The first is found in Mosiah 2:41. As background information from the chapter, this is when King Benjamin is teaching the people of Zarahemla in a General Conference-like address. (What is General Conference? Click here!) Everyone has come great distances to be able to hear what their king would instruct them on. The very last verse of the chapter reads,
"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."Let's break down that verse a little bit. He is asking everyone to consider and ponder about how happy and blessed the people who keep the commandments of God are. I think of some of the most faithful people I know. These are the people who read their scriptures every day, that pray every day, and that they live in accordance with God's will for them. Then I think, "How happy are they?"
The first person that comes to my mind is my dad. Every morning growing up, I would always see him eating his Wheatie cereal for breakfast and reading his scriptures. Reflecting on that now, I realize how big of a difference that has made in his life, not only for his spiritual growth, but for his happiness. My dad is one of the most calm and level-headed people I know. He is also one of the most happy people I know. Not much makes him upset and I think it would be safe to attribute part of that to the fact that he reads his scriptures every morning.
Reading gives you knowledge. Reading give you patience. Reading the scriptures makes you happy! What a concept! I often tell people (including myself), "If you aren't reading the Book of Mormon every day, you aren't as happy as you could be." I firmly believe that is true.
The next verse I love is found in 2 Nephi 5:27. It reads,
"And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness."
(When I searched "happiness" on LDS.org, this is what came up)
Reading the surrounding verses of the chapter gave me a lot of insight. Verse 17 especially stuck out to me.
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be industrious, and to labor with their hands."What was one thing they did to be happy? They worked so, so hard! That is something that I apply to myself when I am having a tough day as a missionary. My wise trainer read the following quote to me from President Harold B. Lee on one of my hardest days on my mission.
“One of the greatest secrets of missionary work is work! If a missionary works, he will get the Spirit; if he gets the Spirit, he will teach by the Spirit; and if he teaches by the Spirit, he will touch the hearts of the people and he will be happy. There will be no homesickness, no worrying about families, for [he will have] all [his] time and talents and interest … centered on the work of the ministry. Work, work, work—there is no satisfactory substitute, especially in missionary work."The same would apply to everyone else, in all phases of life. In closing, I would suggest that reading the scriptures and working hard are two things that will make you happy. It has worked for me and I know it will work for you! Evaluate how well you are doing these two things if you are struggling to be happy. I know that through improving upon these two things (and others) you will be able to have a clearer mind and cope with the challenges of life more fully.
I love the Lord and I love my mission!
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