How Can We Find Joy?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to the books of First and Second Peter in a lesson titled “Rejoice with Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory.” The following counsel preceded the lesson: “As you read the Epistles of Peter, you may receive spiritual impressions. Promptly record them while you re “yet in the Spirit” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:80) so you can accurately capture what God teaches you.” The lesson was then introduced by the following information. 

Shortly after His Resurrection, the Savior made a prophecy that must have been troubling to Peter. He foretold that Peter would be martyred for his faith, being carried “whither [he] wouldest not …, signifying by what death he should glorify God” (John 21:18-19). Years later, when Peter wrote his epistles, he knew that his prophesied martyrdom was near: “Shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me” (2 Peter 1:14). And yet Peter’s words were not filled with fear or pessimism. Instead, he taught the Saints to “greatly rejoice,” even though they were “in heaviness through manifold temptations.” He counseled them to remember that “the trial of [their] faith” would lead to “praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” and to “the salvation of [their] souls” (1 Peter 1:6-7, 9). Peter’s faith must have been comforting to those early Saints, as it is encouraging to Saints today, who are also “partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, [we] may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:13).

The principle for discussion in this post is “I can find joy during times of trial and suffering” (1 Peter 1:3-9; 2:19-24; 3:14-17; 4:12-19). The time period after Christ’s Crucifixion was not an easy time to be a Christian, and Peter acknowledges this fact in his first epistle. In the first four chapters, Peter describes the difficulties that many of the Saints were feeling: heaviness, temptations, grief, fiery trial, and sufferings (see 1 Peter 1:6; 2:19; 4:12-13).

However, Peter also wrote words that expressed joy: “abundant mercy” and “lively hope” brought by Christ’s resurrection from the dead (1 Peter 1:3); “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation” (1 Peter 1:5); “the trial of your faith … might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:7); “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, … ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). Other statements of joy can be found in 1 Peter 2:19-24; 3:14-17; and 4:12-19).

Peter was the President of the Church of Jesus Christ in his day and sent words of encouragement to the early-day Saints. Russell M. Nelson is the President of the Church of Jesus Christ in our day, and he often speaks or writes words of encouragement for the Latter-day Saints. In his October 2016 General Conference talk, President Nelson shared the following counsel. 

These are the latter days, so none of us should be surprised when we see prophecy fulfilled. A host of prophets, including Isaiah, Paul, Nephi, and Mormon, foresaw that perilous times would come, that in our day the whole world would be in commotion, that men would “be lovers of their own selves, … without natural affection, … lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God,” and that many would become servants of Satan who uphold the adversary’s work. Indeed, you and I “wrestle, … against the rulers of the darkness of this world, [and] against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

As conflicts between nations escalate, as cowardly terrorists prey on the innocent, and as corruption in everything from business to government becomes increasingly commonplace, what can help us? What can help each of us with our personal struggles and with the rigorous challenge of living in these latter days?

The prophet Lehi taught a principle for spiritual survival….

Clearly, Lehi knew opposition, anxiety, heartache, pain, disappointment, and sorrow. Yet he declared boldly and without reservation a principle as revealed by the Lord: “Men are, that they might have joy.” Imagine! Of all the words he could have used to describe the nature and purpose of our lives here in mortality, he chose the word joy! …

That’s it! Saints can be happy under every circumstance. We can feel joy even while having a bad day, a bad week, or even a bad year!

My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.

When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation … and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening – or not happening – in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy. We feel it at Christmastime when we sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.” And we can feel it all year round. For Latter-day Saints, Jesus Christ is joy! …

Just as the Savior offers peace that “passeth all understanding,” He also offers an intensity, depth, and breadth of joy that defy human logic or mortal comprehension….

How, then, can we claim that joy? We can start by “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” “in every thought.” We can give thanks for Him in our prayers and by keeping covenants we’ve made with Him and our Heavenly Father. As our Savior becomes more and more real to us and as we plead for His joy to be given to us, our joy will increase….