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PATIENCE
“The greatest of all exemplars of patience is the Lord, for He is mercifully patient with us in our ongoing struggles to improve our lives and become more like Him. What an inspiring opportunity it is to share such good news with others. What can we do each day to press forward more effectively in teaching the gospel to others in patience yet boldness, humility yet fortitude?”
Patience involves being calm and understanding during difficult times and is usually demonstrated by equanimity and composure. Webster defines patience as:
1. The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness. Patience may spring from constitutional fortitude, from a kind of heroic pride, or from Christian submission to the divine will.
2. A calm temper which bears evils without murmuring or discontent.
3. The act or quality of waiting long for justice or expected good without discontent.
4. Perseverance; constancy in labor or exertion.
5. The quality of bearing offenses and injuries without anger or revenge (An American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828, electronic ed. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1998]).
Apostle Joseph B. Wirthlin taught: “We will have genuine joy and happiness only as we learn patience,” and Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “The years teach much which the days never knew.” Developing patience is of primary importance in becoming like our Savior Jesus Christ, for patience is part of His divine nature. People will be blessed as we emulate the Savior’s example of patience and radiate a spirit of peace and tranquility. Being patient does not equate with being permissive, easily manipulated, or readily taken advantage of. Rather, patience signifies a level of maturity that ennobles one’s character. Patience, like perseverance, is a governing virtue of success in all facets of life.
THE SCRIPTURES TEACH US
Luke 21:19. In your patience possess ye your souls.
The virtue of patience gives us mastery over our very being. Patience is part of the attribute of charity (see Moro. 7:45), and is a virtue that helps us nurture the word of God (see Alma 31:40–43).
Mosiah 3:19. For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
Patience is of critical importance in becoming a saint. It is also part of the divine nature of the Lord Jesus Christ (see 2 Pet. 1:3–12), leading us to brotherly kindness and eventually to charity.
Doctrine and Covenants 24:8. Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.
Enduring our trials and tribulations with patience is part of the test of life. Learning patience is part of the perfecting process (see D&C 67:13), and the Lord will be with us as we endure patiently.
MODERN PROPHETS SPEAK
Ezra Taft Benson:
Patience is another form of self-control. It is the ability to postpone gratification and to bridle one’s passions. In his relationships with loved ones, a patient man does not engage in impetuous behavior that he will later regret. Patience is composure under stress. A patient man is understanding of others’ faults.
A patient man also waits on the Lord. We sometimes read or hear of people who seek a blessing from the Lord, then grow impatient when it does not come swiftly. Part of the divine nature is to trust in the Lord enough to “be still, and know that [he] is God” (D&C 101:16). A priesthood holder who is patient will be tolerant of the mistakes and failings of his loved ones. Because he loves them, he will not find fault nor criticize nor blame. (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988], 446)
Gordon B. Hinckley:
Let us be more compassionate, gentler, filled with forbearance and patience and a greater measure of respect one for another. In so doing, our very example will cause others to be more merciful, and we shall have greater claim upon the mercy of God who in His love will be generous toward us. (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1997], 338)
IDEAS FOR DAILY LIVING
Here are four ways to increase our level of patience in all situations:
1. Plan for patience.
● Make it a goal to be patient—You might consider placing signs in the home, your workplace, and in your car to remind you to be patient.
● Look ahead—Anticipate situations that will test your patience and change the environment or conditions to prevent any blowup or confrontation.
● Control your time—Make time your ally by preparing in advance so that a few minutes here or there are not so critical in your life. Even bad traffic won’t bother you if you leave early.
2. Always look from a higher vision.
● Discern potential—See people not for what they are at this moment, but for what they can become. Recognize that all are learning. Not everyone may be as astute as you may be.
● Learn from adversity—Look at disappointments as opportunities to redirect your life in meaningful ways. For every door that shuts, there may be several of a different nature that open for you. In patience, you will be able to discern such opportunities.
● Envision your legacy—Do you want your spouse, children, and associates to remember you for your anger or for your patience? Remember to consider the future as you control yourself in the present. Leave behind the seeds of harmony, peace, balance, and unity for the coming generations.
3. Use peacemaker strategies of leadership.
● Nurture young people—With children it is vital to be patient. Children are so fragile that anger or impatience on the part of adults often frustrates them. Impatience can damage your relationship with children, while patience can generate lasting relationships.
● Work in teams—With the desire to be patient, you will often find it helpful to enlist the support and cooperation of others. When all work together toward a common goal, there is less chance for patience-threatening situations to arise.
● Commiserate with people—Rather than respond to emotional outbursts with preaching, simply go along with the emotion (“I can see how you would be upset over that . . .”) and guide the person gradually into a state of greater composure so that you can teach better behavior at the appropriate time.
● Be tolerant—Use the patience of the farmer. Teach others through a soft voice, and learn to wait and watch others grow. The law of the harvest calls for you to practice patience as you nurture others.
● Break the pattern—When people act out, it sometimes helps to break the pattern by doing something unexpected to force the person to look at the situation differently. Using appropriate humor in tense situations can often dispel ill feelings.
● Make time the common ally—Use the tested formula: “Let’s give it a few more minutes [hours, days].”
● Teach consequences—Patiently guide an impatient person through the exercise of seeing the ultimate consequence of his or her behavior. “And if you continue with this, what will be the result?” Let the person figure it out on his own or her own.
4. Cultivate the patience necessary to become more Christlike.
● Pray for patience—Consider how patient Heavenly Father is with His children, in view of how we sometimes fall short of our potential. Therefore, pray often that the Lord will enrich your spiritual life with patience.
● Make hope your governing principle—Cultivate hope that is stronger than the forces of discouragement. Remember, you can become patient as you practice patience. Time is on your side.
ILLUSTRATIONS FOR OUR TIMES
In this oriental parable, we learn of the remarkable rewards of patience.
The Tiger’s Whisker—A Parable
A young man of the Far East fell deeply in love with a beautiful young girl who lived in a valley nearby. He did all in his power to win her affection, but to no avail. No matter what gifts he brought her, no matter how many poems he wrote for her, no matter how many songs he sang for her—she remained aloof and distant.
Discouraged, he went to visit a wise old man who lived high in the mountains. “What can I do?” asked the youth. “I am so much in love, but nothing seems to turn her eye toward me or warm her heart.”
The old man only smiled and said. “This kind of case requires a special love potion made from the whisker of a wild tiger.”
“A wild tiger!” exclaimed the young man. “How shall I acquire a whisker of a wild tiger and still live to tell the tale?”
“Do what you must in all patience,” responded the wise old man. “And when you have the whisker, come back to me, and I promise you shall see a happy outcome to your problem.”
So the young man, dejected, went down into the market square where he sat on a wooden bench to think. “How ever shall I get a tiger’s whisker and still survive?” he asked himself. Almost as an afterthought, he bought a piece of meat at the butcher’s stall and wrapped it in paper and set off for the mountains where the tigers lived. After many hours, he came to a clearing before a large cave, and there, in the distance was a huge tiger, sleeping in the sun outside the cave. The young man watched quietly from behind a tree, and then decided to leave the piece of meat just a few feet into the clearing. He then retreated far away and watched from behind a bush. After an hour, the tiger slowly got up and went over to the place where the meat was lying, and ate it down in a gulp. The young man swallowed hard, thinking to himself, “I am very glad that it was not I who served as the tiger’s meal today.”
Every day for the next month, the young man took a piece of meat up to where the tiger lived and left it for the huge beast, each time a foot or two closer to the tiger’s lair. Finally, after being so patient and careful, he found that he could get quite close to the tiger without hearing any growls or snarls. At last the tiger allowed the young man to come right up to him and leave the meat directly under his mouth. After many weeks of repeating this ritual, the young man ventured to reach out and actually touch the tiger. The tiger just purred and licked his hand, and thereafter the two were able to take a nap side by side as if they were the best of friends.
Then one day, after feeding the tiger, the young man waited until the great animal was sound asleep. He could feel his own heart beating within him as he watched the tiger breathing deeply. Then he quietly took a pair of scissors and reached out and clipped off one of the tiger’s whiskers. He was overjoyed! Finally, he had the solution to his most important challenge in life.
He fairly raced to the hut of the wise old man and proudly handed him the extraordinary prize—a genuine tiger’s whisker. The old man smiled, received the whisker graciously, then threw it into the fire where—poof—it vanished in a puff of smoke.
The young man was horrified! He saw his dreams going up in smoke. “What have you done?” he shrieked. “How can I ever win the heart of my maiden now?”
The wise old man just smiled. “Any man,” he said, “with the patience and courage to retrieve a tiger’s whisker and live to tell of it, has the patience and courage to win this young lady’s heart. You have the secret within you. Go now, and you will triumph.”
—Richard J. Allen (based on an old Korean tale)
SUMMARY
Demonstrating patience towards others and toward yourself provides the opportunity, space, and time to grow. Mothers provide incredible examples of patience, since the successful nurturing and caring for children requires great patience. From the patience shown to us, we gain the strength to show patience toward others. Patience can thus become a self-perpetuating power. To show patience at all times is difficult, but it is a virtue all must strive to cultivate. “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish,” observed John Quincy Adams. Above all, patience is a virtue grounded in faith, as Alma confirmed through his grand metaphor of the seed sprouting up as a tree of life: “Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you” (Alma 32:43).
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PATRIARCHAL BLESSINGS
“A patriarchal blessing is personal revelation with good news—that we are confirmed in heaven as belonging to God’s covenant people of Israel, that we are gifted with talents and abilities that will enable us to serve others and bless their lives, and that we can look forward to sacred outcomes based on our righteousness and obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. How can we teach others that God loves them and has blessings in store that will flow into their lives as they embrace the gospel and live to be worthy of “peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come” (D&C 59:23)?”
A patriarchal blessing is a priesthood blessing by an ordained patriarch that provides specific revelation for the individual recipient. It is a blessing given primarily to identify one’s lineage in the house of Israel. It also contains promised blessings to the recipient if he or she is faithful to sacred covenants. A patriarch blessing serves as a message of hope regarding eternal life, as well as a reminder of responsibilities to which the recipient has committed. Patriarchal blessings are unique to the individual, identifying him or her as a descendant of a specific tribe of Israel, and indicating his or her gifts and duties in the kingdom of God. These blessings are prophetic counsel for each Church member’s life based on his or her worthiness to participate in the promised blessings.
THE SCRIPTURES TEACH US
Genesis 49:22–26. Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
This statement from the blessing given by the patriarch Israel (Jacob) to his son Joseph enumerates the extraordinary promises bestowed by the Lord upon the lineage of Joseph, through his sons Ephraim and Manasseh. Blessings flow likewise to other Israelite tribes as part of the patriarchal heritage of the Abrahamic covenant. (Compare Father Lehi’s blessing upon his son Joseph, who was of the lineage of Israel’s son Joseph—2 Nephi 3:3–7.)
Ephesians 4:11–13. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
Articles of Faith 1:6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
Consider the magnificent organization of the kingdom of God, with the several offices and functions of the priesthood designed by the Lord to provide blessings, protection, and saving ordinances for the Saints. Among these is the office of evangelist—or patriarch—which serves as the channel for extraordinary prophetic blessings to the faithful, including the declaration of lineage and other grand views into the future of one’s possibilities. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “An Evangelist is a Patriarch, even the oldest man of the blood of Joseph or of the seed of Abraham. Wherever the Church of Christ is established in the earth, there should be a Patriarch for the benefit of the posterity of the Saints, as it was with Jacob in giving his patriarchal blessing unto his sons, etc.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1976], 151).
Authors’ Note: Little is said in the scriptures about patriarchal blessings. Perhaps it is because of the personal and sacred nature of these blessings that we have so few scriptural records of actual blessings. But as indicated above, we know such blessings were given and were important in the early Church, as they are in the latter days. The office of patriarch and the offering of such blessings were a part of the Restoration of the Church (see D&C 124:92).
MODERN PROPHETS SPEAK
Gordon B. Hinckley:
I hope that we are encouraging those who are mature enough to understand the importance of a patriarchal blessing to receive one. I count my patriarchal blessing as one of the great sacred things of my life. A patriarchal blessing is a unique and sacred and personal and wonderful thing that may be given to every member of this Church who lives worthy of it. I hope, brethren, that you men of the bishoprics, particularly, are counseling your people concerning this. . .
I hope we encourage our people to live worthy to receive a patriarchal blessing, and to make the effort to get one. It’s a rare privilege to have a patriarchal blessing. It’s unique from all other things in this world. There is nothing like it, to have a man speak on an individual basis and pronounce blessings in authority of the Holy Priesthood. (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1997], 424)
Thomas S. Monson:
A blessing you can qualify to receive is your patriarchal blessing. Your parents and your bishop will know when the time is right for you to receive it. A patriarchal blessing contains chapters from your life’s book of possibilities. To you it will be as a lighthouse on a hill, warning of dangers, and directing you to the tranquility of safe harbors. It is a prophetic utterance from the lips of one called and ordained to provide you such a blessing. (“Your Celestial Journey,” Ensign, May 1999, 96)
Joseph Fielding Smith:
A blessing given by a patriarch is intended to point out the path which the recipient should travel. It should be given by the spirit of revelation and should be a great comfort and incentive to the recipient to continue on in faithfulness to the end. The patriarch also holds the key by which the lineage of those whom he blesses may be made known. It is a very important and most holy and sacred calling. (Doctrines of Salvation, 3 vols., ed. Bruce R. McConkie [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954–1956], 3:170)
Ezra Taft Benson:
I would encourage you . . . to receive a patriarchal blessing. Study it carefully and regard it as personal scripture to you—for that is what it is. A patriarchal blessing is the inspired and prophetic statement of your life’s mission together with blessings, cautions, and admonitions as the patriarch may be prompted to give. . . . receive your patriarchal blessing under the influence of fasting and prayer, and then read it regularly that you may know God’s will for you. (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1988], 214)
IDEAS FOR DAILY LIVING
Some things to understand regarding patriarchal blessings:
1. Every member of the Church should receive a patriarchal blessing. Heavenly Father loves each of His children dearly and wants to bless them. He has provided patriarchs as one means of doing so. When we are ready for this spiritual counsel, we should take advantage of the opportunity.
2. Live worthy of receiving a patriarchal blessing. We must prepare ourselves spiritually to receive this blessing. Patriarchal blessings and the promises therein are contingent on our own worthiness in life, so we must be worthy when we receive these blessings and responsibilities.
● Seek to have your blessing at the appropriate age—You should be mature enough to understand and appreciate it and young enough that many of life’s decision are still in the future.
● Prepare spiritually to receive it—This may include coming in a humble attitude of prayer, and even fasting if you so desire.
3. Remember that your patriarchal blessing is personal and sacred. Your blessing is for you, not all your friends and family. If you seek understanding, discuss it with the patriarch, bishop or trusted family member.
4. Never compare blessings with another person. If you choose to share your blessing with someone close to you (such as your spouse or parents), do not worry that your blessing is different than theirs. Remember, each blessing is unique, and the Lord knows best what blessings you need.
5. Apply your patriarchal blessing to your daily life with faith and thanksgiving.
● Your potential—Examine any attributes and qualities mentioned in your blessing and seek to become the glorious person presented in this spiritual portrait of your potential. Cultivate and apply the talents and gifts the Lord has granted you, “that all may be profited thereby” (D&C 46:12).
● Gifts and blessings—Receive with joy and gratitude the promised blessings revealed to you through the patriarch and live in such a manner that they can be granted to the full extent, based on your faithfulness and devotion.
● Admonitions and exhortations—Be easily entreated in following the counsel and guidance given in your blessing. Let your blessing serve as a spiritual compass for your life, keeping you firmly on the straight and narrow pathway of righteousness.
● Cautions and concerns—Where specific cautions might be given regarding the course of your life, prayerfully heed this divine guidance and warning.
● Lineage and responsibility to it—Give praise to the Lord that He has anchored you securely within the fold of His covenant people. Give thanks that you can serve with devotion to help build the kingdom of God and carry the message of salvation to many others in keeping with the responsibilities of the Abrahamic covenant.
● Joys and blessings in fulfillment—View your blessing as a spiritual passport to the realization of divine promises that the Lord, in His mercy and loving-kindness, has bestowed upon you personally through one of His chosen priesthood servants.
ILLUSTRATIONS FOR OUR TIMES
Eldred G. Smith, in a general conference address, tells a memorable story of a young woman who acted on counsel received in her patriarchal blessing and was greatly blessed for it.
What a Patriarchal Blessing Can Do
An example of what a patriarchal blessing can do came to me in a story which I have repeated many times, which a woman told me. As a young woman she lived in a small town. When she finished high school, there was no further opportunity to continue her education. There was no further opportunity to get work so that she could be independent, so she came to Salt Lake City where she found herself a job. As time came for registration at the University, she became very anxious to go to school again, and knowing that there was not a possibility, under present conditions, she felt quite disheartened. She went to the patriarch and received her patriarchal blessing, and in the blessing he promised her that she should receive a good education. She was elated, and she went out of the office feeling very happy. Before she had gone half a block, she said, she fell to earth out of her cloud with a realization that going to college cost money, and she did not have any, nor the means to get it. The opportunity and possibility of going to college at present did not seem to be at all possible, which made her very downhearted again. And the thought came to her to go visit her aunt, who was living in Salt Lake City. Without stopping to analyze that impression she turned, and instead of going back to work she went to visit her aunt and told her aunt of her experience—cried on her shoulder. And her aunt said to her, “I know an elderly woman who lives down the street a few blocks. She has at various times helped young girls get through college in return for the help the girls can give to her. I do not know whether she has help now or not, but,” she said, “this woman knows who I am. Go down and see her and tell her I sent you.”
She went on the run to this elderly woman’s home, and within two weeks from the time she received her patriarchal blessing, she registered at the University of Utah, signed a promissory note to pay for her education, and eventually paid for it. She said if she had stopped to question the first impression she got to go visit her aunt, she would have said to herself, “Why should I go visit my aunt and tell her my troubles? I came to Salt Lake City to be independent; why not be independent? She cannot help me with my troubles; she has enough of her own. She doesn’t have space in her home to let me sleep there, let alone board me or help me. Why need I go and bother my aunt?” But she did not stop to analyze that impression; she acted on it. (Eldred G. Smith, Conference Report, April 1952, 39–40)
SUMMARY
Never forget that your patriarchal blessing is a gift that will help you return to the presence of Heavenly Father. As you seek to understand and appreciate your patriarchal blessing, you will feel grateful for your blessings and you will be filled with a desire to change. You will have a different attitude about yourself and about life, knowing that you can become like our Savior Jesus Christ. Your patriarchal blessing can be a tremendous source of inspiration in your life.
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PEACE
“As missionaries of the Lord, we are conveyors of the gospel of peace and salvation. He said: “Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me. I am Jesus Christ; I came by the will of the Father, and I do his will” (D&C 19:23–24). How can we all do better in living by the will of the Lord and reaching out with more faith and courage to teach His message of the “peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal” (D&C 42:61)?”
We all seek the feeling of peace. Peace is a sense of well-being, a feeling of harmony, tranquility, and amity with God, yourself, and others. Peace is knowing that you please God and live up to your values and standards. When you feel peace, there is no discord or contention; your conscience is clear and you are free from inner conflict. When individuals and society do not enjoy peace due to immorality and impiety, the result is contention, discord, and eventually even war. On a large scale, we experience war throughout our world in different places and at different times due to the violation of the principles of peace. On a smaller scale, the effects of losing inner peace can also be devastating to individuals and families. Beginning today, let us seek to become at peace with Heavenly Father, our Savior, ourselves, our family, and our circle of influence. Peace in the world begins with each of us.
THE SCRIPTURES TEACH US
Alma 38:8. And it came to pass that I was three days and three nights in the most bitter pain and anguish of soul; and never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins. But behold, I did cry unto him and I did find peace to my soul.
As Alma was in the process of repentance, he experienced the pain and sorrow of sin. There can be no peace through sin, only through the forgiveness empowered by the Atonement of Christ. When we come unto Christ through repentance, we will find true peace—there is no other way. The surrogate feelings of well-being generated through the philosophies and practices of the world are all short term. True peace can only come from living the gospel.
Matthew 5:9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Peacemakers are full of empathy and love. They spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in all that they do, for this is the source of peace. As we seek peace, we should help people come into the kingdom of God. By so doing they too become the sons and daughters of Christ (see Mosiah 5:7) and members of the eternal family of God. Remember that contention is of the devil (see 3 Ne. 11:28–29).
John 14:27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
One of the ultimate purposes of life is to find that “peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philip. 4:7). The peace of the Lord is different from that outer calm the world calls peace. His peace can dwell in our hearts despite our circumstances or the influence of the outside world. We should seek peace in righteous living and sow peace in our conscience (see Ps. 34:14). Peace of mind and heart should be one of our main goals as we seek happiness here and in the hereafter.
Psalms 34:14. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Peace comes by coming unto Christ with full purpose of heart. Through repentance our guilt is taken away—we have peace of conscience (see Enos 1:6–8; Mosiah 4:3). We love the laws and commandments of God and in them we find peace (see Ps. 119:165). We have only the desire to bless others and live peaceably with our fellowmen (see Mosiah 4:13).
MODERN PROPHETS SPEAK
Marvin J. Ashton:
At such times external events make it even more imperative that we seek peace within ourselves. It is futile to seek it from outward sources.
It was George C. Marshall who wisely said, “We must take the nations of the world as they are, the human passions and prejudices of people as they exist, and find some way to secure . . . a peaceful world.”
Peace must be a triumph of principles. Selfishness and lack of patience seem to block the way. (Be of Good Cheer [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1987], 90)
Howard W. Hunter:
Because of the difference in definitions, those who seek peace may be searching for unrelated conditions. The peace for which the world longs is a time of suspended hostilities; but men do not realize that peace is a state of existence that comes to man only upon the terms and conditions set by God, and in no other way.
In a psalm in the book of Isaiah are these words: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). This perfect peace mentioned by Isaiah comes to one only through a belief in God. This is not understood by an unbelieving world. (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, ed. Clyde J. Williams [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1997], 171)
Gordon B. Hinckley:
The satisfying thing is that obedience brings happiness; it brings peace; it brings growth—all of these to the individual, and his good example brings respect for the institution of which he is a part. (Be Thou an Example [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1981], 12)
On billboards in some of our cities a statement read, “A nation at prayer is a nation at peace.” I believe this. I hope this is more than a catchy motto. I am satisfied that we shall not have peace unless and until we request it in the name of the Prince of Peace. (Be Thou an Example [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1981], 32)
IDEAS FOR DAILY LIVING
Here are four ideas to remember as we become seekers of peace:
1. Peace comes through living the gospel of Jesus Christ.
● Be true to your standards—Outer peace is a function of inner peace. And inner peace can come only if we are living in harmony with the gospel principles by which peace is generated and maintained. Peace is a byproduct of righteous behavior.
● Invite all to come unto Christ—The source of peace is the plan of happiness, which is centered in Jesus Christ. Sharing this plan is the best way we can promote peace in the world.
● Repentance—We can receive peace only when we are free from guilt. This necessitates the process of repentance. “A peace above all earthly dignities, is a still and quiet conscience,” said Shakespeare.
● Pray for peace—Seek confirmation from God. He wants to bless us, but we must ask and be willing to do what it takes to receive these blessings.
● Be patient—Time is your friend. Some things take time, often more than we would like. Pray for strength. Sooner or later, you will find peace.
● Be honest with yourself and all others—Peace comes through honesty, an inner assurance that there are no misguided shortcuts to integrity that you need to account for.
● Live by a long-term perspective—Peace does not come in the endless quest for more variety, titillation, and pleasure. Such things are ephemeral and fade as the foam on the sea. Peace comes by planting the seeds of harmony, respect, love, and balance in the family and the community.
● Leave a legacy of honor—Peace comes through the knowledge that you are leaving behind a strong legacy of honor and love for your children and your posterity.
2. Peace comes through self-mastery.
● Do your best—Your confidence will increase if you know you’ve done your best. This will help eliminate anxiety and worry.
● Optimize your health—Peace comes through taking care of your physical body through proper diet, exercise, adequate rest, and wholesome living habits.
3. Peace comes through leadership.
● Foster goodwill—Avoid contention while maintaining your integrity. Being a peacemaker is not being permissive—it is not being silent when your voice should be raised. Stand up for your values while still fostering peace and unity in your circle of influence.
● Foster communication—When people find fault or choose to contend with you, start a dialogue to resolve the conflict. If peace is your goal and others feel it, peace will eventually abound.
● Mobilize behind a mutual vision—Within the family or group, peace will exist when everyone agrees upon the same values, purposes, and goals. Such unity of purpose brings peace. The German poet Goethe stated: “He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.”
● Uphold the law—In family, group, or society settings let us ensure peace through strict enforcement of the prevailing rules and laws (see Alma 1:33). This serves to foster peace as all learn to understand the blessings and consequences of their choices.
4. Peace comes through preparation.
● Be self-reliant—Establish financial goals that will provide sufficient means for your family’s well-being and security. Have enough money set aside for a rainy day. Educate yourself so that you can take care of yourself and your family. True peace of mind can come when we rely solely on the Lord and ourselves.
● Stay out of debt—Peace comes through being debt-free, so far as possible, and living within your means. The anxiety and stress of debt defeats peace. Peace can only come through righteous living, not through bigger or better things.
ILLUSTRATIONS FOR OUR TIMES
This heart-wrenching, personal story shows how peace can come from the Lord as we seek His comfort and follow His commandments.
A Higher Peace
We were living in England and our son Cory had returned home to America for school. He was living with our son Steve and his family. Cory was full of life. He was good. He was sensitive, and he was a tough outside linebacker on the football team. The big Provo High School Bulldogs had just beaten the great cross-town rival Timpview Thunderbirds. Cory had “sacked” the quarterback, blocked a punt, and in general had an awe-inspiring game.
Following the game Cory had a date with his girlfriend. As they were driving along, in the excitement of the night, Cory started to drive a little faster. It was dark, and the road was not well lit. All of a sudden, the road curved. Cory overcorrected and the car rolled over, and he was thrown from the car. The ambulance came and took them to the hospital. The girl was bruised, but had no major injuries and was okay. Cory had suffered a concussion. The doctors didn’t give him any hope of survival. They put him on life-support machines. We were reached in London and returned home immediately. I can still remember looking down at my son, his eyes closed and his body still. The machines breathed for him and helped his body function, but his brain waves were flat. We prayed and pleaded, but the answer that came was no. Cory was to die. I felt as if my insides had been ripped from my body. I hurt. My sweetheart and children cried—our beloved son and brother was dead. As those who have experienced this pain know—at that moment you wonder if you can ever feel happy or at peace again because the hurt is so deep.
Something happened as we turned it over to the Lord. We turned to Him in our grief and received His comfort by the Spirit and through our knowledge of the gospel. It was miraculous. Our hearts began to heal. Life was bearable, and a power came into our lives that transcended life itself. I know, because it happened to me. This was a power greater than mortals can exhibit. It was a power from on high. Peace filled my soul. I could go on. We all will live again through the miracle of the Atonement and the resurrection. This peace filled me with hope, and life was not only livable, but became wonderful.
We still remember Cory. In fact, we celebrate his life on his birthday every year with the family. My sweetheart prepares Cory’s favorite dinner, and then we all talk about Cory and his wonderful life. Our family is at peace. We are at peace because we have hope that through the mercy of the Lord, and through our worthiness, we can all be together again. There is a peace that transcends our earthly trials and tribulations and our heartaches and heartbreaks, and the reason is clear through the words of the Savior: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
—Ed J. Pinegar
SUMMARY
Peace should be the quest for all of mankind. Peace is lost because of the lack of righteousness within. The solution in our quest for peace is to place Christ at the center of our lives. “Do as He would do” is a worthy universal motto for achieving a peaceful life. The microcosm of individual lives is expressed in the macrocosm of the world—and wickedness brings war and destroys peace. Peace begins with the individual, with each of us. Let us become the champions of peace by living in accordance with the example of the Prince of Peace.
♦
PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT AND PERFECTION
“The Lord’s missionaries are agents of the process of personal improvement and perfection achieved through living the gospel plan and teaching others to do the same. If we follow the counsel of the Lord’s chosen leaders and enter His fold through faith and baptism by water, then the Lord will bless us with baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost. And if we bear testimony to others that we know the Lord is our Redeemer and guide them to come into His fold, then we will bring great joy and blessings into their lives. How can we apply this doctrine more fully in our missionary service and thus become even more effective emissaries of the truth of the restored gospel?”
We are all familiar with the command to be perfect (see Matt. 5:48). However, we also know that this goal is virtually unobtainable in this life. But we must not give up hope. Our goal should be to constantly work toward perfection, gradually but consistently improving ourselves. We all seek to improve our condition and progress toward our goal of becoming like and dwelling with God. As we seek to become more Christlike, we want to improve in kindness, courtesy, patience, wisdom, and love. We desire to be the best we can for the sake of our family and our friends.
Personal improvement is by definition all about you. However, in focusing on yourself, you will find that there cannot be significant improvement unless you bless the lives of others. Essentially, personal improvement is about increasing your capacity to bless and serve others. That is why the quest for perfection is logically anchored in spiritual improvement, which is sustained by the exercise of charity and emulation of the example of the Savior.
THE SCRIPTURES TEACH US
3 Nephi 27:27. Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.
We have the perfect example in our Savior Jesus Christ. As we strive to be like Him, we must remember that we grow line upon line and precept upon precept (see 2 Ne. 28:30). Perfection does not happen in great leaps but in small, achievable steps.
Moroni 10:32. Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
It is only through Christ that we can be perfected—by His grace and mercy, through His Atonement. Our role in our own perfection is to come to Him and let Him perfect us and purify us through the trials and opportunities we receive.
Doctrine and Covenants 58:27–28. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.
Although the Lord has commanded us to become perfect (see 3 Ne. 12:48)—a seemingly impossible task—this is not meant to be overwhelming. The Lord did not require a timetable of us, except that we should use this probationary phase of life to demonstrate our unwavering devotion and obedience to His commandments. Our Savior did not prescribe perfection overnight; He simply wants us on the straight and narrow path doing good and keeping the commandments. He wants us anxiously engaged in becoming better and lifting others. As we serve Him with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, He will help us rise progressively to our greatest potential.
Doctrine and Covenants 75:29. Let every man be diligent in all things. And the idler shall not have place in the church, except he repent and mend his ways.
The Lord expects us to work hard. Diligence is one of the important aspects of self-improvement. To truly improve, we must always be thinking of and serving others (see Matt 25:40; D&C 15:6; 18:10).
MODERN PROPHETS SPEAK
Joseph B. Wirthlin:
We don’t have to be perfect today. We don’t have to be better than someone else. All we have to do is to be the very best we can.
Though you may feel weary, though you sometimes may not be able to see the way, know that your Father in Heaven will never forsake His righteous followers. He will not leave you comfortless. He will be at your side, yes, guiding you every step of the way. (“One Step after Another,” Ensign, November 2001, 26–27)
Spencer W. Kimball:
It is true of all of us that, as we progress spiritually, our sense of belonging, identity, and self-worth increases. Let us create a climate in which we encourage the sisters of the Church to have a program of personal improvement. It ought to be a practical and realistic program, one that is determined personally and not imposed upon them. Yet it ought to cause them to reach for new levels of achievement. We are not asking for something spectacular but rather for our sisters to find real self-fulfillment through wise self-development in the pursuit of righteous and worthy endeavors. (My Beloved Sisters [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1979], 20–21)
Accept the reality that personal improvement on the part of each priesthood holder is expected by our Father in Heaven. We should be growing and we should be developing constantly. If we do, others will sense the seriousness of our discipleship and can then more easily forgive us our frailties which we sometimes show in the way in which we lead and manage. (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982], 175)
Marvin J. Ashton:
The Savior has taught us, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
May God help us to involve ourselves in people’s lives, involve ourselves in personal improvement, involve ourselves in work, and involve ourselves in his business, and thereby reap the rewards that come from such commitments. (The Measure of Our Hearts [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1991], 120)
IDEAS FOR DAILY LIVING
As stated previously, perfection can only come through our Savior Jesus Christ. But there is much we can do in our efforts to come unto Christ and become more like Him. Here are five ideas to help us improve ourselves and work toward perfection:
1. Personal improvement starts within.
● Choices—You can improve yourself through personal choices. Personal improvement is itself a choice of monumental importance. Leo Tolstoy observed: “Everybody thinks of changing humanity and nobody thinks of changing himself.” It is up to you to set goals, make plans, and then implement them. “Our own progress can be enhanced if we can look for solutions instead of being critical of those around us and blaming external conditions for our lack of progress,” counseled Apostle Marvin J. Ashton (“Straightway,” Ensign, May 1983, 30).
● Foundation—You can improve yourself by improving the foundation upon which you build. Instead of building on the sands of shifting pleasures and fads, build on the rock of the Lord Jesus Christ (see Hel. 5:12), and develop the qualities of honesty, integrity, harmony, peace, and service.
● Vision—You can improve yourself by adopting a vision for the future that will lead you and your loved ones to a state of happiness. Make sure your vision clearly details the things you want to become or accomplish. Follow the word of God, taking your guidance from the prophets.
● Thoughts—You can improve yourself by controlling your thoughts, filling your mind with ideas and dreams that are positive, affirmative, wholesome, and full of hope.
2. Personal improvement continues with good personal habits.
● Health—You can improve yourself by optimizing your health through proper diet, regular exercise, uncompromising personal hygiene, and adequate rest.
● Environment—You can improve yourself by improving your environment to reflect order, cleanliness, and elements that are uplifting and inspiring.
● Language—You can improve yourself by improving your language so that it is not only grammatically correct but also positive, supportive, lucid, encouraging, and structured to promote understanding.
● Education—You can improve yourself through education—reading, studying, taking courses, and seeking advice and counsel from knowledgeable people who can help you to be more effective and productive.
● Conversion—Above all, you can improve yourself by coming unto Christ with full purpose of heart. Identify concerns and behaviors in yourself and then work to overcome or improve them with all diligence.
3. Personal improvement is a social matter.
● Family—You can improve yourself by devoting your life to your family and loved ones. As they grow and improve, they lift you up and give meaning and purpose to your life. The legacy you leave behind for them is the measure of your own stature.
● Friends—You can improve yourself by surrounding yourself with friends who have noble goals and aspirations. Make appropriate commitments to your friends. Enlist their support.
4. Personal improvement is a matter of careful life-management.
● Measurement—You can improve yourself by taking the time to regularly measure and assess your progress. Chart it out, set goals, make plans, implement them, evaluate, and begin again. Follow up periodically and make mid-course corrections as needed.
● Discipline—You can improve yourself by maintaining self-respect, self-confidence, and the discipline to keep at it. If setbacks occur, start again. Oliver Wendell Holmes reminds us: “I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”
5. Personal improvement is a spiritual matter.
● Gratitude—You can improve yourself by meditating on your blessings and on your relationship with Heavenly Father and our Savior, from whom all blessings flow. Be grateful for your blessings, including the help you receive in your efforts to improve.
● Spiritual growth—You can improve yourself spiritually. Search the scriptures. Fast and pray. Practice the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Do your duty. Above all, serve your fellowmen in love.
● Pursuit of excellence—The pamphlet Pursuit of Excellence, published by the Church, is a wonderful aid for personal improvement. (You may order it from Church Distribution, or ask your ward leaders how to obtain a copy.)
ILLUSTRATIONS FOR OUR TIMES
Author and scholar Robert L. Millet shares a personal story about his quest for perfection and his realization that we cannot become perfect without the Lord’s help.
Becoming Perfect in Our Generation
I remember the Sunday afternoon I turned to my wife and made a very serious commitment. We had been married but a few months and were very happy. In a sincere moment I indicated that I had every intention of being perfect by the age of thirty. She smiled kindly and wished me well, and the matter was dropped. I really believed in what I was doing. I determined to read and study and pray and labor for the next several years, and then, after attaining the notable plateau, I would work to help others reach the same spiritual height.
I suppose it isn’t necessary to admit at this point that my goal was never quite achieved. Oh, I think I was a better man at thirty than I was at twenty-three, but I certainly wasn’t perfect. Now almost twenty years after passing my initial goal, I still am not perfect in the sense I had originally intended to be, but I think I understand the process a little better now.
I supposed, in my naivete, if I just held my tongue, squelched my bitter feelings, blocked my thoughts, gritted my teeth, pushed myself to do my duty, and gripped the rod of iron white-knuckled-like for a sufficient time, that eventually such things would become quite natural and second nature to me. And I admit that many of what were once quite labored actions are now a bit more spontaneous. Over the years, however, I came to know that perfection in this life is not only difficult but impossible, at least as we usually define perfection.
It is one thing to attend all my church meetings, pay a full tithing and generous offerings, live the Word of Wisdom, and visit my home teaching families regularly. In a sense, I suppose, we can keep these laws perfectly if we simply do them and do them for the right reason. But at what point in my progression will I be able through sheer willpower to love my neighbor perfectly, evidencing in my attitudes and my actions such fruits of the Spirit as patience, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, kindness, and the pure love of Christ? Where along the road to perfection will I no longer take offense, blame others, or harbor bitterness? One need not ponder on these matters for a lifetime before it becomes clear that becoming Christlike is a continuing pursuit that we simply cannot accomplish on our own. (Robert L. Millet, Within Reach [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1995], 56–59)
SUMMARY
Personal improvement can be most fulfilling as we seek to become more Christlike. It is interesting to note that as we better ourselves, we always end up helping others. Personal improvement brings us self-confidence and an understanding of our self-worth, which in turn enhances our sphere of influence. As you analyze your life, select one or two areas where you need to improve and carefully set some goals to become better. You can do it, in the strength of the Lord.
The Apostle John clearly saw the potentiality of our discipleship in Christ: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 Jn. 3:1–3). Let us all therefore strive to perfect ourselves one step at a time, every day coming a little closer to our goal of being like the Savior.
♦
PLAN OF HAPPINESS
“The plan of happiness is the gospel of Jesus Christ—the good news delivered by the Lord’s missionaries on their errand of love (see Alma 42:7–8, 16). How can we all employ our God-given talents and gifts to find the honest at heart and share with them, through the Spirit, the Lord’s plan of happiness? How can we find joy in our service by helping to make others happy, guiding them to experience deliverance through the Atonement of Christ, come to feel His mercy, know with certainty of their redemption, and harvest the eternal blessings of salvation and exaltation?”
The plan of happiness is known by a variety of titles, including the plan of redemption, the plan of salvation, and the plan of exaltation. The commonality of all these titles is that life is a plan, a set order for Heavenly Father’s children to accomplish their objective of being tested and progressing to return to Him in worthiness. As spirits in the premortal realm, we accepted the all-encompassing plan of our Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ is the center and pivotal point in the plan as the Creator, Redeemer, and Savior of the world through His infinite Atonement and His glorious Resurrection. If we are obedient to the laws and ordinances of the gospel, we are fulfilling our part of the plan and can, through grace, can partake of the blessings of eternal life, the greatest gift of God (see D&C 14:7).
THE SCRIPTURES TEACH US
Titus 1:2. In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.
In the premortal life, Heavenly Father presented His plan to His spirit children. Because we have a physical body here on the earth, we know we accepted that plan. We had hope in the plan then, and we can still hope in it now. We can trust our Heavenly Father to hold true to His promise from the beginning—that if we remain faithful, we can return to Him.
Alma 34:9. For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.
The gospel plan is that Jesus Christ would come to Earth to atone for our sins, that He might draw all mankind to Him (see 3 Ne. 27:13–14). This is the core and center of the plan, as well as the foundation of the Church (see 3 Ne. 27:8–11). Without the Atonement, all souls would perish and become subject to the devil (see 2 Ne. 9:6–10). We should be filled with gratitude for the plan of redemption of our Heavenly Father and the goodness of our Savior, who paid the price for our sins so that we might live again with Him and our Father (see John 3:16; 2 Ne. 26:24).
Alma 42:13–16. Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God. And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence. And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also. Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were a punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul.
Justice demands payment for our sins. God’s plan of happiness does not ignore or preclude this justice, yet neither does it defy mercy: the plan beautifully allows for both. In His great mercy, Christ made the infinite sacrifice and atoned for our sins, so that justice can be paid by Him and He can grant mercy to us. To fulfill the law of justice and mercy, we must repent in order to receive the full blessings of Christ’s atoning sacrifice.
MODERN PROPHETS SPEAK
Neal A. Maxwell:
Fundamental to a man’s understanding about his identity and purpose upon this planet is to know that God has a plan of salvation also called a plan of happiness, a plan of mercy, etc. (Alma 24:14; 42:8; 42:15). . . .
One has only to ponder what a striking difference the gospel fulness would make for so many mortals who now view themselves and this life so existentially and provincially. How glorious if these individuals were willing to understand that (1) God has a plan of salvation of which this second estate—or mortality—is a key part; (2) “men are that they might have joy;” (3) we are truly accountable for our thoughts, words, and deeds while here; (4) the resurrection is a reality; and (5) a loving Father is seeing us through this mortal schooling as our Schoolmaster.
Such knowledge and understanding would not put an end to human imperfection but it would put an end to ultimate uncertainty on the pathway to salvation, making possible tremendous shifts in attitudes and behavior for immense numbers of people on this planet. (But for a Small Moment [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1986], 62)
Our happiness is the intent of God’s plan of happiness.
The more we come to understand the plan of happiness, the more we come to understand how incomplete and unfinished we were in our first estate and how much we needed this difficult mortal experience. We finally realize that there is no other way. Remembering this reality helps, especially when the only way is so difficult and discouraging at times and when we experience sadness as participants in the great plan of happiness. (Lord, Increase Our Faith [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1994], 49)
Joseph B. Wirthlin:
The Father’s plan gave us our agency to choose right or wrong, good or evil so we can learn, develop, and progress. As part of the plan, Jesus offered to atone for the sins of all mankind and bear the suffering for those sins, satisfying the law of justice, if the sinners repent. Otherwise, they have to suffer and pay the penalty for their transgressions. (Finding Peace in Our Lives [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1995], 116)
Gordon B. Hinckley:
Reach out to bless others in all that you do, that, because of your efforts, someone may live a little closer to the Lord and have a little greater happiness in his or her life. That is the end of our existence, when all is said and done: to build happiness in the lives of people, because the thing we teach is the Lord’s plan of happiness. (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1997], 255)
IDEAS FOR DAILY LIVING
Here are several ideas to help us understand and appreciate the plan of happiness and put it into practice in our daily lives:
1. The Father’s plan should instill enduring gratitude in our hearts. Consider the unfolding of the Lord’s blessings to us in a great panorama: the plan of happiness from premortal life, mortality with the opportunity to prove ourselves worthy, the Savior’s Atonement that makes salvation possible through the grace of God, the glorious resurrection, and the reward of a degree of glory according to our faithfulness. All of this was designed for our welfare and happiness. Considering everything our Heavenly Father and Savior do for us that we might have immortality and eternal life should fill our hearts with gratitude and thanksgiving.
2. The Atonement is the center of the plan of happiness. The Savior’s Atonement is the most important event in all of human history. Without the Atonement, the plan of happiness would be for naught, as we would be unable to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father (see Alma 11:37; 3 Ne. 27:19).
3. Obedience is crucial. In order for the plan of happiness to be efficacious in our lives, we must keep the laws and commandments upon which the blessings of the plan are predicated.
4. Sacrifice is required. The Lord asks us to offer to Him a broken heart and a contrite spirit (see 3 Ne. 9:20). In other words, we are to turn our full devotion to Him, recognizing our dependence on His mercy.
5. Remember that trials and tribulations are part of the plan. Opposition in all things is an eternal verity and is indispensable to our learning and progression (see 2 Ne. 2:13). This life is intended to be a test, a proving ground of our faith and obedience (see Abr. 3:25).
6. Temple blessings and vicarious service are essential. Part of the reason for temple work is to bring eternal blessings to other generations, that all will have the opportunity to participate in the fulness of the plan. Regular attendance at the temple will help us understand the plan and the blessings associated with it.
7. Prayer and study help us accept Father’s plan. As we pray about and study gospel principles, we will come to understand and appreciate the plan of happiness. This acceptance will give us the desire to live the plan by keeping the Lord’s commandments and serving others.
ILLUSTRATIONS FOR OUR TIMES
Often we make life more complicated than it has to be. The following is an experience of how one of the Lord’s servants clarified and simplified in a very matter-of-fact way how the plan of happiness works in our lives.
Simple Truth
My wife was so pleased to accompany her friend to the stand where Ezra Taft Benson, then President of the Quorum of the Twelve, was receiving visitors. He had just spoken to a special gathering of Saints in the Washington, D.C. area, and my wife wanted her friend to meet him. This young woman had just that day—in the same stake center—been baptized a member of the Church, after many months of learning and being fellowshipped by my wife. So we stood in line waiting for our turn to meet Elder Benson. When we finally reached the place where the Apostle was standing, we greeted him, and then my wife introduced her friend as a new convert. He held the friend’s hand and looked her straight in the eye. With a spirit of great kindness, but also soberness and firmness, he bore a simple testimony to her: “The gospel is true. If you live it, you will be happy. If you don’t, you won’t.” What a rare blessing for a new convert to hear a personal witness from an Apostle of the Lord and receive such direct and penetrating counsel. My wife and I have spoken of this incident many times since, and the words echo in our minds and hearts as advice concerning this great plan set in order that all can benefit from: “If you live it, you will be happy. If you don’t, you won’t.” And so it is.
—Richard J. Allen
SUMMARY
Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness is His work and His glory, for it brings about the salvation of His children (see Moses 1:39). His Beloved Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, is the center of the plan. This divine and eternal plan embraces man’s existence and his eternal destiny. Let us make it our lifelong goal to conform to the plan of happiness—even the teachings and guidance found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Obedience to this plan will bring us eternal life, which is a state of never-ending joy and happiness (see Mosiah 2:41). Through scripture study, prayer, worship, temple attendance, and righteousness, we will come to understand the power of the plan of happiness in our lives.