Those suffering from this terrible disease were required to agonize together, sharing their common misery. (See Lev. 13:45-46.) Their forlorn cry, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us' must have touched the Savior's heart.

"When they were healed and when they had received priestly approval that they were clean and acceptable in society, they must have been overcome with joy and amazement. Having received so great a miracle, they seemed completely satisfied. But they forgot their benefactor. It is difficult to understand why they were so lacking in gratitude. Such ingratitude is self-centered. It is a form of pride. What is the significance of the fact that the one who returned to give thanks was a Samaritan? As in the story of the good Samaritan, the point seems to be that those of lesser social or economic status often rise to a greater duty and nobility."