The Search for Happiness

At institute this morning someone mentioned that "how to be happy" (or variations on the theme) was one of the most searched for topics on Google. Curious about what kind of things would come up, I tried searching for "how to be happy" myself. As I finished typing this phrase into the search box, several suggestions popped up below the box: how to be happy alone, again, single, at work, in a relationship, with yourself, after a breakup, and everyday. The results that came up were interesting too. Amongst the 494,000,000 results, there were 12 step programs and 7 step programs, scientifically proven ways to be happy, 10 things not to do, 10 things to do, secrets, tips, and myths. There were blogs and articles, books, products, apps and games. Suggestions included everything from looking beyond imperfections, choosing to be happy, and being grateful, to spending time outside, improving your physical health (improving eating, sleeping, exercising habits), and spending time with friends. Everyone wants to be happy, but how do we actually achieve happiness?

In the Book of Mormon, we read about a people who enjoyed almost two hundred years of peace and happiness. Mormon describes them saying, "surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God." (4 Ne 1:16) What can we learn from these people about being happy?

1. They formed a church of Christ. They repented of their sins, were baptized in Jesus' name and received the Holy Ghost. (4 Ne 1:1) Faith in God helps us to be happy. We can trust that a higher being as things in hand so we don't have to worry. Repenting of sins frees us from guilt. Baptism grants us a new beginning, and the Holy Ghost guides and directs us so we can be free from fear.
2. All the people in all the land were converted to the Lord. There weren't contentions or disputations. Every man (and, I assume, woman) dealt justly one with another. (v.2) They lived in a society of people who were all trying to be the best they could be. No one was trying to get the better of anyone else, or trying to get ahead by cheating others. Working together, everyone moved forward.
3. They shared what they had with each other so there were no rich or poor, no servants or masters. (v.3) Again, people weren't selfishly looking out only for their own welfare, but were helping each other. They were all serving one another.
4. Because of the people's righteousness, they were able to perform miracles. The sick and afflicted were healed. People were raised from the dead. (v.5) How much worry and sadness come from sickness and disability?
5. The people were industrious. In the storms and destruction in 34AD, entire cities had been destroyed; these people were now rebuilding these cities. (v.7-8) It is difficult to be truly happy when you aren't accomplishing anything. Satisfaction comes from work well done.
6. They surrounded themselves with family. They got married. They had children. (v.10-11) Happiness comes from nurturing strong relationships with others.
7. They kept the commandments the Lord had given them. They fasted and prayed and attended church often. (v.12) It is easier to live righteously when you are surrounded by others who are living similar standards. Together, we lift and support each other.
8. There continued to be no contention in the land because of the love of God which dwelt in their hearts. (v.15) Charity is the pure love of Christ. It is the key to so many things: "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." (1Cor13:4-7)
9. The people were unified. They saw each other as all one people, all children of Christ, and not as separate groups. There was no "us and them" mentality. (v.17) This is a true "Zion" society, because they were all one. It wasn't until they began to create differences and see themselves as separate or "better" than others that this happy society began to dissolve and decay.

Another good example of how to find happiness in the Book of Mormon is 2 Nephi 5. This chapter also describes a people who "lived after the manner of happiness." (2 Ne 5:27) They also lived in righteousness (v. 10), had families (v.6,13), were industrious (v.11,15-17), and saw themselves as one people. (v. 9)

Typing "happiness" or "how to be happy" into the search box at lds.org also brings many results. The Lord wants us to be happy. He has provided us with his guidance on how to achieve happiness. Several General Conference talks and Ensign articles have addressed the subject. There is even a lesson in the nursery (ages 18 months-3 years) manual entitled "I Can Be Happy". With all these resources available, we can find the answers we need; we can learn what we need to do to be truly happy.