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.