Happiness, peace and safety, what a combination. Do you know anyone who does not want these three things in their life? I don't. Do we feel it difficult or even impossible to have these things in our crazy, fast paced lives here on this beautiful sphere we call earth? I think the answer to that is yes it is difficult to attain these feelings especially on a daily basis in our lives here on earth. I also want to testify that it is possible and important for us to find here. So what is the way or path or the key to achieving these? My purpose for this blog post is to share my formula for obtaining these but I must say that I do believe that this formula will work for everyone when accepted with faith and obedience. Those are actually key in attaining happiness, peace and safety.
Happiness, I will start with this one. There are many things out there that we as humans feel will make us happy such as money, independence, freedom to do as we choose without guilt, nice cars, nice house, boat, etc. These all bring pleasure and some happiness if they could actually be achieved. For example freedom to do as you choose without any guilt or regret is not possible. Eventually we will stand to be judged of our works and intents and desires of our hearts. Wickedness or going against Gods commandments will never bring happiness. So if our desire is to do whatever we like or will make us feel good at that moment, without thinking about God or others, we will never be truly happy.
True happiness comes from a knowledge of, and a relationship with the Godhead. 1.Knowing or at least believing that there is a God, a father of our spirits, a supreme all knowing being who knows us individually and loves us more than we could ever know is so important in attaining happiness.
2. Knowing or believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, creator of this earth and all things on it, and that he came down to this earth, the Son of God, to live a perfect life as an example to us, and then to suffer for the sins, pains and sicknesses of the the world that we may receive a remission (a complete forgiveness) for our sins as we repent and forsake them and comfort at His hands, and finally to die for us and take His life again overcoming death for us all.
3. Knowing or believing in the power of the Holy Ghost, a spirit being with an important job to do. In the Ensign magazine for the month of June there was an article describing the many reasons that the Holy Ghost communicates with us, I want to share those with you. They are 1. to testify, 2. To prophesy, 3. to comfort, 4. to uplift, 5. to inform, 6. to restrain and warn, 7. to confirm, and 8. to impel.
When we know God and His Son and so have a portion of the Holy spirit in our lives we find happiness. Does this come with a religion. No, anyone can know God and believe in His power and Know His Son and believe in His atoning sacrifice and have the Holy Spirit touch their lives. They who have a true relationship with the Godhead, developed through faith, prayer, a study of the Scriptures and obedience to the commandments can have this happiness and joy.
A fullness of joy and happiness comes when we know the true and living God and accept His will and plan for us and His True church.
Now I want to go on to peace and safety. I'll do these together because this is where I believe religion does enter in and make a difference. Faith and obedience is still the key to achieving these as well. My formula for these consists of performing ordinances which enter us into covenants with God. When we are baptized by the right authority and in the right manner (by immersion, as Jesus was)we enter into a covenant. Which means we make promises to God and He makes promises to us. Let's first talk about the promises we make.
In the Book of Mormon in Mosiah chapter 18:8 and 9 Alma gives us a great explanation of the promises we make at baptism. "And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light; 9. Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death...." We learn in the Sacrament prayers in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that we promise to keep the commandments, Remember our Savior Jesus Christ and take upon us His name which means to live as He did, follow His example. John 13:15 "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"
God's promises to us at baptism can also be found in Mosiah 18 verses 9 and 10:"...that ye may be redeemed of God, and numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life- 10. Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?" What do these scriptures tell us His promises to us are? 1. Redeemed. 2.Numbered with those of the first resurrection or the righteous 3. Eternal life (entering back in the presence of the Father, attaining all that He has, becoming like Him.) 4. Have His spirit more abundantly upon us. Now as Alma said if this is our true desire, these promises, are we not willing to make promises to Him to be able to have His promises?
We renew this covenant every week when we take the sacrament under the right authority.
After baptism are there more covenants to enter into? Yes the temple covenant. I can't explain this sacred covenant or the promises in this blog but they are real and bring greater safety and peace. If you have been to the temple but forgotten these important promises I urge you to go back and review and remember those very beautiful promises that we make and are made to us in all the different ceremonies performed in the temple. One thing I can say about the sealing ceremony and covenant is that it binds families together forever and no other authority on earth can do that.
How does covenanting with God bring peace and safety. God promises us certain things like eternal families, Eternal life, the Holy Ghost always in our lives, etc. and if we keep our promises to Him, He is bound to His promises and can not break them. It increases our faith in His love and power and in His Son's sacrifice for us unto salvation. Making covenants through the right authority gives us a knowledge and faith in the power of that authority which brings great peace and comfort and safety as well.
So what is this authority that I have discussed? It is priesthood authority, the authority given to man to act in God's name for the salvation of His children. The priesthood authority that Moses used to send plagues on Egypt so the children of Isreal could escape, the authority which he used to part the red sea, to make water come out of a rock, and to heal the people who would look at the brass serpent he raise up after they had been bitten by fiery flying serpents. It is the same authority that Elijah used to feed the widow and her son after they fed him what should have been the last of their oil and flour. It is the same authority that he used later to raise this widow woman's son from the dead. It is the same authority that Christ used to heal the sick, the deaf, and the blind, to cast out devils, to raise Jarius' daughter and Lazarus from the dead, to feed the thousands, and ultimately the power and authority to take His life back and overcome death.
It is this authority and power that separate the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from any and all other churches. It was restored to Joseph Smith by those who last held those keys even John the Baptist, and Peter, James, and John the beloved. The power to bless and heal and comfort and relieve pain and anguish is here on earth today. And even more important than those things formerly listed it is the authority to perform ordinances which enter us into sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father, covenants, if which kept, bring peace and safety.
The promise of the Holy Ghost to always be with us as we do all we can to let Him in our lives brings us peace and safety.
I testify of these truths. There is safety and peace in making and keeping sacred covenants. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
