Where Does True Happiness Come From?

"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)

We live in a world of instant gratification and pleasure. The law of moral ethics that once were prominent in our society have begun a steep process of decay. The line that distinguished what is right and what is wrong has become hidden with gray. We can see the disturbing effects of it as good has become bad, and bad has become good. As predicted by Book of Mormon prophets, we have many voices that are competing for our attention. "Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us. And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God." (2 Nephi 28:7-8) We are being deceived by these lies that we can be happy by just breaking the commandments a little. However, no matter what the world says, "wickedness never was happiness." (Alma 41:10)

"But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God." (Jacob 2:18)

It is sometimes very easy to give into the temptations and become part of the enticings of the world. However, we can find great hope in a scripture found in 1 Corinthians 10:13, "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able [to bear.]" He will provide a way for all of us to escape the temptations and the false happiness of the world. He has given us the ability to choose for our selves which path we will take in this life.

Our own bad choices cause us grief and places heavy burdens on our shoulders. However, as we strive to consistently keep our Heavenly Father's commandments we can be freed from the burdens of guilt and shame. We have the choice. "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself. And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit." (2 Nephi 2:27 & 28)

"And now, verily I say unto you, and what I say unto one I say unto all, be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you; And inasmuch as you have humbled yourselves before me, the blessings of the kingdom are yours." (D&C 61:36 & 37)

Christ has prepared a way for us to follow. "Enter ye in at the strait gate; for strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it; but wide is the gate, and broad the way which leads to death, and many there be that travel therein, until the night cometh, wherein no man can work." (3 Nephi 27:33) His mission in life was to pave this course for us to follow. Instant gratification and pleasure is opposed to God's plan, and they do not compare to the real joy that comes with a peace of mind, and the feeling of being spiritually clean. Look unto Christ, follow His course, keep His commandments, and then you will find true happiness. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Overcoming Trials

When I think of the stories in the scriptures of prophets and great men and women overcoming great obstacles I often think of the following stories: the young boy David taking on the gigantic Goliath (1 Samuel 17), the innocent queen Esther and her courage to face the king (Book of Esther), Daniel and his bravery in the Lion's den (Daniel 6), Jonah and his adventure in the belly of the bug fish (Book of Jonah), Peter walking on water to approach Christ (Matthew 14:25-31), the raising of Lazarus from the dead (John 11), and Naamon and the search for a cure of his terrible leprosy (2 Kings 5). All these stories from the Bible each illustrate different morals that we can apply in our lives. However different these stories may be, one principle of the gospel remains constant: have faith in Christ, and He will deliver you from your trials.
1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that  ye may be able to bear it." Often times we relate this scripture with our trials, instead of using the word temptation we substitute it with trials. "There hath no trial taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tried able that ye are able..." It is true. God won't give us more than we can handle, but sometimes it seems that we are given too much! So how can we be sure that this is true, and that God will "make a way to escape, that [we] may be able to bear it?"
Let's look at the story of Job. He was a man of wealth and posterity. He was faithful, and God blessed him greatly for it. The Holy Bible says that Job was "perfect" (Job 1:1.) It is unfortunate that such a perfect man was tried in the way that he was. He had what he thought was everything, and then he lost it all; children, crops, servants, health, and property. However, as we continue to read the account of Job we recognize that even through all his trials he never cursed God or gave up in his faith. Ultimately it was Job's faith that prevailed and he was blessed a double-fold of what he already had! So why was Job tried? So that God could bless him with more. Job would not have grown without the trial, neither can we grow with out our trials.
"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (John 14:18.) This was the promise Christ gave to His disciples shortly before He was taken away to be crucified. He was going to leave them physically, but He would not leave them spiritually. He promised them His comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, to lead and guide them in their daily lives. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6.) If we put our faith in Jesus Christ, He will comfort us and give us guidance. Whether our trials be death, facing an enemy, illness, or some other tragedy, know that Jesus Christ is there for all of us in our darkest of times. May we always remember the words of Jesus Christ, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me" (John 14:1.) Let us believe in Jesus Christ, and He will help us overcome our trials.