Happiness

Happiness is a choice and we can choose to be happy or sad every hour of everyday! I am a pretty optimistic person and not many things get me down. I try to be happy most of the time. The thing that brings me the most happiness is when I serve others or Heavenly Father. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ brings me a lot of peace and happiness as well. When I apply the principles of the gospel and live in accordance with God's laws I am the happiest!

Testifying of God's "eternal purposes," the prophet Lehi taught, "Men are, that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:15, 25). Many people try to find happiness and fulfillment in activities that are contrary to the Lord's commandments. Ignoring God's plan for them, they reject the only source of real happiness. They give in to the devil, who "seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself" (2 Nephi 2:27). Eventually they learn the truth of Alma's warning to his son Corianton: "Wickedness never was happiness" (Alma 41:10).

Others seek only to have fun in life. With this as their main goal, they allow temporary pleasure to distract them from lasting happine

ss. They rob themselves of the enduring joys of spiritual growth, service, and hard work.

As we seek to be happy, we should remember that the only way to real happiness is to live the gospel. We will find peaceful, eternal happiness as we strive to keep the commandments, pray for strength, repent of our sins, participate in wholesome activities, and give meaningful service.

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