Recently I stood on the north shore of a beautiful Pacific island gazing out
to sea at daybreak. I was fascinated by the regularity with which the gigantic
waves consistently moved forward to break on the shoreline. It reminded me of
the constancy of the plan of the Lord, with its fixed, eternal law, and the
security of enduring justice and the tenderness of mercy when earned by
obedience. I noticed that each wave would crest at a different point on the
horizon to find its unique path to shore. Some cascaded over rocks, leaving
rivulets of foaming, white water. Others burst on the shore in individual
patterns. They slid up the moistened sand with playful frothy edges, then
bubbled and swirled as they receded.
I thought of the unending variety of possibilities the Lord has provided for us.
We have so much freedom, so many opportunities to develop our unique
personalities and talents, our individual memories, our personalized
contributions. Since there would be no further opportunity to observe the
majestic sea, I tried to imagine the glorious panorama the brilliant sun would
later create. As I watched this magnificent scene in reverence, a window formed
in the clouds; the glistening rays of the rising sun broke through the overcast
sky, transforming everything with its luminescence, its color, its life. It was
as if the Lord wanted to share an additional blessing, a symbol of the light of
His teachings that gives brilliance and hope to everyone it touches. Tears of
gratitude formed for this wondrous world in which we live, for the extraordinary
beauty our Heavenly Father so freely shares with all who are willing to see.
Truly, life is beautiful.
Do you take time to discover each day how beautiful your life can be? How long
has it been since you watched the sun set? The departing rays kissing the
clouds, trees, hills, and lowlands good night, sometimes tranquilly, sometimes
with exuberant bursts of color and form. What of the wonder of a cloudless night
when the Lord unveils the marvels of His heavens—the twinkling stars, the
moonlight rays—to ignite our imagination with His greatness and glory? How
captivating to watch a seed planted in fertile soil germinate, gather strength,
and send forth a tiny, seemingly insignificant sprout. Patiently it begins to
grow and develop its own character led by the genetic code the Lord has provided
to guide its development. With care it surely will become what it is destined to
be: a lily, crowned with grace and beauty; a fragrant spearmint plant; a peach;
an avocado; or a beautiful blossom with unique delicacy, hue, and fragrance.
When last did you observe a tiny rosebud form? Each day it develops new and
impressive character, more promise of beauty until it becomes a majestic rose.
You are one of the noblest of God’s creations. His intent is that your life be
gloriously beautiful regardless of your circumstances. As you are grateful and
obedient, you can become all that God intends you to be.
Sadness, disappointment, and severe challenge are events in life, not life
itself. I do not minimize how hard some of these events are. They can extend
over a long period of time, but they should not be allowed to become the
confining center of everything you do. The Lord inspired Lehi to declare the
fundamental truth, “Men are, that they might have joy.” That is a conditional
statement: “they might have joy.” It is not conditional for the Lord. His intent
is that each of us finds joy. It will not be conditional for you as you obey the
commandments, have faith in the Master, and do the things that are necessary to
have joy here on earth.
Your joy in life depends upon your trust in Heavenly Father and His holy Son,
your conviction that their plan of happiness truly can bring you joy. Pondering
their doctrine will let you enjoy the beauties of this earth and enrich your
relationships with others. It will lead you to the comforting, strengthening
experiences that flow from prayer to Father in Heaven and the answers He gives
in return.
A pebble held close to the eye appears to be a gigantic obstacle. Cast on the
ground, it is seen in perspective. Likewise, problems or trials in our lives
need to be viewed in the perspective of scriptural doctrine. Otherwise they can
easily overtake our vision, absorb our energy, and deprive us of the joy and
beauty the Lord intends us to receive here on earth. Some people are like rocks
thrown into a sea of problems. They are drowned by them. Be a cork. When
submerged in a problem, fight to be free to bob up to serve again with
happiness.
You are here on earth for a divine purpose. It is not to be endlessly
entertained or to be constantly in full pursuit of pleasure. You are here to be
tried, to prove yourself so that you can receive the additional blessings God
has for you. The tempering effect of patience is required. Some blessings will
be delivered here in this life; others will come beyond the veil. The Lord is
intent on your personal growth and development. That progress is accelerated
when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you
encounter, whether initially it be to your individual liking or not. When you
trust in the Lord, when you are willing to let your heart and your mind be
centered in His will, when you ask to be led by the Spirit to do His will, you
are assured of the greatest happiness along the way and the most fulfilling
attainment from this mortal experience. If you question everything you are asked
to do, or dig in your heels at every unpleasant challenge, you make it harder
for the Lord to bless you.
Your agency, the right to make choices, is not given so that you can get what
you want. This divine gift is provided so that you will choose what your Father
in Heaven wants for you. That way He can lead you to become all that He intends
you to be. That path leads to glorious joy and happiness.
Learn from inspiring individuals who have made peace with their challenges and
live with joy amid adversity. A lovely woman with an aggressive terminal disease
consistently found joy in life. She understood the plan of happiness, had
received the temple ordinances, and was doing her best to qualify for the
promised blessings. Her personal journal records: “It is a beautiful fall day. I
picked up the mail and sat down on the swing. I was so happy and content in the
warm sun, the sweet smell of nature and the trees around me. I just sat and
gloried in the fact that I am still alive on this beautiful earth. … The Lord is
so good to me. How I thank him that I am still here and feeling so good. I am
soooooo happy I just want to shout and dance through this beautiful house as the
sun streams into the big windows. I love being alive.”
A valiant mother courageously fighting a debilitating illness spent untold hours
laboriously completing a large, challenging needlepoint work of art. It was a
gift to a couple experiencing trials. For the couple it is a priceless treasure,
a constant reminder of the precious fruits of resolute effort in the face of
adversity, an enduring message of hope bound in the bonds of pure love and
willing sacrifice.
Children teach us how to find joy even under the most challenging circumstances.
Children haven’t yet learned to be depressed by concentrating on the things they
don’t have. They find joy in what is available to them. I remember a small boy
playing along a riverbank. He had tied a piece of fishing line to the ends of
two discarded soft-drink cans. He threw one can over a limb, then filled it with
water. He would pull on the other can, then let it go. The weight of the first
can would draw the second one up as it fell. He laughed and danced with glee.
Simple, rejuvenating experiences surround us. They can be safety valves to keep
the tension down and the spirit up. Don’t concentrate on what you don’t have or
have lost. The Lord promised the obedient to share all that He possesses with
them. You may temporarily lack here, but in the next life, if you prove yourself
worthy by living valiantly, a fulness will be your blessing.
Find the compensatory blessings in your life when, in the wisdom of the Lord, He
deprives you of something you very much want. To the sightless or hearing
impaired, He sharpens the other senses. To the ill, He gives patience,
understanding, and increased appreciation for others’ kindness. With the loss of
a dear one, He deepens the bonds of love, enriches memories, and kindles hope in
a future reunion. You will discover compensatory blessings when you willingly
accept the will of the Lord and exercise faith in Him.
To the afflicted people of Alma, the Lord said: “I will also ease the burdens …
that even you cannot feel them upon your backs … ; and this will I do that ye
may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that
I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
“And … the burdens … were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that
they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and
with patience to all the will of the Lord” (Mosiah 24:13-15).
Attempt to be creative for the joy it brings. After their noble husbands were
called home, Sisters Camilla Kimball, Amelia McConkie, and Helen Richards
learned to paint. They not only leave legacies of art, but they will never see a
sunset, a face, or a tree the same again. They now perceive subtle nuances of
color and form and rejoice in the abounding beauty around them.
Select something like music, dance, sculpture, or poetry. Being creative will
help you enjoy life. It engenders a spirit of gratitude. It develops latent
talent, sharpens your capacity to reason, to act, and to find purpose in life.
It dispels loneliness and heartache. It gives a renewal, a spark of enthusiasm,
and zest for life.
Willing service to others is a key to enduring happiness. President Kimball
said: “God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through
another mortal that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve
each other.”
I know of a woman who was joyously happy. Each morning she would ask her Father
in Heaven to lead her to someone she could help. That sincere prayer was
answered time and again. The burdens of many were eased and their lives
brightened. She was blessed continually for being an instrument directed by the
Lord.
I know that every difficulty we face in life, even those that come from our own
negligence or even transgression, can be turned by the Lord into growth
experiences, a virtual ladder upward. I certainly do not recommend transgression
as a path to growth. It is painful, difficult, and so totally unnecessary. It is
far wiser and so much easier to move forward in righteousness. But through
proper repentance, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and obedience to His
commandments, even the disappointment that comes from transgression can be
converted into a return to happiness.
Make a list of things you can do for happiness, such as:
• Ponder the scriptures to understand the plan of happiness.
• Pray with faith in Jesus Christ.
• Love and serve others.
• Receive the temple ordinances. Return to bless others.
• Listen to the prophet and obey his counsel.
• Be grateful for what you have.
• Smile more.
Your list will provide keys to contentment and joy.
A famous Brazilian song repeats a falsehood many believe: Sadness never ends,
but happiness does. I witness that with faith in the Savior and obedience to His
teachings, happiness never ends, but sadness does.
No matter how difficult something you or a loved one faces, it should not take
over your life and be the center of all your interest. Challenges are growth
experiences, temporary scenes to be played out on the background of a pleasant
life. Don’t become so absorbed in a single event that you can’t think of
anything else or care for yourself or for those who depend upon you. Remember,
much like the mending of the body, the healing of some spiritual and emotional
challenges takes time.
The Lord has said, “Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but
endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.” As you are
patient, you will come to understand what the statement “I am with thee” means.
God’s love brings peace and joy.
Your faith in Jesus Christ gives life enduring meaning. Remember you are on a
journey to exaltation. Sometimes you have experiences that yield more happiness
than others, but it all has purpose with the Lord.
As a witness of the Savior, I exhort you to forgive any you feel may have
offended you. If there is transgression, repent of it, that the Master may heal
you.
Thank your Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son for the plan of happiness and
the gospel principles upon which it is based. Be grateful for the ordinances and
the covenants they have provided. I solemnly testify they have power to crown
your life with peace and joy, to give it purpose and meaning. You will learn
that sadness and disappointment are temporary. Happiness is everlastingly
eternal because of Jesus Christ. I solemnly witness that He lives, that He loves
you, and that He will help you. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
© 2003 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
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