Life has more than one meaning. In most cases, we think of human life as breathing and a heartbeat. Christ often talked about a different kind of life--a spiritual life. Those who lack this type of life are not necessarily dead or dying physically, but they lack contentment, lack a sense of fulfillment, of purpose, of power, of destiny, of virtue. When we continually seek after and completely give ourselves over to Christ, we live in a state of continual joy, peace, love, and fulfillment. Christ came that we might have such life, and that we might have it more abundantly. I interpret this to mean, deeper joy, love, and fulfillment as we increasingly live as He did. If we prove that we are willing to do all things He asks us, we will be awarded with life that is so deep in its richness, it can be referred to as eternal life.
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God is the happiest person I know. His happiness is constant, deep, and lasting. It doesn't fade with time, doesn't seek for the next thrill, takes no pleasure out from others' suffering, but persists even during trials.
Why is God so happy? It is because He has learned how to be happy, and he lives what he knows. What does He do with His time? He says he spends it "bring[ing] to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." He is always serving His children. He is always nurturing, looking after, teaching, and performing miracles for His children. He is the very embodiment of love. If I want to be happy like God, I need to become like God is--think what He thinks, work like He works, do what He does. What work in this life most closely emulates the work of God? Motherhood. Motherhood is nurturing, caring for, teaching, and serving. Motherhood is helping children come step by step closer to the greatest good they can be. Motherhood is love. Motherhood is happiness. Some women teach that the greatest satisfaction for women comes from rejecting motherhood for alternatives. Others teach that killing unborn children is better than being an untimely mother. These women do not know God. They may know of Him and be acquainted with His teachings, but they do not know Him. Of all the possible titles that can be obtained in this life, the most honorable and joyful title a woman can receive is the heavenly calling of "mom." No other position or accomplishment will bring more joy, more personal progression, more character, or more satisfaction. Motherhood is emulating God. To most people, the title of this post seems obvious. Of course a person can choose whether or not to engage in homosexual acts. But those who cling to homosexuality seek to persuade the public eye to equate their behavior with skin color or gender--attributes that cannot be naturally changed. To the extent they are successful, they can demand more and more public acceptance of their improper behavior.
Homosexuality can be overcome. As with any bad behavior, a person can convince himself or herself that the behavior stems from some innate attribute that cannot be changed. Unapologetic homosexuals are not alone in this opinion. Drug addicts, child molesters, pornography addicts, alcoholics, adulterers, and compulsive liars are among those who have all claimed this same excuse--that it is not possible to change "who they are." Individuals in all of these categories cling to weak scientific "evidence," opinions of "experts," and any other possible source they can to support their position. Weak science, expert opinions, and limited logic are no reason to abandon the true path to happiness. They are enticing because they provide reason for a homosexual to take what is perceived to be the easy road--to simply give in to temptation. But the temptation is a lie. No lasting happiness comes from sinful behavior. Change can be hard. It can take much work. It can require many years of trial and many battles within one's own self. Change can be scary. It can challenge one's very soul. But change is possible, and it is worth the price. The peace and joy that comes to self and others is immeasurable, and its description beyond words. Homosexuality advocates try to make it seem as though no homosexual has ever succeeded in changing their heart such that they are no longer tempted in that manner. Any change that does occur they frame as nothing more than a brainwashing to conform to societal norms. This is Satan's message. He does not want us to know of the peace and joy of a Christ-centered life. Don't believe Satan's propaganda. Change yourself to become like our Father. Not just your behavior, but the very desires of your heart can change if you believe and place your faith in Him. Happiness is the ultimate motivation for everything a person does. But real happiness can only be achieved through salvation and eternal progression. These constitute the only method of lasting joy.
We can pursue many other avenues, such as business ventures, sports, political power, academic prestige, accumulation of wealth, or worldly fame. All these seem to bring the promise of happiness, but in truth, the pleasure they bring are only temporary. Since happiness can only be achieved in one way, the commandments given by our Father in Heaven are not designed to be oppressive or controlling. Rather, they are inspired by pure charity. Divine commandments are really guidelines to happiness--the only guidelines to full, lasting, eternal joy. Faith is the driver of our actions. Beliefs that a particular outcome will result from our actions motivate us to action. There are many outcomes we seek, but all of them ultimately boil down to our desire for happiness. We may seek for happiness in money, thrill, service, or making others miserable. We may think happiness comes from self-pity, self-serving actions, or power. Though we may believe happiness will come from these various sources, it often does not, and even resulting pleasure is fleeting, leaving us unsatisfied.
God created this world, provided a Savior for us, gives us commandments and guides, even allows us to experience hardships for the express purpose of helping us find happiness. The entire Gospel is a blueprint for obtaining lasting happiness. Our desire for happiness ultimately drives all our actions. There are many who, in spite of failing to find happiness is wealth, power, and prestige, continue to believe that a little bit more of those things will bring the happiness they seek. But the road to true happiness is strait and narrow--if we believe strongly enough to follow that path, true, lasting, continual joy will be our reward. Such joy cannot be obtained in any other way. "If you study the root causes of business disasters, over and over you’ll find this predisposition toward endeavors that offer immediate gratification. If you look at personal lives through that lens, you’ll see the same stunning and sobering pattern: people allocating fewer and fewer resources to the things they would have once said mattered most."
-Clayton M. Christensen, Harvard Professor Business (link added) The war in Heaven began with two opposing ideals. Satan and his followers felt that his plan for our future was the only fair and just plan, and the only one that would lead to happiness. Heavenly Father and his followers made the same claims.
Satan's measure of equality was that all people would receive the same benefits regardless of their character. Because poor character leads to improper choices and disqualification of benefits, Satan's plan involved removing choice from the equation. Force everyone to do good, and then there are no mistakes regardless of the character of each man. Then, each can enjoy equal benefits of an error-free society. Thus, everyone would achieve happiness. Heavenly Father's measure of equality was one of equal opportunity. Those who made correct choices would receive the benefits. For those who made incorrect choices but desired to change, One who was able would pay the ransom for their mistakes on their behalf, so it would be as if they had not made the mistakes. Happiness, our Heavenly Father taught, comes from constant righteous living of our own free will and choice, such that our very character, or that which defines us, is one of continual light and goodness. This state of character could only come as a result of our own choices. Forced righteousness does not have the power to change one's character. Satan's plan would have brought equality as he defines it to all people This is assuming he was able to continually force righteousness on all. I don't believe he could have accomplished that. However, even if he could have accomplished complete control, the resulting absolute lack of freedom would only bring misery. People would say kind words only because they had to. Men and women would provide for their families because that was what was required. Those who would be poor would be poor no longer, but only because outstretched arms of mercy were being controlled with puppet strings. Heavenly Father's plan, in contrast, would allow equality as He defined it. Each person would have equal opportunity to progress in this life. Not equality in wealth or worldly prestige, because in the long run those things matter little. Rather they would be equal in their freedom to choose who and what they would become. Each person, as a result of their everyday choices, would choose their own character. As a natural consequence, those who choose a character that reflects that of Heavenly Father would have happiness that reflects the happiness Heavenly Father has, for His happiness stems from His character. Satan lost the battle of ideals in heaven, and he was cast out. But the war has not ended. Battles continue to rage here. Across the world, there are those that battle for freedom to choose one's character, and there are those that battle for control over everyone's choices. Whose side am I on? Part of the great Plan of God involves allowing us to be tempted by the devil. Like a corrupt politician, Satan tells us that certain actions will produce the opposite effect of what will really happen. In every temptation he tells us that bad behavior will bring lasting satisfaction and happiness.
In truth, sin only brings fleeting pleasure. Like an addiction, we might try to sin more and more to try and regain that pleasure over and over. Initially, guilt accompanies sinful behavior. If we insist on continuing the sinful behavior we have to learn to either harden ourselves against the guilt or constantly feel the burden of guilt. Over time, even the temporary pleasure of sin fades, yet we may continue the sin simply because it has become part of our character. Sin never fully satisfies. It never brings lasting happiness. It never leaves us with a feeling of contentment. When Heavenly Father gives us commandments and instructions, they are not meant as restrictions to keep us from enjoying ourselves. In fact they keep us from such misery. Commandments and instructions from God are priceless because they are really guidelines on how to achieve lasting happiness. God has achieved lasting joy, consistent contentment, constant happiness. As a loving Father, He is trying to help us find the same in our own lives. He will not force it on us--real happiness can never be forced--but He will encourage and inspire, teach and persuade. Am I always happy? Do I live in constant joy? If I am willing, God will show me how to change so that I may be more and more content and happy. He will never quit helping me until I reach the state of perfect joy that He has attained. His guidelines may not always be easy, but they will always be easier than living in sin, and they will always lead to greater life enjoyment. Often we are jealous of those who do not live right. The wicked seem to prosper and that seems unfair.
Although the wicked can prosper, they never can quite find happiness in their ways. The "natural man" inside them tells them that unrighteous living will bring happiness, and that promise continually drives their actions. Fleeting pleasures and temporary highs may come from wicked behavior, but lasting peace and constant joy aren't ever attained in that way. To counter this obvious lack of fulfillment, Satan convinces the wicked that they already have all the happiness they can have, or that happiness is pleasure and nothing else, or that the happiness will come after more wicked acts. The wicked live in a state of perpetual misery as a result of believing this perpetual deception. God put us here not for the purpose of giving everyone riches and prestige, but so we can have the opportunity to attain the real, lasting happiness that He has attained. Like any good Father, he wants His children to have what he has, but He won't force it on us. It is up to us to choose either eternal happiness or eternal misery. Riches and prosperity are nice and great to have, but they are not the source of happiness, nor are they the purpose of life. Faith and repentance are heavily interrelated. Faith in Christ means we sincerely believe His commandments outline the right way to live. If we sincerely believe that, we can't help but want to repent. Repentance is changing ourselves so that we follow His commandments more exactly. |
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