During my normal scripture reading this week, I came across a verse that caught my attention more than the usual pondering. As encouraged by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) leaders, we try to read from the Book of Mormon every day. Actually, we are encouraged to read any scripture book any day whether it’s the Bible or Book of Mormon. This week I read 2nd Nephi, chapter five verse twenty-seven which says: “And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.” Nephi of old, who is the one to leave his wealthy home in Jerusalem, build a ship, and travel to the new world, then deal with ruthless brothers who wanted to kill him says that they lived after the manner of happiness.
What is living “after the manner of happiness”? At times we can become weary living in our day to day routine. Millions of people have passed through this earth and lived hundreds of hours doing what they were meant to do in their own life. But were they happy doing it? I don’t know. I do know that God wants us to be happy. He wants us to live after the manner of happiness.
Many of us carry heavy burdens which can spoil or take away our happiness. There are trials and tribulations just like what Nephi went through but he still managed to live after the manner of happiness. How can we live after the manner of happiness in our homes with our families? Dieter F. Uchtdorf, LDS Church leader gives us an idea.
Elder Uchtdorf (Happiness, Your Heritage, Ensign, November, 2008), poses the question: “What do you suppose is the greatest happiness possible?” He says “it’s the same as God’s happiness,” and went on to explain when God creates, He is happy. I can take those words and apply them in my life and know when I design something, work on homemade projects, author more writings to share, or invent a meal my family loves, these acts create happiness even through troubled times.
To read more of Valerie’s articles, click the picture.
We can create our own happy world around us. Our world tells us to indulge ourselves and look within ourselves for happiness but this never works. We are social beings and in helping others we create our own happiness. When our mood is sour, nothing helps to lighten our day more than doing a good deed for someone else.
Find what is positive in your own life. See the good in others when there is so much negative and ponder goodness in quiet times. I love this quote by an unknown author which says “The happiest people don’t have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything.”
So live after the manner of happiness as Nephi of old has counseled us to do. We can live through troubled times and still be positive and feel joy in life.
Valerie Steimle has been writing as a family advocate for over 25 years. As a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she promotes Christian living in her writings and is the mother of nine children and grandmother to twelve. Mrs. Steimle authored six books and is a contributing writer to several online websites. To her, time is the most precious commodity we have and knows we should spend it wisely.
To read more of Valerie's work, visit her at her website, The Blessings of Family Life.
