~Happiness~

Yesterday, I had a difficult day. I was definitely not happy. 

The unhappiest part of my unhappiness was the fact that I had tried so hard all day to be good! I had fasted, worked hard at work, written nice notes to people, loved my neighbor, kept my thoughts pure, controlled how much I ate, and I still wasn't happy. 

I want to be happy. And I suppose I believe the promise in D&C 130: 20-21.

"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated-- 

And whenever we obtain any blessing, it is by obedience to the law upon which it is predicated." 

So, what are the laws upon which happiness is predicated? How can I obey these laws so as to secure happiness for myself and my loved ones? 

"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." (Mosiah 2:41)

It looks like there isn't a single commandment programmed "for general happiness." It looks like we are expected to keep "the commandmentS" (plural) of God. 

This makes sense. Just like a single pill cannot make a person healthy, a single commandment cannot keep a person happy. You need a wide variety of nutrients from a variety of foods in order to remain healthy. And you need a wide variety of spiritual nourishment from a variety of commandments to remain happy. 

LDS.org points out that God's plan is a plan of happiness. It says that "Our happiness is the design of all the blessings He gives us—gospel teachings, commandments, priesthood ordinances, family relationships, prophets, temples, the beauties of creation, and even the opportunity to experience adversity."

Let's look at some of these blessings.

• Gospel Teachings: Give us correct knowledge and truths about the world and plan of salvation which we live in. Helps us know what is right and wrong.
• Commandments: Keep us safe from harmful distractions or traps set by the adversary. (with a little a, because satan is a loser.) 
• Priesthood Ordinances: Give us strength and cleanse us from past mistakes. Also make it possible for us to live forever with our loved ones. 
• Family Relationships: Loving families are perhaps the biggest blessing on earth, besides the Atonement. Families are the Divine Pattern for Happiness. 
• Prophets: Lead us! Guide us! Help us to spot new tricks and traps in the adversary's arsenal. 
• Temples: Teach us about the wonders of eternity. Help us know our true heritage and potential. Provide a holy place to conduct priesthood ordinances. 
• The Beauties of Creation. 

I mean, really, who isn't grateful for this?

• The Opportunity to Experience Adversity: This is a tricky one. I'll write about this later, because it's something I've learned very thoroughly over the last year, but trust me: adversity is a blessing, and it leads to happiness and strength. 

But what if you are doing all those things, and you still aren't happy? 

Is the promise still true? 

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18) 

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 

 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:24-25) 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 35, 38-39)

Thank you, Paul.

Hold on! Happiness is right around the corner.