A few nights ago I attended my son’s school program. Though it was focused around nursery rhyme stories, the main message was one I needed to hear: If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Yes, it is an old adage, but it’s also one that I hadn’t thought about for a while. If I had to sum up the Plan of Salvation into one sentence, it would be found in the scriptures.
2 Nephi 2:25— Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
Though this life is a testing period for us, it is also meant to bring us happiness now and joy in the eternities if we choose to follow Jesus Christ. We are God’s children, we carry the light of Christ within us, we can be happy. We all have a great capacity for joy within our hearts if we will follow the recipe that the Lord has given us. But, where are the instructions? The recipe is in the scriptures.
If you opened your scriptures at any given point, how far would you have to look to find a reference to happiness or joy? Odds are, not very far. Heavenly Father is very serious about our happiness. We are His children, what parent doesn’t bend over backwards to give their child happiness, peace, safety and love in this life? Our Heavenly Father is no different. Let’s examine some of the instructions He gives us that hold the promise of joy.
Our faith should be centered on Jesus Christ the source of living waters, from whom all blessings flow.
Isaiah 12:3— Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
Observe the Sabbath as a time to reconnect with Heavenly Father and replenish our spirits.
Psalms 118:24— This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Develop the talents and blessings that the Lord has given you.
Matthew 25:21— His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Seek for the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
Galations 5:22— But the fruit of the Spirit is clove, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Observe the gospel of Jesus Christ within your home, and instill a testimony of Him in your children.
3 John 1:4— I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Endure your trials well, use them to learn and grow closer to God.
2 Nephi 9:18— But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever.
Keep the commandments.
Mosiah 2:41— And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
Repent of your faults and sins. Actively work to bring your life in line with the example of Jesus Christ.
Mosiah 4:20— And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.
Be willing to forsake the things of the world in favor of the things of the Savior.
Alma 22:15— And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.
Share your testimony of the gospel and the blessing God has given you with others.
Alma 29:9— I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.
Doctrine and Covenants 18:15-16— And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!
Work for the things you need and those things you desire in righteousness.
Psalms 128:2— For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
Value knowledge and seek out learning of all types.
Proverbs 3:13— Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Love and serve your neighbor.
Proverbs 14:21— He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
As you can see, there is guidance for a happier life for almost any situation we may find ourselves in. So, when life seems to be full of lemons. Go to the Lord’s scriptures for instructions on how to turn you low points into blessings of joy.
