How Can I Find Joy?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 18 in a lesson titled “The Worth of Souls Is Great.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

There are many different ways to try to measure a person’s worth. Talent, education, wealth, and physical appearance can all affect how we evaluate each other—and ourselves. But in God’s eyes, our worth is a much simpler matter, and it is stated clearly in Doctrine and Covenants 18: “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (verse 10). This simple truth explains so much of what God does and why He does it. Why did He instruct Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to establish the Church of Jesus Christ in our day? (see verses 1–5). Because the worth of souls is great. Why does He “command all men everywhere to repent” and send Apostles to preach repentance? (verse 9). Because the worth of souls is great. And why did Jesus Christ suffer “death in the flesh” and “the pain of all men”? (verse 11). Because the worth of souls is great. If even one of these souls chooses to accept the Savior’s gift, He rejoices, for “great is his joy in the soul that repenteth” (verse 13).

The scripture block taught several principles, including the following: (1) “Build up my church” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:1-5), (2) “The worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:10-13), (3) The Lord rejoices when I repent (Doctrine and Covenants 18:11-16), (4) Joy comes from helping others come unto Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 18:14-16), and (5) I can hear the Lord’s voice in the scriptures (Doctrine and Covenants 18:34-36).

I feel prompted to discuss the fourth principle, “Joy comes from helping others come unto Christ.” I will begin by sharing the scripture block.

14 Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints calls young men and women as well as older couples to serve missions. The purpose of their missions is to teach people about Jesus Christ and to call them to repentance – or “cry repentance” as stated in verse 14.

Besides serving in the mission field, members of the Church of Jesus Christ “cry repentance” by teaching their children and other family members about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how to access its powers by repenting of sins. Other ways include teaching classes and serving in the organizations of the Church of Jesus Christ. Still other ways include doing family history work and temple work for loved ones on the other side of the veil.

I did not serve in the mission field, but I supported my husband-to-be in his missionary work. I also taught my sons about missionary work and encouraged them to go into the mission field to “cry repentance” to people in the Tempe, Arizona, and in south Salt Lake City. I have taught many classes and ages over my fifty plus years of adulthood. I also do family history work and temple work to give deceased family members and opportunity to choose to repent.

Elder Craig C. Christensen of the Quorum of the Seventy spoke about joy in a talk titled “There Can Be Nothing So Exquisite and Sweet as Was My Joy” and said the following. 

We were created to have joy. It is our intended destiny as children of a loving Heavenly Father. He wants to share His joy with us. The prophet Lehi taught that God’s plan for each of us is that we “might have joy.” Because we live in a fallen world, enduring joy or everlasting joy often seems beyond our reach. Yet in the very next verse, Lehi continues by explaining that “the Messiah [came to] … redeem [us] from the fall.” Redemption, by and through the Savior Jesus Christ, makes joy possible.

The gospel message is a message of hope, of “good tidings of great joy,” and the means whereby all can experience peace and occasions of joy in this life and receive a fulness of joy in the life to come.

The joy we speak of is a gift for the faithful, yet it comes with a price. Joy is not cheap or casually given. Rather, it is bought “with the precious blood of [Jesus] Christ.” If we really understood the value of true, godly joy, we would not hesitate to sacrifice any worldly possession or make any necessary life changes to receive it.