Finding Happiness

Recently I read a story in the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ, that tells of Nephi and how he and his people “lived after the manner of happiness” (2 Ne 5:27.)

I want to live after the manner of happiness, don’t you? In fact, I’d hazard a guess that happiness is the life-long goal of every person who lives. Except, I think we too often believe, mistakenly, that happiness is to be found in success, riches, possessions, admiration, or the like. But that just isn’t so.

Happiness is to be found in our families, in our relationship with God, in our ability to look at ourselves in the mirror at the end of the day and like what we see. Oh, perhaps you won’t like the extra weight you are carrying, or the pimples that are popping up on your face so late in life, or the wrinkles that belie your age, but you can like the light that shines from your eyes—and that light can shine brighter if we have walked in the footsteps of the Lord.

When describing the lifestyle he and his people lived, Nephi said that “And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things” (2 Ne. 5:10.)

I can testify from personal experience, that living righteously and keeping God’s commandments makes us happy. Alma, another Book of Mormon prophet, summed it up when he said, “Wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10.) How many times have you done something you knew shouldn’t do? And how often did you later wish you hadn’t done that thing? If you’re anything like me the answer would be, too often.

In an address given to Brigham Young University students, Marlin K. Jensen, said:

“From the depths of my soul I testify that Satan wants us to believe we are an exception to God’s rules, that somehow our transgressions are more noble and justifiable than anyone’s have ever been. But that is a lie. And not only do we offend God by breaking His laws; we also offend ourselves and others, and thereby experience heartache, suffering, and misery—the exact opposites of happiness” (“How to Be Happy,” New Era, Aug 1999, 4.)

There was a time in my life when I truly did believe that I was an exception God’s rules. I was a victim of other peoples’ bad choices—how could I be expected to do what was right when so many in my life had done me wrong? I felt justified in being bad because being good didn’t seem to get me anywhere.

I would have to write a whole book to explain how I came to see the error in my thinking, but suffice it to say, I had that precious ‘aha’ moment wherein I finally came to see that in choosing to continue my bad behavior, I only continued to hurt myself. It was only when I started to do what I knew was right, to follow God’s commandments, that I began to feel my burden lifted, and I began to feel hope.

Now, after seventeen years of practicing righteous behavior, I can honestly say that “wickedness never was happiness.” Don’t get me wrong, I am certainly not perfect. Not even close. But I am somewhat further down the road of obedience than I once was and I am happier for it.

If you feel burdened by wrong choices, either your own or those of others, I encourage you to turn your face to God. Seek to do what He commands as outlined in the scriptures, and I promise He will lift your burdens and reward you with happiness to cheer your days.

Lately I’ve written a lot on the subject of keeping the commandments as a source of happiness in our lives. You are probably ready for me to move on already! But I read this wonderful quote and thought you might bear with me just one more time.

George Albert Smith, former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (or the Mormon church,) said:

“It ought not to be difficult for us to keep the commandments of the Lord, because keeping them leads to happiness. It ought not to be difficult for husbands and wives to love one another and be true to one another, because doing so is a source of happiness. It ought not to be difficult for boys and girls to love their parents and honor them, because that is another source of happiness. Being honest with our neighbors is a source of happiness. Paying Him our tithes and our offerings is a source of blessing and happiness. I might go on and enumerate many other things, but I may sum it all by saying: All the happiness that is worthy of the name, all the real happiness there is in this world, comes from living in accordance with the commandments of God—whether men know it or not.”

I would love to have a perfectly fit and healthy body. Once, I was a bodybuilder and competed in amateur bodybuilding competitions. Today, I’m about thirty pounds overweight and can’t strike a pose except to make my children laugh. I know what I need to do to get into shape. I even know how to work out properly. There is a great gym very nearby my house that has all the equipment I need to get into shape.

But do I go? Umm, nope.

However, when I have gone to work out, I feel tremendously good. Not only does my body enjoy being pushed to its limits—coming alive the way only physical exercise allows us to do—but my spirits are also invigorated. You often hear people say “It’s so hard to get to the gym, but I’m always happy when I do because I feel so much better!”

That’s precisely how it is in keeping the commandments. We don’t always want to do them, but they are good for us and following them will always make us happy.

I testify that following the commandments brings peace to our hearts and happiness to lives. Study the commandments as found in Exodus 20, and in the New Testament. Pray about them and discern how they can be applied to your own life. As you do this and strive to live by them daily, you will be blessed with happiness beyond your imaginings.

So flex a little mental muscle and decide today that though it isn’t always easy, you will obey the commandments of God and be spiritually fit and eternally happy.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (or Mormons,) we have additional scripture and revelations that have increased our understanding of the premortal life, our purpose in mortality, and our potential for eternal life. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught,

“The great Jehovah contemplated the whole of the events connected with the earth, pertaining to the plan of salvation, before it rolled into existence … ; the past, the present, and the future were and are, with Him, one eternal ‘now’” (History of the Church, 4:597.)

Heavenly Father saw the end from the beginning and so it’s easy to imagine that the commandments He has given to us throughout the generations were for the purpose of helping us win the rewards He has prepared for us. Since He desires for us to be happy, it would stand to reason that following the commandments will help us achieve that happiness.

Today, the voice of the world would seek to convince us that following commandments is cumbersome and old-fashioned. However, happy people know that “wickedness never was happiness,” as Alma teaches (Alma 41:10.)

King Benjamin, a Book of Mormon prophet taught:

“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” (Mosiah 2:41.)

There is a period of time in the Book of Mormon when the Nephites were said to have “lived after the manner of happiness” (2 Nephi 5:27.) They did not achieve this happiness overnight—it came after much hard work, scripture study, and continued faith in the Lord.

John B. Dickson, wrote in his talk “After the Manner of Happiness” (Ensign, Feb 2008, 14–18:)

“Keeping the commandments was an essential condition to their happy way of life: “And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things” (2 Nephi 5:10). They were not selective in the commandments they kept, but “in all things” they sought to be obedient. They knew that their temporal well-being, as well as their spiritual growth, depended upon their keeping the commandments of God.”

But mistakes do happen. When we inevitably do slip in our faithfulness, all is not lost. Even prophets and apostles before us have been imperfect. The wonderful gift of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that His atonement is for every one of us. If you should make a mistake, repent of your sins and sin no more.
“By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them” (D&C 58:42–43.)

Elder Dickson lists five steps that will help us to obtain not only happiness in this life but eternal life in the world to come:

1. Have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a desire to enjoy the blessings of celestial life.
2. Recognize mistakes and correct them through repentance.
3. Know that the Lord invites us to enjoy eternal happiness but will never force us.
4. Believe that the Savior can truly help us be clean and happy.
5. Have faith that forgiveness comes to those who truly repent.

Remember that you are a child of God and that He loves you. He prepared His plan of happiness for us from the very beginning and has surely provided a way for us to achieve that happiness. I testify that following the commandments of God is the right way to find and keep true happiness.