Jared gave a talk today in church. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that's what we call
sermons given by regular members of the congregation. Today, Jared gave a sermon and I loved it and wanted to share it.
TALK ON HAPPINESS
7/8/2018
JARED JOHNSON
Good morning brothers and sisters. Today I have been
asked to talk on happiness – as in the plan of happiness, but with a focus on
happiness in this life. I remember one time before the Copper Crest ward
was formed and I was in the Fairway Groves ward the bishop asked me to give a
talk in church. Then he realized that it was some special Sunday and he
called me back and said we would have to reschedule. That never happened
and I remember how happy that made me! So, I am talking today about
happiness while being a little bummed out at the same time that this assignment
didn’t also get postponed! Oh well, I’ll see what I can do.
Just to start, the plan of happiness is also known as the
plan of salvation. The Book of Mormon prophet, Alma uses both expressions
interchangeably in Alma chapter 42. This being the case, I do not want to
discuss the “Plan of Happiness”. Rather, I would like to focus on
happiness in this life. We can circle back to the ‘plan’ later if there
is time.
OK, so what does happiness in this life look like?
There are a couple of scriptures that I like regarding happiness:
2 Nephi 5:26-28
26 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did consecrate Jacob
and Joseph, that they should be priests and teachers over the land of my
people.
27 And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of
happiness.
28 And thirty years had passed away from the time we left
Jerusalem.
The context of this scripture is Nephi and some of his
brothers (and their families) have parted company from Laman and Lemual and
their families, because Nephi was told that they were no longer safe to stay.
They left, established some order, and then ‘lived after the manner of happiness’.
Sounds simple, right? It seems to me that living after the manner of
happiness is connected to their faith, but also by the fact that they were a
group recently united by a specific common goal – not to get killed by
others.
Jesus has given us the following admonition:
John 13:34
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one
another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
I have found, like Nephi and his family, that it is always
easier to love those with whom you are united in some way – like family,
church, something you might go to a convention for, or maybe because you have
the same pair of shoes. We seem to be more willing to overlook our
differences and things that might normally bother us when we can find some common
ground, or just when we are able to get to know someone better.
What has
this got to do with happiness? I submit that when we follow the Savior
and make an honest effort each day to love one another, we will be
happier. This aspect of our happiness is completely within our own
control. I am not claiming that this is always easy, but it does get
easier with practice. Also, each new day gives us a chance to try again,
and hopefully do better.
Another scripture I like about happiness is:
4 Nephi 1:15-17
15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the
land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.
16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor
whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and
surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been
created by the hand of God.
17 There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there
Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ,
and heirs to the kingdom of God.
I really like this idea of “nor any manner of –ites”.
They were united – the children of Christ. We live in a world that
doesn’t always feel so united. We seem to have all manner of –ites.
It is not possible to stop dividing ourselves off into specific groups.
We are Christians, but we are also Mormons. Some of us are male, some of
us are female. Some of us are married, some are single. Some of us
are gay, and most of us are straight. Most of us like the Beatles (I
hope), some of us do not. I could go on, of course. In this context
we will never get away with “nor any manner of –ites”, but that’s ok.
What we can do, and should strive to do per the Savior is to use whatever means
we have to avoid otherizing our spiritual brothers and sisters. To
otherize is to make or regard (a person, social group, etc.) as alien or
different. After all, we are all children of our Heavenly Mother and Father – a big
something that we have in common.
With very few exceptions, it is not our
place to judge, but it is our place – even our responsibility to love. I
testify to you brothers and sisters that as we strive to love one another, to
get to know each other’s story, as we resist the temptation to judge and
prematurely draw conclusions, we will be happier. We will be living after
the manner of happiness.
As for the Great Plan of Happiness, this focuses on the
family. Getting married, having children and grandchildren, etc. I
am blessed to have been married for over 31 years now. I have 4 children
and 2 grandchildren. I can tell you that my family is a source of great
joy and happiness for me. I can also tell you that I know many people who
are not able to have a similar “ideal” family configuration. These are
people who should not be otherized. These are people who should not be
made to feel like they cannot participate in the Great Plan of Happiness. Our Heavenly Parents do not want any of Their children to be miserable.
President Boyd K. Packer in his last conference address said:
"When we speak of marriage and family life, there inevitably
comes to mind, “What about the exceptions?” Some are born with limitations and
cannot beget children. Some innocents have their marriage wrecked because of
the infidelity of their spouse. Others do not marry and live in single
worthiness.
For now I offer this comfort: God is our Father! All the
love and generosity manifest in the ideal earthly father is magnified in Him
who is our Father and our God beyond the capacity of the mortal mind to comprehend.
His judgments are just; His mercy without limit; His power to compensate beyond
any earthly comparison. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men
most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19)."
There are, of course, many more ‘exceptions’ than those
listed by President Packer. But to me what he is saying means that we all get
to participate in the Great Plan of Happiness, even if it ends up looking a
little different than the ideal. We must be careful to make sure that no
one is ever made to feel like they cannot participate in this great plan. We must not constrain the Great Plan of Happiness by our limited ability to understand it.
It is clear to me that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want
us to be happy in this life. It is also clear to me that Heavenly
Father’s love, patience and mercy are without limit.
Again, the Savior
has commanded us to love each other the way that He loves us. He wants us
to do that now – not wait for the eternities. Get to know the people in
your life – especially those that may be outside of your comfort zone.
Listen to their stories, make connections, and find common ground. Expand
your imagination and increase your empathy. In this way, you will begin
to see people the way the Savior does.
I know that God lives and that he loves us. He wants
us to be happy and has given us many ideas on how to make that happen, but it
all begins with loving one another – including ourselves.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
