First let's think about what happiness could be. It could be a number of things. Playing sports, playing with a puppy, eating chocolate pie, watching a really good movie, reading a really good book, being with close friends, having a fast car, a nice house, nice shoes. But eventually these things will come to an end. The game will stop, the puppy becomes a dog...etc. All these things bring temporary happiness. It's not lasting. The happiness referred to in the scriptures is eternal.
In Alma 41, we read a little about happiness and how to acheive it it this life and in the next. At the time of the resurrection our bodies and our spirits will be restored to it's proper and perfect frame. After resurrection come the judgement, where we will be judged according to our works and desires.
3 And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.
4 And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption—raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other—
5 The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh.
Our ultimate happiness will come when we live faithful to the gospel and inherit a place in the kingdom of our Heavenly Father. The reason we are here on earth is to become like our Father in Heaven and return to Him. Heavenly Fathers plan for all of us it "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39)
Since Heavenly Father loves us so much, he doesn't only want us to have happiness in the eternities, he wants us to be happy while living in this mortal life.
2 Nephi 2:25~ "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."
Life is tough though. How can one possibly find happiness when life is just so hard?! That's why I love the gospel. Because it's shows us that through faith and obedience that we can find true and lasting happiness. We read all over the scriptures that it's by keeping the commandments that we are blessed.
Mosiah 2:41~ "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."
Being obedient, following Christ, trusting in God brings so much comfort to the soul. It brings happiness. When we think that we can do what we want and ignore what God expects of us, we become slaves to sin and we slip into the grasp of the devil. There is no happiness to be found in disobedience. Though Satan would have you believe otherwise. The scriptures make it clear "wickdness never was happiness (Alma 41:10).
The only way we will find greater peace and happiness is through following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. He came to show us the way to eternal life. He came to show us how we can be happy. But, like everything else in life, we have our choice. We can choose to be happy or we can choose to be miserable. We can choose to obey or choose to disobey. We are all given the light of Christ which helps us discern good from evil. The more we choose good, the closer we are to God and the happier we are. We know what we need to do to find happiness we just have to do it. Jesus said to His Apostles, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." (John 13:17)
Since Heavenly Father loves us so much, he doesn't only want us to have happiness in the eternities, he wants us to be happy while living in this mortal life.
2 Nephi 2:25~ "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."
Life is tough though. How can one possibly find happiness when life is just so hard?! That's why I love the gospel. Because it's shows us that through faith and obedience that we can find true and lasting happiness. We read all over the scriptures that it's by keeping the commandments that we are blessed.
Mosiah 2:41~ "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."
Being obedient, following Christ, trusting in God brings so much comfort to the soul. It brings happiness. When we think that we can do what we want and ignore what God expects of us, we become slaves to sin and we slip into the grasp of the devil. There is no happiness to be found in disobedience. Though Satan would have you believe otherwise. The scriptures make it clear "wickdness never was happiness (Alma 41:10).
The only way we will find greater peace and happiness is through following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. He came to show us the way to eternal life. He came to show us how we can be happy. But, like everything else in life, we have our choice. We can choose to be happy or we can choose to be miserable. We can choose to obey or choose to disobey. We are all given the light of Christ which helps us discern good from evil. The more we choose good, the closer we are to God and the happier we are. We know what we need to do to find happiness we just have to do it. Jesus said to His Apostles, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." (John 13:17)
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