Happiness: God Will Provide the Miracle

Do you want to be happy? Are you happy?

The LDS Church Newsroom just wrote an article about happiness titled "The Surprising Science Behind Extremely Happy People." A mission leader discussed it at a recent Sisters' conferences, and I appreciated the thoughts shared. One man (Hank Smith) whom the article quoted said this:

“Sometimes people think if someone has depression, that person must be a broken Mormon [or believer]. We believe that righteousness is happiness, but what happens when people are righteous and they’re not happy?”

It is possible to be righteous and unhappy. I've been there! A belief in God does not keep depression at bay, and joining the church isn't a magic pill for happiness. Hard times will still come.

But there are some things that we can do. Faith is a principle of action and power--we are responsible for the action, and God provides the miracle. We must do the things within our reach, and then God will bless and help us. Here are some things that we can do:

1. Surround ourselves with happy people
2. Try to be happy
3. Spend more money on others
4. Have deep in-person conversations
5. Use laughter as a medicine
6. Use the power of music
7. Exercise and eat healthy
8. Take time to unplug and go outside
9. Get enough sleep
10. Be spiritual

I have felt the miracle take place in me. I still have hard days, and I always will; however, as long as I am taking steps forward, the light comes. It takes action to access God's power. That is FAITH. I echo Joseph Smith's words in the Doctrine and Covenants:

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed (D&C 123:17).

I promise that Christ is coming, and it will be glorious.