Saturday, December 14, 2013

Find the Secret to Greater Happiness

                If you knew the secret to greater happiness, what would it be worth to you?  Would you have the desire to share it with your family and friends?  Would you want to share it with everyone you know?  I believe that you may personally know or have at least glimpsed people who know this secret.  I know the secret to greater happiness, and I desire to tell you about it.

                This great secret can be found in living the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  We can gain greater happiness by keeping the commandments of God.  This happiness is the promised fruit of living the gospel. 

                King Benjamin, a righteous king who lived in ancient America, taught his people about this happiness.  “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” (Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Mosiah 2:41).

                Heavenly Father loves all of His children, and He wants all of us to be happy.  When we find this secret to greater happiness, Heavenly Father expects us to share it with others.  President Henry B. Eyring counseled:  “… You don’t faithfully obey the Lord’s commandments to be seen by other people, but those who observe your happiness are being prepared by the Lord to hear the good news of the Restoration of the gospel.

                “The blessings you have been given have created obligations and wonderful opportunities for you.  As a covenant disciple of Jesus Christ you are obligated to extend to others an opportunity to find increased happiness, especially to your friends and the members of your family.
                “The Lord saw your opportunity and described your obligation with this commandment:  `It becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor’ (Doctrine and Covenants 88:81).

                “The Lord makes that commandment easier to obey through the change that occurs in your heart as you accept and live the gospel of Jesus Christ.  As a result, your love for others grows, as does your desire for them to have the same happiness you have experienced….
                “Christmastime turns our hearts to the Savior and to the joy His gospel has brought us.  We show our gratitude to Him best as we offer that happiness to others.  Gratitude is turned to joy as we offer names to missionaries and as we take the names of our ancestors to the temple.  That evidence of our gratitude can make friends and families that endure forever” ("Family and Friends Forever," Ensign, December 2013, 4-5).  


                If you desire to find greater happiness that you now know, look for those people who know this secret.  You can tell them by the happiness in their lives, the light in their countenances, and their modest dress.  You can also find them by looking for the young men and young women as well as older couples who wear name tags proclaiming that they represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You can approach any of these people and ask them to share the secret to their happiness.  They will be happy to share all that they know.  When you learn this secret and take it into your life, you will know true happiness.

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