Are there laws that determine whether or not we can be happy or is it just a matter of making up our minds to be that way? Does happiness mean living in a blissful state all of the time?
We see ads all the time of happy people who have fancy homes to live in and they drive the most expensive of cars. It seems like they have all the leisure time in the world, basking in the sunshine and going to parties with like-minded individuals. Does it seem to you that the ones with the most money are the happiest?
This is not a new attitude. Consider what Malachi wrote thousands of years ago: It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts?
And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered (Malachi 3:14-15).
These people had this common attitude: “If money is not the key to happiness, then it comes pretty close to being second to whatever comes first!” There is nothing wrong with having money and nice cars, but if they come at the expense of putting them before God, we are losing our focus on what is most important.
Let us consider some things that should come first and lead to happiness. We are going to consider a colony of people who proclaimed they “lived after the manner of happiness.”
These people were descendants of Joseph, son of Jacob. They fulfilled a prophesy of Jacob, who was later known as Israel. Jacob prophesied: Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well whose branches run over the wall (Genesis 49:22-26).
When we think of a well, we think of a well of water. Lots of water is in the ocean, which was a wall to the ancients. A branch of Joseph’s fruitful seed did cross over the wall and inhabit a land with everlasting hills. North and South America are the only lands that have a chain of everlasting hills (mountains) that begin in Alaska and run through the entire land emptying into the ocean at the tip of Argentina. As prophesied also, these people were shot at and hated, but were strengthened by the God of Jacob. They received revelation (blessings of heaven above) and blessings of children and wealth.
Here is their story of living after the manner of happiness: Nephi led those of his people who wanted to live in righteousness away from his hateful brothers, who were jealous and desired to kill him:
9 And all those who were with me did take upon them to call themselves the apeople of Nephi.
10 And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the astatutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the blaw of Moses.
11 And the Lord was with us; and we did aprosper exceedingly; for we did sow seed, and we did reap again in abundance. And we began to raise flocks, and herds, and animals of every kind.
12 And I, Nephi, had also brought the records which were engraven upon the aplates of brass; and also the bball, or ccompass, which was prepared for my father by the hand of the Lord, according to that which is written.
13 And it came to pass that we began to prosper exceedingly, and to multiply in the land.
14 And I, Nephi, did take the asword of Laban, and after the manner of it did make many bswords, lest by any means the people who were now called Lamanites should come upon us and destroy us; for I knew their chatred towards me and my children and those who were called my people.
15 And I did teach my people to abuild buildings, and to bwork in all cmanner of wood, and of diron, and of copper, and of ebrass, and of steel, and of fgold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance.
16 And I, Nephi, did abuild a btemple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of cSolomon save it were not built of so many dprecious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s etemple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of fSolomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine.
17 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be aindustrious, and to blabor with their chands (2 Nephi 9-27).
26 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did aconsecrate Jacob and Joseph, that they should be bpriests and cteachers over the land of my people.
27 And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of ahappiness (2 Nephi 5:26-27).
31 Wherefore, I, Nephi, to be obedient to the commandments of the Lord, went and made athese plates upon which I have engraven these things.
32 And I engraved that which is pleasing unto God. And if my people are pleased with the things of God they will be pleased with mine engravings which are upon these plates.
Here are some of the keys of happiness that I saw in this story:
1) Keep the commandments of God (v. 10)
2) Be industrious (vs. 11,15,17).
3) Temple worship (v. 16).
4) Follow counsel of “priests and teachers.”
5) Do that which is pleasing to God as taught in scripture (vs. 31-32)
There are other teachings that speak of happiness that are certainly worth our attention. I have cross referenced these scriptures in 2 Nephi to Mosiah Chapters 2-5. These are teachings of a prophet named King Benjamin.
If you are interested in obtaining a free copy of the Book of Mormon, you may request it at this address: ComeUntoChrist.org/bookofmormon
My desire for each of us is that we may live a happy and fulfilled life forever.
Merlin Frei
