It IS Possible to Find True Joy!
Joy does not mean constantly Happy any more than Love means Constant Sex
True Joy occurs when a person can accept him- or herself as a child of God and know that in all of his or her trials and afflictions that God is aware and willing to assist. He does not want to take away learning experience from people because experiencing the trials and challenges that appear naturally in life help all people to develop empathy and charity one for another.
The Heavens declare all are to love their neighbors the same way that each loves him or herself. All are to care for others the same way each cares for him- or herself. That simple practice allows that each person may obtain this joy. Not only should seekers of true joy aspire to have this great love for others called charity, but to obtain it seekers must pray for it to come.
The secret of true joy is to love others and serve others.
Becoming Mother Theresa overnight is not practical.
Go To Church
Meet with the Saints for Joy to Last!
Saints are the salt of the earth. Just as salt makes food taste better, saints/Christians make the world better by being here to season it with the love of Christ or charity.
Why are Christians the Salt? It is their covenant with Jesus in life to spread the love of God so that joy can cover all the hurt and pain around them.
They are here to build Zion, the kingdom of God one person at a time until Christ comes. They are to do so with meekness and love, especially towards persecutors.
They must not persecute or harm those who oppose Christ, but love them. Their Master has commanded them to love all men. He is Master because they are His apprentices.
He overcame all so that He could help the saints do the same. They honor His life by living as He taught.
Read Alma chapter 30 in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
The key to combating anti-Christ is to live by what Christ taught, which in turn brings joy and relative happiness.
Pure Testimony is The key Against Facetiousness
There is no special wording that can be said to quiet anti-Christs.
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin taught,
A testimony of the truth of the gospel does not come the same way to all people. Some receive it in a unique, life-changing experience. Others gain a testimony slowly, almost imperceptibly until, one day, they simply know...
...a testimony is “the assurance of the reality, truth, and goodness of God, of the teachings and atonement of Jesus Christ, and of the divine calling of latter-day prophets. … It is knowledge buttressed by divine personal confirmation by the Holy Ghost.” (Pure Testimony)
Alma taught "
The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." Alma 30:44
Signs and wonders do not bring people to Christ or help them have faith in Him. First comes faith, then come the signs, for
"I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." Ether 12:6
The Christ-key is to lay hold of every good thing of God. Read the scriptures, go to church, share faith, pray, keep the commandments, help the poor, etc... The key to combating anti-Christ is to live by what Christ taught, which in turn brings joy and relative happiness.
Elder Edward Dube
In trying to empathize with neighbors, believers should avoid indulging in behaviors that take away from their faith.
Gethsemane and Golgotha
Elder Edward Dube, in his debut sermon in the October 2013 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ said that
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, who sees from the beginning to the end, knew very well the road He would travel to Gethsemane and Golgotha when He proclaimed, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). In the sight of the Lord, it is not so much what we have done or where we have been but much more where we are willing to go.
The things that people are willing to do from this point on in their lives to fortify themselves against the threats and temptation of those people who would destroy their joy in Christ is what matters most. Wisdom is not to depend upon the past to protect the future. It is to continue to live in the present so that tomorrow may be built upon recent accomplishments.
Increments Over Time
At times, we convince ourselves an exploration of the forbidden does not affect us enough to damage our spiritual connections with heaven. Most, if not all of us use justification to watch a movie, listen to music, join in an activity, etc... that causes no harm it seems in the present.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, two religiously pious people used justifications to avoid doing something, helping a fellow Jew. Those justifications turned into devil's advocate in reverse. God commands us to love one another.
A lawyer put Jesus on the spot during one of His public teaching moments, Luke wrote "tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" [Luke 10:25]
Seeing this for what it was, an attempt to get Jesus to declare one of the commandments more important than the others so the politically inclined religious leaders of Jerusalem could find a reason to indite Him of wrongdoing, Jesus turned the question back to the Law. "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" [Luke 10:26]
The lawyer responded, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.[Luke 10:27] Jesus confirmed the lawyer's recitation represented the truth.
The lawyer finding his attempt failed tried a different route," And who is my neighbour," [Luke 10:29] he queried knowing that the popular dogma of the day was to hate the enemies of Israel or any outsider not of the nation of pure-blooded Abrahamic stock.
To this, Jesus taught a lesson that ended with a question that would not incriminate Jesus of refuting popular prejudices of the day giving fodder for enterprising men to distract away from the message of love for all.
A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance, there came down a certain priest that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise, a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. When he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
On the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? [Luke 10:30-36]
The very people that the Jews hated, Samaritans, Jesus used as the moral agent in his parable. The lawyer had the knowledge to correctly answer the question that the Samaritan, the bad guy, was the lover of his brother, neighbor, risking reproachment or say nothing.
The lawyer chose to answer that the one who assisted the fallen man loved, or "was neighbour unto him," to which Jesus invited to "Go, and do thou likewise." [Luke 10:37]
If good people do wrong by justifying bad behavior, even if on occasion, they play devil's advocate with sin, which is a slippery slope to more sin. Dabbing in small wrongs may lead faithful people to justify major evils over time. It happens in small increments over time.
You are what you read.
If seekers of true joy read scripture and uplifting things, then they will be scriptorians and uplifters. President Thomas S. Monson said:
Participate in daily scripture study. Crash courses are not nearly so effective as the day-to-day reading and application of the scriptures in our lives. Become acquainted with the lessons the scriptures teach. … Study them as though they were speaking to you, for such is the truth.”.
If people read trashy novels and the ilk, then what follows is trash and filth.
Thomas S. Monson
Engage in conversation, but remember to read and pray.
Even the strongest of Christians risk being swayed given long enough exposure to the untruth. To be more clear, if believers take it upon themselves to expose themselves to evil, they risk becoming evil.
God expects His people to learn all that they can about the world and the things of the world without becoming consumed by those things. Saints have been counseled to read from the best books. In an 1847 epistle to the church, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles instructs:
It is very desirable that all the Saints should improve every opportunity of securing at least a copy of every valuable treatise on education—every book, map, chart, or diagram that may contain interesting, useful, and attractive matter, to gain the attention of children, and cause them to love to learn to read; and, also every historical, mathematical, philosophical, geographical, geological, astronomical, scientific, practical, and all other variety of useful and interesting writings, maps, &c., to present to the General Church Recorder, when they shall arrive at their destination, from which important and interesting matter may be gleaned to compile the most valuable works, on every science and subject, for the benefit of the rising generation.
We have a printing press, and any who can take good printing or writing paper to the valley will be blessing themselves and the Church. We also want all kinds of mathematical and philosophical instruments, together with all rare specimens of natural curiosities and works of art that can be gathered and brought to the valley, where, and from which, the rising generation can receive instruction; and if the Saints will be diligent in these matters, we will soon have the best, the most useful and attractive museum on the earth. (Seek Ye Out of the Best Books BY Dean Jarman)
To be more clear, if believers take it upon ourselves to expose themselves to evil, they risk becoming evil.
Remember These Things
- Do not entertain anti-Christ thought.
- You are what you read.
- Engage in conversation, but remember to read and pray.
- Small Things, Great Love
Have you ever seen an angel? This was a question posed by someone on HubPages. This is my answer, regarding some encounters with Heaven in everyday life. - Seek Ye Out of the Best Books | Dean Jarman
You’ll be interested to know that as a Latter-day Saint you have some special reasons to get serious about your studies. The Lord and his servants have consistently counseled the Saints to seek wisdom and enlarge their knowledge. - Jesus Christ Is Our Savior | ComeUntoChrist
The greatest happiness in life comes from following Jesus. We believe in learning all we can about Him. You will feel His love for you as you seek to understand His life and teachings.
© 2013 Rodric Anthony Johnson