On Happiness

On Happiness…

Bliss, contentment, delight, elation, enjoyment, euphoria, exhilaration, glee, joy, jubilation, laughter, optimism, peace of mind, prosperity, well-being, blessedness, delectation, ecstasy, felicity, gaiety, geniality, gladness, hope, paradise, sanctity, vivacity, and cheeriness. All these things pertain to happiness, but what does it really mean? Everyone wants it, but do we know in reality what we actually want?

Everyone draws towards happiness in one way or another. God wants us to be happy too, but there are so many questions attached as to what it really means, and how to rightly obtain it.

For example, if everyone wants so much to be happy, why is sometimes so hard?

If God wants us to be happy, why does He let so many sad things happen?

Is happiness a fleeting feeling that depends on what we have or don’t have?

Can true happiness even be obtained in this life?

Can it ever be permanent?

In 2 Nephi 2:25 it says “Adam fell that man might be and men are that they might have joy.”

We’re here to be happy! So why aren’t we happy all the time? Well, we wouldn’t ever know what happiness felt like if we hadn’t ever experienced adversity.  If sadness never dug holes in our hearts, there would be no holes to fill with happiness. We can’t experience joy if we have never known it’s opposite.

If God wants us to be happy, why does He let so many sad things happen?

When it says “men are that they might have joy” that encompasses all that it takes to experience joy, which also includes sadness.

God’s plan was for us to come here and have tests and trials. But God’s plan is also the Plan of Happiness. He knows that the faith that will be required of us will also bring great joy.

Is happiness a fleeting feeling that depends on what we have or don’t have?

So many people are wandering around, searching up and down for any sign of delight. But so many are looking in the wrong places. Drugs, immorality, selfishness, (anything that isn’t done for God) can lead to what I like to call “Jump and Splat Syndrome.” People that have this seek for happiness in little spurts. They do these things which give them a little ‘high’ and then afterward, plunge down into something that could lead to addiction and remorse.  They jump off a cliff and get a thrill, but then after a while they find themselves splat upon the ground.

This is seeking for happiness in fulfillment of carnal desires. This is Satan’s warped version of happiness, and it will not last!

Can true happiness even be obtained in this life?

True happiness comes when we are living in accordance with God’s law. And that includes the law of the Atonement. Of course we are going to have ups and downs, but repentance can make us pure again and ready to receive a fullness of joy.

Our thoughts play a huge role in living in accordance with that law. I believe gratitude is key. When we are sincerely grateful, then we will do the right things to show our love and appreciation. And God said “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

What can we do in order to serve God? Serve others! Isn’t it interesting that in order to find ourselves, we must lose ourselves?

Being selfish is quite a burden. When you are selfish, you are never content and always wanting more and also blaming others.

Service is a great way to throw off that burden, and find true happiness.

It’s really all about living the gospel.

Can it ever be permanent?

The true lasting happiness that is really worthwhile comes with the Spirit. When we are doing things to have the Spirit, we can be happy in knowing that we’ll have that constant peace.

It’s teamwork! You can’t do it all on your own; you need God’s strength. His grace and His Spirit are power.

The Spirit connects us to our true selves. It is the bridge to our divinity. When we are doing things that bring the spirit, we are doing what God wants and what He put us here to do.

As long as we are sincerely trying to do God’s will and being grateful as we live the gospel joyfully, then true happiness will pour abundantly into our lives.

Happiness :)

Happiness can be found through service, silence, and the spirit. When we slow down and take the time to do these things, we will be able to see how we can be happy and how we can help the people around us to be happy.

There are many ways to find sadness in this world, it only takes a glance to see the sorrow all around. Everyone seems to be hurting in some way or another. Happiness is just as plentiful but not as obvious. You have to work hard to find the joy in the journey. When we are doing whats right and helping those around us to see the light, then we can find the happiness. When we are serving the people around us, we are also serving God. We will find true happiness in service to others.

There is so much chaos all around that is hard to avoid. We often feel pressured, busy, and tired. There are so many people who are filling up their life's with more and more hoping to find happiness and passion somewhere along the way. But when we take time to be silent and listen we can bring peace into our homes and relationships. Peace is definitely something that can help you recognize the good and become happy, I have seen this in my life. It is amazing.

When Christ was upon the earth He experienced many of the same things we do. His life was obviously different but He did experience happiness and sorrow. When we take the time to listen to the spirit we are blessed to feel the happiness that only God can give. Taking time to make sure we have the spirit with us is always worth it. When you have the spirit with you, you are in a place to feel happiness and joy. 

When we take the time to be happy we can find more ways to serve, be silent and feel the spirit. Helping others to find happiness in their life's can only increase your own happiness.

The path to Joy!

Word study on “Joy”

I. Dictionary Definition

1. JOY, n.
1. “The passion or emotion [Feeling] excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement [Enjoyment] of pleasurable [Comfortable] feelings which is caused by success, good fortune,the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits.”

2. Principle: We can have joy any time we want. All we have to do is abide by the principles and truths in our lives and in the Gospel, and stay worthy, so that we can keep the Holy Spirit with us. If we do that, we can truly experience joy in our everyday lives!

II. Words of the Prophet(s) and Other Wise Men and Women

1. “Find a place inside where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.”               -Joseph Campbell (Retrieved from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/josephcamp384345.html)

2. Principle: I really liked this quote because it talks about taking responsibility. It says, “Find”, and ‘find’ is an action word. We must be the ones to take action in order to feel the Spirit and especially learn from it. The saying, “Let Him In” is also saying that we must take action. He cannot let himself in, we must take the action of ‘Letting him in’ ourselves.

III. Scripture(s)

1. “And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one;”  (3 Nephi 28:10 Retrieved from http://www.lds.org)

2. Principle: If we do all we can here on earth to get back to Heavenly Father, we will not only have much joy in our lives, but we too, can be one with the Father!

3. “Nevertheless, the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the church of God, which had been established among them. And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy.” (Helaman 6:3 Retrieved from http://www.lds.org)

4. Principle: The people had joy because they had discovered the truth in which they were seeking. And as it says in the definition, it is a pleasurable feeling. The feeling they had was the comfort of the Holy Ghost which was now among them!

IV. Personal Definition

To me, joy results in making a true effort to live the truths and principles of the Gospel and

even the laws of the land. We came to this earth to experience responsibility, trial, success,

love and joy. We did so to learn and grow so that we may one day reach our eternal goal of

becoming like our Father in Heaven! We knew that we would have to find our own joy and that

it would not just come, but that we would have to take action and let the Spirit into our lives so that he can teach us how to have joy! We can learn how to have joy by our own conversion and in feeling the presence of the Holy Ghost. What I think I need to do is pray to have the Spirit in my life more, and to be able to listen and understand where it’s leading me in my life.

Happiness is the Process

I) 1828 DEFINITION:

A) Happiness: 1) Agreeable sensations which spring from the enjoyment of good. Desires gratified. Pleasure without pain (or relief from pain), bliss > felicity > happiness. Indefinite degrees of INCREASE in enjoyment or gratification of desires. Perfect happiness (or pleasure unalloyed with pain is not attainable in this life).

Principle: As we progress (learn and live more truth), we will have righteous desires and they will be increasingly met. Each time we repent we progress and can look forward to an increase in happiness as we live better. We can’t have perfect happiness here because we make mistakes, instead we enjoy an increase in happiness as we progress.

2) Good luck or good fortune

Principle: This definition implies that happiness is what happens to you, and does not have to do with how you progress. I believe this is a false definition.

B) Joy: Passion or emotion felt by acquisition or expectation of good. Feeling caused by success, good fortune, gratification of desire or good, or prospect of getting what we desire. Glorious, triumphant. Bible Dictionary – Condition of great happiness coming from righteous living. Purpose of mortal life. Full joy will come only through Jesus Christ. Meek increase their joy in the Lord (Isa 29:19) Your joy no man taketh away from you. Fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace (Gal 5:22)

Principle: Joy is acquiring or expecting good. Happiness is enjoying that good. Joy is what you feel when you are living righteously so it is why we are here. Full joy can only come with Jesus Christ (the perfect good). You get joy by being meek or teachable.

C) Felicity: Great happiness, blessedness, the joys of heaven. 2) Prosperity, blessing, enjoyment of good.

II) SCRIPTURES

Alma 41:5 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.

 Principle: Our desire for good is proportional to our happiness.

2 Nephi 2:13 ...If there be no righteousness there be no happiness…

 Principle: The higher our righteousness, the greater the happiness we experience.

Alma 27:18 Was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness.

Principle: You must be penitent (aware of weakness and sin with a desire to improve) and humbly seeking happiness (relying on God)

Helaman 13:38 ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of the righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head.

Principle: It is contrary to natural law to want what is wrong and have happiness.

Bible Dictionary: Exaltation: The highest state of happiness and glory in the celestial kingdom. In thy presence is fullness of joy (PS 16:11), they are gods, even the sons of God – wherefore, all things are theirs (D&C 76:58-59)

Principle: The closer we get to God, the more joy we experience. In His presence is fullness of Joy.

Mosiah 2:41: 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

LDS.org: Heavenly Father wants us to be happy. That is why he gives us the gospel teachings, priesthood ordinances, family, prophets, temples, beauty in nature, and adversity. He sent His Son to carry out the Atonement so we can be happy in this life and receive a fullness of joy in the eternities.

 Principle: Life is a curriculum for learning happiness and joy made possible by the Atonement. It is why we are here. (If we are not happy, it may help to remember that happiness is something we learn – unhappiness is an invitation to learn something)

III) WISE QUOTES (retracted from LDS.org)

Living after the Manner of Happiness by Marlin K. Jensen:

Curriculum of happiness: Family, Commandments, harvest, scriptures and temple (perspective, revelation and strength), prepare (education), work, service, follow Spirit, keep a journal, repentance, simplicity

Fun and Happiness by Claudio M. Costa:

“Fun is just a fleeting moment, but happiness is a lasting thing.”

“[Prodigal son] finally understands that true happiness is there, in that simple life with his family.”

Principle: Happiness is simple

Therefore they Hushed their Fears – Elder Bednar:

“Thus, we can be blessed to hush our fears because His doctrine provides purpose and direction in all aspects of our lives. His ordinances and covenants fortify and comfort in times both good and bad. And His priesthood authority gives assurance that the things that matter most can endure both in time and in eternity.”

Principle: Ordinances and covenants fortify and comfort so we are not swayed about with our moods, but can have a peaceful anchoring to Christ

IV) Personal Definition:

Happiness is what we experience as we work grow closer to God. We feel more joy as we grow closer to Him and we find happiness in the process. The more true principles we discover and apply through repentance, the happier we will be. Humility and penitence are requirements for growth and therefore essential for happiness. When we are focused on Christ, we are able to simplify our time and focus on those things that really matter to Him - like our love and service towards our family and others.  I can be more humble by prayerful setting these simple, love-centered goals and looking to God to help me work towards them. My covenants with Him give me His strength which enables me to do this. This process of working with God is happiness.

Happiness

Here is my word study on happiness. :)

• Websters 1828 Dictionary
• The agreeable sensations which spring from the enjoyment of good; that state of a being in which his desires are gratified, by the enjoyment of pleasure without pain.
•  Agreeable: acceptable or delightful. Enjoyment: joy and amusement. Pleasure: bliss, contentment, and gratification.

•  We give the name happiness to positive pleasure or an excitement of agreeable sensations.
• Positive: confident or perfect. Excitement: emotion and passion.

• Quotes
• " Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."
• Mahatma Gandhi 

• “Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those who are obsessed with themselves; the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others...By and large, I have come to see that if we complain about life, it is because we are thinking only of ourselves.” 
• Gordon B Hinckley 

•  "We can feel happiness every day in our lives through little things we do, and we are fully happy as we keep the commandments of a loving God."
• Claudio R. M. Costa  

• Scriptures
• Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.
• Alma 41:10 
•  And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.
• 2 Nephi 2:13 
•   But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head.
• Heleman 13:38

• My Personal Definition
•  Happiness can be found through service, silence, and the spirit. I know when I slow down and take the time to do these things, I will be able to see how I can be happy and how I can help the people around me to be happy.
• There are many ways to find sadness in this world, it only takes a glance to see the sorrow all around. Everyone seems to be hurting in some way or another. Happiness is just as plentiful but not as obvious. You have to work hard to find the joy in the journey. When am I doing whats right and helping those around me to see the light, then I can find the happiness. When I am serving the people around me, I am also serving God. We will find true happiness in service to others.
• There is so much ciaos all around that is hard to avoid. We often feel pressured, busy, and tired. There are so many people who are filling up their life's with more and more hoping to find happiness and passion somewhere along the way. But when we take time to be silent and listen we can bring peace into our homes and relationships. Peace is definitely something that can help you recognize the good and become happy, I have seen this in my life. It is amazing.
• When Christ was upon the earth He experienced many of the same things we do. His life was obviously different but He did experience happiness and sorrow. When I take the time to listen to the spirit I am blessed to feel the happiness that only God can give. Taking time to make sure we have the spirit with us is always worth it. When you have the spirit with you, you are definitely in a place to feel some sort of happiness and joy. 
• When I take the time to be happy I can find more ways to serve, be silent and feel the spirit. Helping others to find happiness in their life's can only increase your own happiness.

Happiness Word Study

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14zIvt2fw7__rGipkCuu-6Ma3sx-i5AOhLHlAiPKEkoE/edit?usp=sharing

Here is my word study!

The main thing I really got out of researching happiness is that happiness is fuller with sadness. That good cannot be without the bad. Opposites need each other! I also had some pretty cool epiphanies! ;)

There is a note after the Webster's definition that has a bunch of questions about happiness/felicity/bliss. I'd love it if you could give me your personal opinion! I'm still thinking about it, and I haven't got the answer yet! ;) Blow my mind!

Also, I'd love feedback, or to hear your personal definitions and the differences from mine!

Thank you!

Love,
Gracious