We all want happiness, don't we?

Recently, I found two scriptures that reference "happy" or "happiness" in the Book of Mormon that I really love.

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)

The first time I heard this verse was when my friend Savannah shared it with me as her favorite verse found in the Book of Mormon. I had never really recognized this teeny tiny verse in the Book of Mormon. When I read this verse, I thought to myself, "How can I get that? How can I live in a manner of happiness?" That was one of my greatest desires at the time. 

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!

First post.

Blogging. You can spread the work of the Lord through blogging. Be patient with me as I try my best to gather my thoughts together in a hopefully clear and concise way.

Today I read Alma 1. My favorite verse of the whole chapter was Alma 1:25. It reads,

"Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them."

What was it that troubled them so greatly? It was that their friends in the gospel who chose not to continue to follow Jesus Christ anymore. This was a great trial that was placed upon them. This trial is also placed upon some of us. People are able to make choices for themselves because of the moral agency that our loving Heavenly Father so willingly blessed us with. Sometimes these people make choices that are not in line with what we want for them, but more importantly, not in line with what God wants for us.

What can we do to help these people? Well, first things first, we can LOVE them. Today we had a missionary conference call and we talked about "loving people back to activity." We have the opportunity and the responsibility to love and help the people around us feel of God's love for us. Our mission president's wife told us the way we treat [others] is the way that we help them feel God's love for them. I know this principle is true. May we please, please, please treat all people with love and kindness, like the Savior would.

Going back to the verse, we also need to stand fast in our own personal testimonies. Don't let negative influences in your life drag you away from the miraculous blessings of the gospel.

If we focus in on the end of this verse, we can gain so much comfort. If you are experiencing a loved one who is not choosing the right, or going through any other trial that seems insurmountable, this verse and many others promise you that the God will help you bear with patience the hard things you are going through. He will be there. At all times of the day. Or night. He will be there. Pray to our Heavenly Father. He will comfort and bless us more than we can ever imagine.

Here is a link to an article written by Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/03/faithful-parents-and-wayward-children-sustaining-hope-while-overcoming-misunderstanding?lang=eng