Finding Joy!

So, I love the TV show LOST.  I mean, I really love LOST.   I love LOST to the point that I, along with my brother and sister-in-law, would often dress up to watch each new episode of LOST.  In fact, there is a good possibility that we would turn the basement into a giant airplane using cardboard boxes to watch LOST in. (It only happened once, and it made for one very memorable day!)

There are a lot of things that I love about LOST.  I love all the questions, and coming up with different theories, I love that if you miss even one episode you have absolutely no clue what is going on, because the plot is so crazy.  But mostly, I love the characters.  One of my favorite characters, and probably a favorite of most LOST fans, is Hurley.  You just can't help but love Hurley! So, what is it about Hurley that makes us all love him?  I can't really answer that for you, but, I love him because he is always happy.  He's just a happy, easy-going guy.   I love it! 

In the Book of Mormon a prophet named Lehi taught his son that "men are that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25).  Part of our purpose in this life is to find joy.  I've been thinking about this a lot lately.  I often feel like I look for joy in the future.  "I'll be happy when..."  I often think the next step in life is what I need to find the joy I desire.  However, when I catch myself thinking this way I try to always remind myself that this isn't true; this isn't God's plan for His children.  He has provided the way for us to find true joy even in the most difficult times.  David O McKay, who was President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1951-1970, taught:

"(The principal reason the Church was organized is) to make life sweet today, to give contentment to the heart today, to bring salvation today... Some of us look forward to a time in the future - salvation and exaltation in the world to come-but today is part of eternity".

I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the surest way to finding true and lasting happiness.   Life as a missionary isn't always easy.  In fact it is often very difficult.  Serving a mission is possibly the most difficult thing I have ever done, but it is also the way that I have found the most happiness.  I can't describe the joy that I feel when I see Christ's gospel change someone's life.  Or the joy I feel when I see it change my life.  The prophet Joseph Smith said: “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God."  I know this is true.  I've seen it!

Is Anyone There?

Throughout my life it has often been difficult for me to understand how God speaks to me.  I know that God answers prayers, but how? 

This past Sunday one of my new friends came to church.  It was her second time at church.  She told us that the previous week at church she had felt something new, something she had never felt before.  At first the feeling frightened her, but then she realized everything just felt right.  As I think about my life and the different answers to prayers I have received I realize that this simple feeling of "rightness" is how my answers usually come.

Deciding to serve a mission was a bit of a process for me.  To be honest, it's not something I ever wanted to do.  It was never in my plans.  Then, about three years ago, I had the smallest thought. "Maybe, just maybe, I should go on a mission."  That thought didn't leave me for an entire week.  I believed that God was telling me to serve a mission.  So, even though I didn't really want to, I began the process of coming on a mission.   I finished all the doctor appointments and paper work.  But it never felt right.  I felt like I was forcing it.  I ended up putting it on hold, on the back burner.  I finished earning my degree and had all sorts of plans for what was next, plans that didn't include a mission.  Then I had the smallest thought; "maybe I should go on a mission now."  Again, this thought stayed with me for about a week.  This time, I was scared.  I had already been through the process of trying to come on a mission, and it didn't work.  What if that happened again?  I wasn't really certain what to do, but I decided to try one more time.  This time it was different.  I didn't feel like I was pushing it as much as I had the first time, but I still wasn't completely sure if this was truly what God wanted me to do.

I didn't really know until my first day as a missionary.  The first day as a missionary is a little bit hectic.  I had suddenly entered this whole new world.  A world I didn't really know how to navigate.  But instead of confusion and fear I simply felt at peace.  Somehow I just knew that I was where I was supposed to be.  That I was doing what Heavenly Father wanted me to do.  I just knew.

One of my favorite scriptures from the Book of Mormon is from a prophet named Nephi.  He says: "the Lord God...speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding" (2 Nephi 31:3). I love that God doesn't want us to be confused.  He speaks to us in a way that we will understand.  He knows me so well, that He knew just how to tell me that I was in the right spot.  And He knows you too.

I don't know why I had to struggle for so long not knowing.  Maybe God wanted me to act on my faith without absolutely knowing.  But I do know that God answered my prayer.  I know that He has always answered my prayers, and I know that He always will. 

Childlike

Last week was my niece's 5th birthday.  She's the all-girl type. She loves Disney Princesses and loves to dress up like them even more.  When she comes to visit at Nana and Grumpa's house the whole place lights up; she brings with her the innocence and simple joy of childhood, and she helps the rest of us to find joy in simple things once again.  Although I wasn't able to be with her on her birthday, I found myself thinking of her often and silently wishing her a “happy birthday.”

As I reflected on her and her special day, my reflections turned to the Bible, when Jesus taught: “Except ye…become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).  I spent some time pondering what Christ meant when He instructed us to “become as little children.”  I don’t believe He meant that we need to love Disney Princesses and playing dress-up (although to be honest, I really do love both of those things); I believe Christ meant something much deeper.  I believe that my 5 year old niece can teach me things that I need to know in order to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

So, what can a 5 year old teach me?  What about how to love.  My niece is always ready and eager to love anyone and everyone.  When she sees me, all she wants to do is play with me.  To her, I am the most important person in the world; I’m even cooler than Snow White! We are taught in the Book of Mormon that “if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth” (Moroni 7:46).  And what is charity?  It’s love; the most pure form of love that exists.  Might my niece teach me how to love, how to have true charity for others?

Perhaps my niece could teach me to use the talents God has given me.  I am far away from home and my niece wants me to know just how much she loves me, so she uses the talents that she has to show me her love. She delights in sending me pictures that she colored just for me.   Writing letters is difficult for her, but she is great at coloring pictures.  Those pictures of princesses and fairies are things I will treasure throughout my life.

My niece finds so much joy in life. The smallest things bring her great happiness.  Last year I took her on a hike.  I gave her a magnify glass and a camara.  We looked for little treasures.  She was so excited with each new treasure she found, you might have thought she struck gold!  This life is to be enjoyed!  The Book of Mormon prophet, Lehi, taught: "Men are that they might have joy" (2 Nephi 2:25). Possibly my niece could teach me to find joy!

Think of the children you know in your life.  Perhaps you are a parent, maybe you teach school, or maybe the only children you know are the neighbors across the street.  Each child you know is a precious gift from God to teach us important lessons.  Think of them and learn from them.   You might just be surprised at how much a 5 year old could teach you.