Are you dreaming of the day when everything works out just right for you and then you can live happily ever after? Have you ever heard the old adage, don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today? Well, my friend, that includes your happiness too! Don’t put off being happy for some better, brighter tomorrow. Make today a happy one and live your happily ever after … right now.
With a few simple steps you can discover the happiness of your dreams in your day to day life. The scriptures teach us how, and many leaders have spoken up to help enlighten our understanding. One such teacher is Coleen K. Menlove, former president of the Primary General Presidency in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (also known as the Mormon Church.) In General Conference in April of 2000, Sister Menlove told us that our “opportunity is here and now to obtain happiness that extends beyond our earth life” (“Living Happily Ever After,” Ensign, May 2000, 12.)
In the Book of Mormon, Lehi tells his son Jacob that every action must have its punishment or opportunity. He tells how when we are disobedient to God’s laws, we will suffer the punishments, but when we obey, we will be blessed with happiness (2 Ne. 2:10.)
Have you ever felt a heaviness weighing on your shoulders, when you have done something that you knew was wrong and yet your actions have gone unnoticed and unpunished? Your misdeeds, though they may be hidden from the eyes of man, are not hidden from God, nor are they hidden from your own conscience. That feeling is a reward to you, the reward of guilt and shame. However, if you choose to be faithful to God’s commands you are free from regret, you can be happy.
Not all in life is sunshine and roses, to be sure. We will all suffer our trials and tribulations, but it is often our attitude, or how we choose to bear our burdens, that will determine whether we are happy or sad. The Doctrine and Covenants say that in all things we should worship the Lord “with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance” (D&C 59:15.)
Elder Boyd K. Packer explained: “It was meant to be that life would be a challenge. To suffer some anxiety, some depression, some disappointment, even some failure is normal. Teach our members that if they have a good, miserable day once in a while, or several in a row, to stand steady and face them. Things will straighten out. There is great purpose in our struggle in life” (“That All May Be Edified” [1982], 94).
In her talk, Sister Menlove shares a sweet story that highlights the choice we have every day to see the good in our lives despite the sour spots:
“A few months ago I had an opportunity to take a morning walk on a mountain trail with four of my grandchildren. We each brought a bag so we could collect treasures from nature. As we looked for pieces to put in our collection, we found many different colors, designs, and textures in the leaves and rocks. It was hard to choose. I soon noticed that the children’s bags were filling up. Each leaf the children selected was unique, but because it was late fall, most of the leaves had dark weathered spots, irregular shapes, or faded and discolored parts. Because of this, I was reluctant to add things to my bag. I was looking for a leaf that showed the brightest colors and had no flaws. If it wasn’t perfect, I wasn’t going to treasure it. But this meant that my bag had very little in it.
Later, as I thought about this experience, I realized that I had cheated myself of much delight and happiness that could have been mine. I didn’t appreciate the uniqueness of the objects because I was looking for what I had deemed perfection. My grandchildren had been wiser than I had been. They had savored the odd shapes and spots on the leaves. They giggled at and enjoyed the brittle crispness of the dying leaves, and they delighted in the soft, faded colors. They filled their bags with happy treasures to take home. We can fail to see and enjoy the unique happiness and beauty in each day if we are so focused on our desire for what we want instead of what the Lord has designed for us.”
Happiness can be found in the simple things in our life, in the quiet moments, the tender moments. Happiness need not be the sole of our existence, but I think we could say that we have happiness if we can find in each day these moments. Gordon B. Hinckley, former president of the Church wrote: “I am an optimist! … My plea is that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life, we ‘accentuate the positive’ ” (Standing for Something [2000], 101). I believe that as we strive to do this, to stand firm in the face of our trials, and allow ourselves to envoy the moments of happiness around us, we will find that we are happy, after all.
