Happiness in Troubled Times: a Book of Mormon Truth

obedient.  brave.  strong.

These are the kinds of attributes that one is encouraged to develop by reading about the prophets of The Book of Mormon.  And I am so glad that my kids are growing up with this sacred text as the basis for their life-education.

Words are important to me.  Actions are too.  But words, the kind that we think and read and say are so important.  My son asked my husband before bed last night if he could ask him questions...a nightly ritual really.  He said yes.  "Even about bad words, daddy?"  Yes.

So Guy proceeded to ask Steve about bad words he had heard and wanted to know what they meant.

The world is full of bad words.  The Book of Mormon (and other scriptures) are full of good words.  These words are God's words to his children.  We are so lucky to have them, and the more that we make room in our lives for them, the more power we have to become brave, obedient, and strong.


I had an online acquaintance recently complain to me that he felt The Book of Mormon was full of unnecessary violence.  There is violence in the book, just as there is in the Bible, because we live in a violent world, and both books chronicle a portion of the history of the world.  But unnecessary?  Nah.  The lessons taught by the war chapters are very necessary.


I read the following in Bad Guys of the Book of Mormon by Dennis Gaunt tonight.  He says:


"The war chapters are filled with lesson after lesson for us today...One of the best lessons in all the war chapters was one I found tucked away inside a couple of small verses, which was easy to overlook.  In the course of detailing all the bloodshed and wickedness of that time period--which so closely resembles our own war-filled society--Mormon pauses to make this observation: "And those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were delivered at all times...But behold there never was a happier time among all the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni" (Alma 50:22, 23)."


I think that understanding that happiness is possible in the middle of difficult circumstances might be one of the most important lesson we can learn.


"Elder Robert D. Hales said, "The fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ brings great comfort in stressful times of mortality.  It brings light where there is darkness and a calming influence where there is turmoil.  It gives eternal hope where there is  mortal despair.  It is more than just beautiful doctrine.  It is reality."


"No matter how bad our world might seem at times...our personal righteousness can still bring us happiness and joy.  Elder Richard G. Scott said, "Despite pockets of evil, the world overall is majestically beautiful, filled with many good and sincere people.  God has provided a way to live in this world and not be contaminated by the degrading pressures evil agents spread throughout it.  You can live a virtuous, productive, righteous life by following the plan of protection created by your Father in Heaven: His plan of happiness."  We can still choose to be obedient to the Lord, even if most people around us refuse to do so.  No matter how out of control our world feels, we still have control over our agency, and we can choose to be happy in the middle of troubled times."

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