Living After the Manner of Happiness: Reading

I am an avid reader.  At times I'm even an obsessive reader (trust me - if you were to ask me how many times I've read the Harry Potter books, it would be very clear to you that I have a problem).  I have found great happiness in my life through reading.  Fantasy, romance, historical fiction, biographical, motivational--I love reading it all.

I especially love reading the scriptures.  I have found so much comfort, peace, guidance, and inspiration in reading the word of God.  And I have come to learn for myself that the scriptures are true.

My first real, personally significant experience with the Book of Mormon happened when I was 11 years old.  It was summer and because we had a pool in our backyard, we had invited some people to come over and swim.  I don't remember what happened exactly, but I had a bad attitude about something and my mom sent me to my room and told me I could come out when I had changed my attitude. 

As I sat in my room, in a foul mood, I decided to read in the Book of Mormon because we had a goal at church to read it by the end of the year.  It was July or August and I wasn't even done with 1 Nephi, so I had a lot reading to do in order to finish it.  I read the last couple of chapters in 1 Nephi, and as I got to 2 Nephi chapter 2, a verse seemed to have been written just for me.  2 Nephi 2:27 says:

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man.  And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."

I realized in that moment that I was choosing to be miserable, like the devil himself is miserable.  And that really made me mad because I didn't (and still don't) want to be anything like him.  I learned then that I can choose either to be like Jesus Christ or like the devil.  And that is a choice between happiness and misery. 

After reading that verse I immediately changed my attitude and enjoyed the rest of my day.  I had gained a personal testimony that day of the power of the Book of Mormon.  And ever since then I return time and time again to the Book of Mormon as a source of guidance and strength.

 

President Boyd K. Packer said, "Life moves all too fast. When you feel weak, discouraged, depressed, or afraid, open the Book of Mormon and read. Do not let too much time pass before reading a verse, a thought, or a chapter."

So if you're feeling down or overwhelmed and need some encouragement and inspiration, read the Book of Mormon!  It will bless your life, and it can change your life as you take time each day to read from it.
 

Living After the Manner of Happiness: Health

To continue this blog series on happiness the next topic is 'health.'  Those who know me well know that I am definitely not the one to talk to about a healthy lifestyle, especially considering my breakfast this morning was leftover pizza.  Actually, during my mission I have had many "breakfasts of champions."  Below is a picture of my breakfast one in morning while I was serving in Mayfield, KY:  Cap'n Crunch, Ski (an awesome lemon orange soda), and of course my daily vitamin supplements (that's healthy right?).

 

Okay now that we've established how unqualified I am to talk about health, I'm going to share some observations I've had about the happiness of those who do live healthy.

While I was serving in Mayfield there were three people that were awesome examples to me about the benefits that come from being  healthy.  The first was a member there who is a hard core runner.  And when I say hard core I mean hard core.  She has run 20+ marathons and did a 50 miler.  I frequently would ask her questions about running because I was just so amazed to know someone who found so much enjoyment from running.  Seriously foreign concept to me.  But she told me that she finds a lot of happiness and satisfaction in running.  She inspired me so much that I'm considering training for a half marathon.  (I'm not ambitious enough to try a marathon.)

The other two people who were great examples to me of health were Elder and Sister Pack, the senior missionary couple who also served in Mayfield.  They are the healthiest people I know.  I've never met people who are so aware of what they eat.  It was an inspiration to me because I'll eat pretty much anything and I realized I should be way more aware of what I actually put in my mouth.  It's really clear to see the blessings they receive from their healthy lifestyle because they are enjoying great health as they are "advancing in years."

I absolutely believe that as we choose to be more healthy, whether that means we change our diet or increase our activity level, we are going to feel a great measure of happiness.  The Lord cares about our health and our well-being.  He cares so much about it that He gave us the Word of Wisdom, a law of health. 

The Lord revealed this commandment to us through the Prophet Joseph Smith and promised, "And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint."
(D&C 89:18-20)

Those are some amazing blessings promised to us and I hope we all will identify ways we can be more healthy.  I for one am going to start by committing right now to not eat pizza for breakfast.  And I'll avoid the Cap'n Crunch and Ski breakfast combo.

 

Living After the Manner of Happiness: Work

The summer after my freshman year of college was quite possibly the worst summer of my life.  Probably because I was the biggest bum known to mankind.  I didn't have a job and didn't put forth much effort to find one.  I would stay up really late and sleep in until 1:00 or so in the afternoon.  I wasn't very pleasant to be around because I was negative, impatient, and lazy.

But I learned a valuable lesson from my entirely unproductive summer.  I learned that I will never, ever find happiness and satisfaction in life from laziness and idleness.  Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught, "Work builds and refines character, creates beauty, and is the instrument of our service to one another and to God."

Through our hard work and service we can be the source of bringing about much good in our lives and the lives of others.  I quite like Captain Moroni's admonition that we "be up and doing."  The Lord told Joseph Smith that "men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness." (D&C 58:27)

Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would "proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder." (Isaiah 29:14)  We can all be part of that "marvelous work and a wonder" as we participate in missionary work, family history work, as we look for opportunities to serve others, and work to strengthen our families.

The Savior told us, "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." (John 4:35)  He's telling us that there is work to be done and He's giving us an opportunity to be a part of it.  I know we will find happiness and satisfaction in our lives as we "thrust in [our] sickles, and reap with all [our] might, mind, and strength." (D&C 33:7)  Let's get to work!

 

Born of Goodly Parents

The first verse of the first chapter of the first book of the Book of Mormon starts out with the author, Nephi, saying: "I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents..."

22 years ago today I was born of goodly parents.  I came into this world with one of my best friends, my twin sister Alexa.  I was born into a family where I had a big brother and a big sister who would become some of my greatest examples and sources of support.  Two little sisters and two little brothers, who I utterly adore, would join our family.  And one of the first people to greet me into this world, aside from my parents, was my Aunt Debi, who would become one of my role models.


 

In reflecting on all of this, I am overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude for God's great plan of happiness.  I can see so clearly how my Father in Heaven has a specific plan for me.  And I know that an essential part of that plan is my family.  I love knowing that I can be with my family forever.

God is our Heavenly Father and He has a plan for His children.  Part of that plan includes the opportunity to live with our families forever.  Our Heavenly Father has so many blessings in store for us and the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us how to live so we can claim those blessings and have peace and happiness in this life and eternal life with our families in the next.

Today on my birthday, I am grateful for my life here on earth.  I am grateful for the family I am a part of and I'm grateful to know that we were all born of Goodly Parents.  I love my Heavenly Father and I love the plan of salvation that He has provided for each one of us.  And I'm especially grateful that this is the message I get to share as a full-time missionary.