The Lord asked Martin Harris if he could read His words without rejoicing. This is a good question for all of us. Can you find joy in the gospel? Are you artificially inhibiting that joy? How would your life be different if you allowed yourself to feel all that God wants you to feel?
Uninhibited Joy
Ammon was overwhelmed by joy when he and his brothers were reunited with Alma. We need to govern our emotions but not stifle them. Some emotions are meant to be felt fully, without reservations or bashfulness. God is pleased when we feel pure joy.
The Joy of the Saints
Enos prayed all day long because of his father's words about "the joy of the saints." He must have detected a gap between that description and his own experience. God created us to be joyful, and His gospel can bring the greatest happiness into our lives.
Living After the Manner of Happiness
Nephi listed a number of his people did which helped them to live "after the manner of happiness" (2 Nephi 5:27). Some of those activities involved family, work, and temple worship. God wants us to participate in activities which will bring us happiness.
“Rejoice…and Again I Say, Rejoice”
Writing from prison, Paul urged the Philippians to rejoice. When we remember the good news of the gospel, and when we focus on the positive things happening in our lives, we can follow Paul's admonition to "rejoice in the Lord alway."
Be of Good Cheer
Jesus invited a paralyzed man to "be of good cheer." He gave the same message to his apostles as He prepared to suffer for our sins in Gethsemane. How could He speak of cheerfulness at that time? Because He knew that He would be victorious.
Let Your Hearts Rejoice
As Ammon and his brothers ended their fourteen-year mission to the Lamanites, Ammon expressed the joy he felt with such spontaneity and passion that his brother Aaron corrected him. Wasn't he boasting, and wasn't that wrong? In response, Ammon listed many of the blessings they had received and said: Let us glory, yea, we will glory in the... Continue Reading →
“Songs of Everlasting Joy”
Isaiah prophesied of a time when the children of Israel would be delivered from bondage and would gather to Zion. This would not only be a day of joy; it would be the beginning of an eternity of joy: The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness,... Continue Reading →
Blessed – 3 Nephi 12:1-12
At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior lists eight qualities which will bring a person joy. This list is known as the Beatitudes, because the Latin word translated "blessed" is beati. This word—and the original Greek word makarios (μακάριος)—literally mean "happy," but with a connotation of "having great reason to be... Continue Reading →
“Turn Ye, Turn Ye” – Helaman 7:17
Nephi caught the attention of a group of people by praying on a tower in his garden beside a busy highway. They not only stopped to hear his prayer. They ran and gathered other people. When Nephi completed his prayer, a large crowd had gathered (Helaman 7:10-12). So he spoke to them, sharing his sorrow... Continue Reading →