Count it All Joy

How do we stay happy in an unhappy world? Today, I got caught up in the news, which almost inevitably brings with it an overwhelming sense of despair at the state of our world. My mind swirled with thoughts like "I don't trust our politicians," "why do so many people do and say things that hurt themselves and other," and "is there any hope for humanity?". This is why I tend to avoid news lately, but it's really hard to do, and sometimes I feel like I shouldn't. Ignorance is bliss, but it's also dangerous too.

Book of Mormon Parallels to the Latter-Days

Needless to say, I was feeling like I needed an extra dose of the peace that only my God can provide. My thoughts turned to the Book of Mormon because it's a powerful parallel for our day. In the middle and latter parts of the book, we read of wars, contentions, and of people doing bad things to gain power and influence. In spite of it all, the christian characters in the book generally maintain a hope and faith to keep them happy, with one obvious exception that comes to mind.

In the last few books, we read of utter destruction that comes upon the people where entire civilizations disappear (both the Nephites and the Jaredites). Mormon, the last of the Nephite prophets, keeps a history of his people. He is a believer in Christ and also a military general. There is so much hate and anger in his civilization that he experiences wars year after year. Additionally, he speaks of pervasive crime saying "no man could keep that which was his own, for the theives, and the robbers, and the murderers, and the magic art, and the witchcraft which was in the land" (Mormon 2:10). It's clear that his people were not keeping God's commandment, and they were suffering deeply. There was mourning and lamentation in all the land.

It's usually when we hit rock bottom that we realize we really need Christ in our lives. There are many stories in the Book of Mormon of people recognizing their weakness and turning to the Lord to receive strength. This is what Mormon hoped for his people. He thought their sufferings would lead to repentance. Yet things were so bad, he wrote "but behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin" (Mormon 2:13).

It's strong language that can be hard to hear, I know. But I firmly believe that happiness and progress is found in obeying God's will. He really knows what's best for us. As prophesied in the book, the Nephites' wickedness ultimately let to their complete destruction. Sadly, I increasingly fear our civilization is headed in the same direction. It's not just the war; I've read crazy headlines of laws permitting certain degrees of robbery in California; I hear about murder happening in massive scale in communist countries; and I hear about drug and alcohol problems pulling apart families. I find my self empathizing with the Nephite prophet.

Focus on the Good

Now it's not all bad. But you wouldn't know that from most headlines. I'm blessed to know that God is real. That He is our Heavenly Father and He loves us so much that he sent His son to atone for our sins and to die that we may be resurrected as He was. For those who believe in Christ there's hope for a better world and for mansions in heaven. He said:

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).

So God doesn't want me to be afraid; He wants me to have peace and be happy. In life, there will always be ups and downs. We're here to exercise our agency and to learn good from evil by experiencing opposition in all things. Without pain and sorrow, we would never understand joy and rest. We also wouldn't grow and improve. I've learned that the best way to find happiness is to focus on the good. There's a lot of ways to do this, but I have been taught to look to the scriptures because the gospel of Jesus Christ is the "good word."

My Prayer

After hearing news about the world today, I needed peace. I went on a short walk to the park by my house to meditate and let my mind wander. As I got home, I was thinking about the Book of Mormon, but I still wasn't much happier—because you know, I was feeling Mormon's deep sorrow. I felt that any joy was in vain, so I needed to turn to the Lord.

I sat down on my couch and prayed a very specific prayer. James chapter 1 teaches to "count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience" (James 1:2-3). I am discovering this verse now as I type this out, so I'll come back to this... I actually opened James looking for the scripture on prayer in verse 5 because as I sat on my couch I trusted James words that "if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5). It's my testimony that prayer works, and not only for wisdom but for peace too.

So I prayed, asking God for specific inspiration from the Book of Mormon to help me find peace in the face of a wicked world. After this brief prayer, I opened the scriptures and the pages fell open to Alma 31. I started reading and recognized it as Alma's mission to the Zoramites, who were a prideful people. They prayed to God wearing expensive clothing, thanking Him that they were a chosen and elect people, better then their brethren. Soon I read the following:

"O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people" (Alma 31:31).

I read the words out loud, feeling that Alma's prayer was my prayer too. As I continued reading, the chapter ended with words of hope:

"And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith" (Alma 31:38).

Answers

The answer to my prayer was remembering that through my faithful prayers, my afflictions can be swallowed up in the Joy of Christ. It wasn't that Alma's prayer removed future afflictions, but that their afflictions were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. It's true! Christ suffered for our afflictions. He bore the burdens of the world, which means He can shoulder my burdens too! I guess I hadn't realized the despair caused by the world was also my burden.

I'm grateful that God ensured Alma's story would be in the Book of Mormon, so He could use it to answer my prayer today. But whether it was that scripture that I needed or not, it is the scriptures that remind me what's good and true. The scriptures recenter my focus on Christ and His joy. So this I know: next time I feel a little weighed down by the cares and sorrows of the world, I can turn my attention to God in Prayer and to the scriptures for answers and peace.

That seems like my stopping point, but I want to point out that scripture in James that I accidentally included. My "divers temptation" today was the temptation to focus on doubt and despair. This was a trial to my faith because it is in direct opposition to faith. Doubt and despair does not equal faith and hope. Of course! I wanted to have hope, despite current political and social circumstances. What James suggests is that I "count it all joy" because this "trying of your faith worketh patience." And you know what? He's right.

Patience is a Christlike attribute, and it's very easy to loose. I try to be patient with my family and friends, but I can be ever more patient with the world as well. Things are bad right now, yes, but I know that Christ will come again and put an end to all sin and suffering. It wouldn't be called patience if it were easy.

So for now, let me be patient.