Perhaps one of the more prominent and familiar events in the Savior’s life is the account of the ten lepers found in Luke 17. I am certain this experience was shared by the Savior for many reasons, but primary among those reasons must be the warning of ingratitude. As the story goes, Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and passed through Samaria and Galilee. When the Savior entered a certain village, ten lepers who were standing some distance from him, “… lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us” (Luke 17:11).

With His miraculous power, Christ healed them. He then instructed, “Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.” They did as the Savior bid them, but then, only one of them “turned back,” returned to the Savior, and “with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks ... 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…”(Luke 17:13–19).

After this miraculous healing, only one returned to give thanks. However, the Savior’s question: “But where are the nine?” makes it clear that the others should have done the same. Gratitude was the expectation of the lepers, and gratitude is the expectation of each of us who has experienced the healing and the hope that comes through Jesus Christ. Remember Paul’s warning in the last days: “For men shall be lovers of their own
selves…proud, …unthankful, unholy” (2 Timothy 3:2).