Often, I have quoted the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith when he declared: “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 255–56.)

How to be happy seems pretty clear, then. As long as we are on the path that he describes, we’ll be happy. But how do we get on that path? How do we stay on it? President Thomas S. Monson, then a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, described in his article entitled “Happiness—The Universal Quest” (Ensign, Oct 1993, 2,) the ways that we can get on the path and stay there.

First, the path of virtue. The dictionary proffers the definition of virtue as “conformity to a standard of right: … a particular moral excellence,” the beneficial qualities of “strength or courage”—even “valor.”

Temptation comes to all of us, there are none who can escape its reach. However, we are not left defenseless in the face of such trials of character or moral courage. The Apostle Paul assured us that “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor 10:13.)

President Monson said that our conscience warns us as a friend before it punishes us as a judge. And I love that because all of us have that little voice in the back of our mind that whispers to us about the choices we are making—most of us can accurately distinguish between right and wrong, it’s just whether we choose to listen to that voice of reason or not that determines how we might act. We must “Learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come”(D&C 59:23.)

Second, the path of uprightness. Few of us live perfectly upright lives. Perhaps none before or after Job have truly attained this righteous goal. However, Job didn’t live a perfect life—far from it. His life was beset with trials worthy of the most unlucky soul on earth. Yet, his moral compass never faltered and he never gave in to the temptation to just give up.

Dr. Karl Menninger, stated that the only way our suffering, struggling, anxious society can hope to prevent its moral ills is by recognizing the reality of sin. That’s the theme of his famed publication, Whatever Became of Sin? a plea to mankind to stop and look at what we are doing to ourselves, to each other and to our universe. Dr. Menninger referred to Socrates, who wondered, “How is it that men know what is good, but do what is bad?” Said Dr. Menninger, “I have come to the conclusion that the ‘Everyone is doing it’ morality which characterizes our public-business world is crippling people. We must believe in our personal responsibility to correct our individual transgressions—the white lies, the petty cheating, the apathy, which characterize our passive existence.” He further stressed, “If the concept of personal responsibility and answerability for ourselves and for others were to return to common acceptance and man once again would feel guilt for sins and repent and establish a conscience that would act as a deterrent for further sin, then hope would return to the world” (See Karl Menninger, Whatever Became of Sin? (New York: Hawthorn Books, Inc., 1973.)

Third, the path of faithfulness. This path connotes allegiance, loyalty, and adherence to promises. Faithfulness does not take holidays or days off. We can’t be faithful one minute but not the next. It is constant by its very definition.

The key to faithfulness is to have your goal in mind and to never waver. N. Eldon Tanner declared: “I would rather walk barefoot from here to the celestial kingdom … than to let the things of this world keep me out” (In Conference Report, Sept.–Oct. 1966, pp. 98–99.)

I often quote Captain Nesmith from the movie Galaxy Quest, “Never give up—never surrender.” And so too, must we never give up our quest for true happiness, nor surrender our virtue and moral values to get there.

Fourth, the path of holiness. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ entreated all of us to follow His righteous example, to live as He lived. He spared no needy person His time or His compassion. He gave of his help however and whenever he could. And He wanted us to do the same.

If we walk in His footsteps, this will lead us to on a holy path, which path leads to happiness in this life and joy beyond imagining in the life to come. Few of us will attain the sort of holiness we associate with the Savior, but what a glorious life it would be if we only tried.

Fifth, keep all the commandments of God. “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21.)

I testify that as long we keep our sights set on our eternal goal and strive to keep our feet soundly on the path that leads us home, we will experience happiness, even joy, every day of our lives. This is the life God intended for us to have. He wants us to be happy. Let’s not disappoint Him.

I wanted to follow up on the “Real People Do Get Scared“ blog. In it I mentioned the oft-quoted scripture found in the Doctrine and Covenants 38:30,

I tell you these things because of your prayers; wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth; but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.

Then I described a few of the experiences we had going through just one of the disasters in our life, the Loma Prieta earthquake. I indicated that even though we were prepared, I was still very frightened.

In today’s blog I want to make sure that you understand that it is okay to be frightened while being prepared. I also want to make sure you understand that preparedness is part of my DNA, including the testimony of obedience that is part of that.

Many times we, as well as many others, may have questioned, or struggled with the enormity of being prepared. Or perhaps we have not been able to find the creativity to pursue the work and effort required to be prepared. Or maybe we’ve just not been able to find the extra money that we thought it required. Whatever the reasons might be for not being prepared to take care of ourselves during the crises that come into our lives – I would like to suggest to you that none of them matter!

Now that is a pretty strong statement. But it is a very real statement. None of those reasons matter! Let me tell you why.

In my opinion, the principle of being prepared may just be the simple principle of obedience. I really don’t think that being prepared is a suggestion.

However, with that in mind, there is a resource or answer whereby you cannot fail to accomplish it; no matter how hard you think you may have to struggle.

We have been told in 1 Nephi 3:7

“… the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commanded them.”

I personally love that scripture and believe it wholeheartedly! The way will be prepared for you to accomplish it!

Then there is another guideline to follow, that of a Prophet of God. In October 2005 general conference President Gordon B. Hinckley reminded us of our need to be prepared, as well as it being a principle of obedience,

“We can so live that we can call upon the Lord for His protection and guidance. This is a first priority. We cannot expect His help if we are unwilling to keep His commandments … I have faith … that the Lord will bless us, and watch over us, and assist us if we walk in obedience to His light, His gospel, and His commandments. (“If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear,” Ensign, November, 2005, 62)

It has been my constant experience and that of my family, that over the years as we have struggled to be obedient, even when there was no visible money, even when there was no visible pantry space, no seemingly possible ways or means to obtain the commodities needed to fill our shelves … “preparedness” always happened. Being obedient to the principle of being prepared became a way of life. Finding sales to stretch one dollar to five dollars worth buying power happened. Learning to glean fields while living in the middle of LA, CA happened. Friends who would share special deals that they received happened. On and on the miracles followed. Not the parting of the sea for us, just seemingly slowly, seemingly impossible, until when our many crises and personal disasters descended we were always able to provide for our family. Our shelves were full enough to take care of us at each particular time.

When you are doing the very best you can with the resources you have to be obedient, you simply turn to Heavenly Father and request the help that you specifically need in order to be able to be prepared.

In a blog about preparedness this may sound like sermon # 3. It is!

Last Sunday I was privileged to hear entertainer, Merrill Osmond, give a fantastic fireside on the Refiner's Fire and becoming that pure, refined gold the Savior wants us to be. He shared an experience with us that left a lasting impression on my mind.

Merrill was sitting in the office of Spencer W. Kimball, the twelfth called prophet of these modern times, who asked him to bear his testimony of the Savior. In all honesty, my brain took a pretty quick side trip. Merrill was asked to bear his testimony of the Savior to a prophet of God. Mindboggling. Then I, of course, wondered what I would say if a prophet of God asked ME to bear my testimony of Jesus Christ to him, and this is the end result of that thought process.

I testify to the world that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer, and the path by which mankind may be saved. He is Jehovah of the Old Testament and the Messiah of the New Testament.

When He spoke to Moses, He said:

For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Moses 1:39)

His work and His glory are all wrapped up in and revolves around the salvation of mankind. Through Him we may find peace of mind in a chaotic and wartorn world. Through Jesus Christ we will be numbered with the saints of the Lord. Through our Redeemer we may gain eternal life, able to dwell with Him and our Father in Heaven for eternity. Through our Savior the greedy grasp of death is forever broken and the grave cannot hold us. Because of His great and loving sacrifice in the Garden of Gethsemane we are able to repent and be forgiven, shedding our sins and embracing the promise which our King delivers. He is God the Son and stands at the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints administered through His prophet, Thomas S. Monson.

He was born into this world, in a lowly and humble fashion, to the virgin Mary, also long prophesied of, who was espoused to Joseph. He did restore the Kingdom of God, in all its purity and completeness, during His lifetime. He did perform miracles and He was, and still is, the promised Messiah the Jews have looked forward to for so long. He did enter the Garden of Gethsemane and suffered for all the sins, sorrows, illnesses, disease and grief of billions upon trillions of Heavenly Father's children, no matter when they lived or have yet to live. And above all, He lives. This testimony I bear, along with the prophets and apostles of His Church:

We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.

He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Ephesians 1:10). (The Living Christ, The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)