True Happiness

True happiness is a selfless choice. This past week it seemed as if everything went wrong. My car broke down, then was fixed, then broke down again; we had 2 or 3 different plummers try to come fix our sewage mess; I received some bad news about a $30,000 scholarship I invested hundreds of hours in; I got a blister the size of a golf ball on the heal of my foot...I could go on but I digress. Little by little I let these burdens build, choosing to be miserable.

I remember my first trip to Africa as a young 11-yr old taking my father's place at the last minute on a humanitarian expedition. In Mwanaminga, Kenya, lines of desperate Kenyans waited for their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be seen by a white doctor, beating and shoving their own family members violently to get to the front of the line. I returned after serving for a couple weeks grateful for several things I took for granted before. "Someone else always has it worse," I recall telling my Mother when she asked what I learned in this journey. While these African people went without clean water, electricity, and many of the "common" luxuries the developed world enjoys, there were many who were happy.

After several visits to other impoverished areas of countries worldwide (Ethiopia, Bolivia, Mexico, Egypt, etc.), I found the same circumstances; people who had very little were still very happy. Why? People all over the world chose to be positive, optimistic, and happy notwithstanding their difficult circumstances because they focus on others through service, thus choosing to love God. How can we be truly happy despite the challenges we encounter?

President David O. McKay, a modern-day prophet (1873–1970) declared: “True happiness comes only by making others happy—the practical application of the Savior’s doctrine of losing one’s life to gain it.

President Thomas S. Monson, a living prophet today says, "It is the spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ, obedience to which will bring ‘peace on earth,’ because it means—good will toward all men. [Through this] enemies are forgiven, friends remembered, and God obeyed....With every step we take in His footsteps, we abandon a doubt and gain a truth."

Jesus “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” As we increase in favor with God true happiness will be ours. Of Jesus it was written “went about doing good … ; for God was with him.” As we go about doing good, following the example of the Savior and serving others, God will be with us and we will be empowered to make the choice to be happy no matter our circumstances.

Do you want to be happy today? Quit reading this and go do something nice for another and offer a prayer of gratitude for what you do have (and remember, "someone always has it worse").

True Motives

Are my motives true? Who do I want to please most?

Early each morning I wake to prove it to myself;
In practice I tire but continue for the team.
I shovel the driveway next-door to make the neighbor smile.

The sandwich I make for my husband with love,
Calling my Grandma I hope to lift her spirits,
The humorous email I send is to make a friend laugh.

Reworking an essay to please my professor,
Sharing my notes to help a fellow-student.
I give a compliment to my Mother wanting her attention.

Those I seek to please will never be impressed
As I look for their approval with a motive amiss.
Pleasing the Father as He did so well, I must remember whose favor matters most.

Ezra Taft Benson (a latter-day prophet) asks "Are we striving to put the Lord first and to please Him?" in his article titled: The Great Commandment—Love the Lord. With so many voices clamoring for our attention in the world today, it is easy to want to please the voices that matter far less. His voice leads and guides us to what is best for our eternal welfare, yet we pause before following and ask "are you sure??" about this or that. Things we may be asked by the Lord to fulfill that are not popular among the eyes of the world teach us in the moment that "no man can serve two masters" just as the scriptures warn.

Benefits vs. Costs: A Question of Truth

I'm in an economics class right now (which challenges many of the ideas I have been taught in my Sociology major...but we'll save that for another time). My point in giving this introduction is to outwardly proclaim that I am far from understanding the world of economics and I apologize in advance for being a beginner in a field I will attempt to expound upon.

The principle of costs vs. benefits is one we use each day in life. Each morning when my alarm sounds at 5am I ask (subconsciously in my sleep-deprived state): "How much will it cost me to sleep in?" and "What are the benefits of getting more sleep?" I then make the decision to roll my body out of bed despite my desire to continue dreaming. Why? Because I have convinced myself the benefits outweigh the costs. Should I marry him or should I not? Should I stop and say hello to my neighbor or should I not? From the big life decisions down to the small daily routines, we evaluate our costs and benefits. What does this have to do with truth? Living true principles requires morale in making these decisions.

When trying to decide those things that may be "questionable" we must evaluate our costs and benefits with true principles rather than the most efficient means. For example, let's say it will save me 1.5 minutes if I don't stop at any of the stop signs that are in my neighborhood as I am on my way to work. And lets also say that my work is 10 minutes away and I only have 9 minutes to get there. Lets also say that I will receive half pay for every hour I clock in late. What are the benefits of running the stop signs? I will get paid more, save more time, make my employers happy getting to work on time, and my stress level will rise and increase the number of calories burned (ok so that last one I'm not so sure about). What are the costs? This is where using true principles comes in to play...breaking the law, putting others (and myself) at risk, letting my integrity slip, etc. Now this may seem like a very small thing, but these little decisions every day amount to our character. Do I really need to tell the store owner I saw my friend shoplifting? Could I get away with parking in this no parking space for a few minutes while I run in and grab something? Are these things worth our integrity? No matter how small the decision we are always chosing to bring ourselves closer or further from the lord.

Do I Have Time for What is True?

When I look out the window and see my old neighbor struggling to rake his leaves, do I stop to help him? When I my friend calls and leaves a message saying she really needs to talk for a bit about a hard day do I ignore her call to study for my exam the next day? When one of my students asks for help during my free time outside of class, do I patiently give of my time and mentor ship or must I hurry to my next activity? The Lord has said, “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33). Some of the smallest things are some of the only things that will prevail, which ultimately makes them the most important.


If truth always has been, always will be, and presently is, (see previous blog), then what is true and what is not? A piece of furniture won't last forever, a nice outfit will turn to dust in a few hundred years, and our extra-curricular sports/activities will come and go. Cars, cell phones, computers and gadgets certainly aren't true and neither is any form of entertainment.

What has always been? What always will be? What is true? We are. Our spirits (also referred to as "intelligence" in the scriptures) always have existed and always will. In the Bible the Lord tells Jeremiah: "before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee... (Jeremiah 1:5)." The Lord knew each of us before the world was too and many of us (before coming to this earth) knew one another and enjoyed fellowship with one another.

Hence, friendship is an eternal principle. Friendship is true. Friendship always has been and always will be and is. Our relationships with those around us may be distanced by physical limits in this mortal life (if I move to another state I may not remain in contact with those where I used to live), but this is only temporary. Understanding that relationships can be extended beyond this life, and that they existed before this life helps us understand why it was so important for the Savior to be a very pleasant and perfect individual in all his relationships and dealings with each person. He understood that we cannot return to live with our Father without others. We need them and they need us (D&C 128).

Do I make time for truth? Do I make time for the people all around me, to smile when passing (or am I texting or self-focused walking from one place to the next)? One of the living 12 apostles today asks: "Do you take the time to remember some of the simple courtesies that are so important in relationships with others? Do you remember the smile, the compliment, the positive comment, and the word of encouragement? We should do these important little things without hesitation," (Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin). The next time I think, "I don't have time today..." to make this call, write that note, or do a simple act of service to another, I hope I can remember that the "little things" amount to exaltation.