Happiness Is....

Several years ago, I took voice lessons to help improve my singing ability (although, now I don't know how much it helped). I was about 14 or so. One piece I was working on was called, "Happiness" from Charlie Brown. I thought the song was a little ridiculous at first, but the older I get the more I realize how happiness can be found in the very little things. Here's some of the lyrics to the song....

Happiness is two kinds of ice cream,

Finding your skate key, telling the time.

Happiness is learning to whistle,

Tying your shoe for the very first time.

Happiness is playing the drum in your own school band,

And happiness is walking hand in hand.

Like I mentioned, I finished finals yesterday. I was happy to be done for a while. Still am. But as I was studying my scriptures yesterday, I read Mosiah 2. Verse 41 imparticular. In the verse, King Benjamin (he's a prophet) explains how we will be blessed with happiness. He says, "...I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness..."

Reading this verse got me thinking, "Does true happiness really come from completing final?" No. Although, it contributes. Does true happiness come from learning how to tie your shoe? Not quite. Yet, it does help you feel good about yourself. While all these things make life more enjoyable, true happiness comes from keeping the commandments of God. Because when we do, we will be "blessed in all things both temporal and spiritual" and this will allow us to God again and be ETERNALLY happy! What more could you want?!

There are several things that I still need to change and improve on to bring my life in closer harmony with the teachings of Jesus Christ and with the commandments. For example, I need to work on having more meaningful prayers. Lately, I have somewhat slacked off in that area of my life. So I need to strive to do better.

I definitely know how living the commandments make us SO HAPPY! And believe me, Heavenly Father wants it for us. Don't you?