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OurQuestforHappiness

GrandviewWard,April22,2012

ShortTermvs.EternalTermHappiness

An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a

smallboatwithjustonefishermandocked. Insidethesmallboatwereseverallargeyellowfin

tuna.TheAmericancomplimentedtheMexicanonthequalityofhisfishandaskedhowlongit

tooktocatchthem.TheMexicanreplied,"onlya littlewhile."TheAmericanthenaskedwhy

didn'thestayoutlongerandcatchmorefish?TheMexicansaidhehadenoughtosupporthis

family'simmediateneeds.TheAmericanthenasked,"butwhatdoyoudowiththerestofyour

time?" The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take

siestaswithmywife,Maria,stroll intothevillageeacheveningwhereI laughandplayguitar

with

my

amigos.

I

have

a

full

and

busy

life."

TheAmericanscoffed,"IamaHarvardMBAandcouldhelpyou.Youshouldspendmoretime

fishingandwiththeproceeds,buyabiggerboat.Withtheproceedsfromthebiggerboat,you

couldbuyseveralboats,eventuallyyouwouldhaveafleetoffishingboats.Insteadofselling

yourcatchtoamiddlemanyouwouldselldirectlytotheprocessor,eventuallyopeningyour

owncannery. Youwouldcontroltheproduct,processing,anddistribution.Youwouldneedto

leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles and

eventuallyNewYorkCity,whereyouwillrunyourexpandingenterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?" To which the American

replied,"15 20years.""Butwhatthen?"AskedtheMexican.

The American laughed and said, "That's the best part. When the time is right you would

announceanIPOandsellyourcompanystocktothepublicandbecomeveryrich,youwould

makemillions!""Millions thenwhat?"

TheAmericansaid,"Thenyouwouldretire.Movetoasmallcoastalfishingvillagewhereyou

would

sleep

late,

fish

a

little,

play

with

your

kids,

take

siestas

with

your

wife,

stroll

to

the

villageintheeveningswhereyoucouldlaughandplayyourguitarwithyouramigos."

What a great story with a powerful message. If we are not careful, we may find ourselves

allocatingtoomuchtime,effortandthoughtonthosethingsthatmatterleastattheexpense

ofthosethingsthatmattermost.


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Aquickwarningaboutseekingafterwealthandthosethingsoftheword:Anunknownauthor

said, Money is an article that may be used as a universalpassport to everywhere except

heaven,andasauniversalproviderofeverythingexcepthappiness.Moneymaybuythehusk

of many things, but not the kernel. It bringsfood, but not the appetite; medicine, but not

health;acquaintances,butnotfriends;servants,butnotfaithfulness;daysofjoy,butnotpeace

orhappiness.

Ithinkitsfairtosaythateveryhumanbeingthathasorwillwalktheearthisonaquestfor

happiness.WhenIlookedupthewordquestinthedictionaryIfoundsuchwordsas:search

probe,pursue,seekandchase.BrothersandSisters,how isyourquestgoing?Whatareyou

searching for, probing for, seeking for and chasing after? Each source of happiness can be

separatedintotwocategories.OneIrefertoasshorttermandtheotheraseternalterm

Short term happiness comes from activities and material items that make us happy for a

timebutnotforaneternity.Examplesofsuchareasfollows:attendingtheWorldSeries,being

popular,abeautiful

home,

acollege

degree,

anice

car,

abig

promotion,

avacation

to

Europe

anewwardrobe,masteringavideogameandthelistgoeson.

Iforone,reallyenjoyflyfishing.Infact,flyfishingmakesmehappy.Ienjoybeingout inthe

river, listening to thesounds of nature, setting thehook, fighting, landingand releasing the

fish.Itsarushofhappinessforme.However,thatsallitreallyis.Soonthelightfalls,thegear

ispackedup,thebraggingaboutmybigcatchgetsold (sometimesembellishingjusta little)

andthenthatbigrushoffishinghappinessisgone.

As long as our short term happiness actions and activities are in line with the

commandments of God, they are good and oft times provide a source of relief from the

stressesandhardshipsoflife.

Unlike short term happiness, eternal term happiness is happiness that lasts. In fact, it

neverends.TheProphetJosephSmithdescribedeternaltermhappinessastheobjectand

designofourexistence;andwillbetheendthereof,ifwepursuethepaththatleadstoit;and

thispath isvirtue,uprightness,faithfulness,holiness,andkeepingall thecommandments of

God1.

KingBenjaminhadthistosayabouteternaltermhappiness:Andmoreover,Iwoulddesire

thatyeshouldconsiderontheblessedandhappystateofthosethatkeepthecommandments

ofGod.Forbehold,theyareblessedinallthings,bothtemporalandspiritual;andiftheyhold

1TeachingsoftheProphetJosephSmith,selectedbyJosephFieldingSmith[1976],25556


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outfaithfultotheendtheyarereceivedintoheaven,thattherebytheymaydwellwithGodina

stateofneverendinghappiness. O remember, remember that these thingsare true;for the

LordGodhathspokenit.2

Examplesofeternaltermhappinessactivitiesare:spendingqualitytimewithfamily,serving

in a soup kitchen, prayer, scripture study, listening to wholesome music, taking care of the

elderly,

writing

an

uplifting

letter

to

a

struggling

friend,

repenting,

taking

the

sacramentattendingchurchandthelistgoeson.

Howdowedistinguish ifanactivityoractionwillbringshortoreternaltermhappiness?

Theanswerissimple.IfsuchactionoractivitywillbringyourclosertoyourFatherinHeaven,

itisasourceofeternaltermhappiness.

BrotherandSistersletmeaskyoumyopeningquestionagain.Howisyourquestforhappiness

going?Doyoufindyourselfsearchingfor,probingfor,seekingforandchasingaftersourcesof

short

term

or

eternal

term

happiness?

While

there

is

nothing

wrong

with

short

term

happinesswithinmoderation,ourquestforhappinessoughttobebuiltaroundthehappiness

thatlasts.

EternalTermHappinessComesasWeApplytheAtonementofJesusChrist

The most essential requirement for one to be eternally happy is in the application of the

Atonement.BeforewecanapplytheAtonementofJesusChrist,Ithinkitsimportantforusto

really

understand

what

the

Atonement

does

for

us.

It

frees

us

from

sin,

death

and

adversityhence enabling a safe return to our Father in Heaven. My favorite explanation of the

AtonementwasprovidedbyJamesRobinson,theauthorofBelievingChrist:

AllthenegativeaspectsofhumanexistencebroughtaboutbytheFall,JesusChristabsorbed

intohimself.HeexperiencedvicariouslyinGethsemanealltheprivategriefsandheartaches,al

thephysicalpains and handicaps, all the emotional burdens and depressions of the human

family.Heknowsthelonelinessofthosewhodontfitinorwhoarentprettyorhandsome.He

knowswhatitisliketochooseupteamsandbethelastonechosen.Heknowstheanguishof

parentswhosechildrengowrong. Heknowstheprivatehelloftheabusedchildorspouse.He

knows all these thingspersonally and intimately because he lived them in the Gethsemane

experience.Havingpersonally livedaperfect life,he then chose to experienceour imperfect

lives. In that infiniteGethsemaneexperience,themeridianof time, thecenterofeternity,he

2Mosiah2:41


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livedabillion,billion lifetimesofsin,pain,disease,andsorrow. Godusesnomagicwant to

simplywavebadthingsintononexistence.Thesinsthatheremits,heremitsbymakingthem

his own and by suffering them. The pain and heartaches that he relieves, he relieves by

sufferingthemhimself.These thingscanbesharedandabsorbed,buttheycannotbesimply

wished or waved away. They must be suffered. Thus we owe him not onlyfor our spiritua

cleansingfrom sin, butfor ourphysical, mental, and emotional healings as well,for he has

bornethese infirmitiesforusalso.Allthatthefallputswrong,theSaviorandhisAtonement

putsRight. Itisallpartofhisinfinitesacrifice,ofhisinfinitegift.3

IamsogratefulformySaviorJesusChrist.Forhismercyandforhislove.InmyownlifeIhave

experiencedtheAtonementofJesusChrist.Thattransferringofsinandadversityfromour

shoulderstothoseoftheSaviorsisasrealasmystandingbeforeyoutoday.Thatprocess,by

farbringsthemostrelief,themostjoyandthemosthappinessthislifehastooffer.

So

how

do

we

apply

the

Atonement?

The

answer

is

simple.

The

Atonement

is

applied

when

werepent.Ourrepentanceisacceptedifitissincereandwetrulychange.Onelastthoughton

applyingtheAtonement,letsopenourscripturestoMathew26:3624.

AdversityBringsHappinessandisPartofthePlan

Iwouldnowliketodiscussonethebestkeptsecretsofeternaltermhappiness.Iapologize

upfrontiftherealizationofthisbestkeptsecretruinsyourmorning.Hereitgoes

Ifyouareanythinglikeme,fromtimetotimeyouhavethought:ifallmyproblemscouldjust

disappear, then I would be happy? There is a great deal of irony in such a thought as our

problemsplayanessentialroleinourFatherinHeavensPlanofHappiness.Justashappiness

ispartofthePlan,soisadversity.

Nephitaught:Foritmustneedsbe,thatthereisanoppositioninallthings.Ifnotso,myfirst

borninthewilderness,righteousnesscouldnotbebroughttopass,neitherwickedness,neither

holinessnormisery,neithergoodnorbad.4

Nephi

teaches

us

that

our

trials,

our

challenges

our

tribulations

are

all

part

of

the

planWithout them we would know no happiness. After pondering this for a time I realized

something I had not realized before. That is, the greater the adversity, the greater the

opportunity for happiness. Let me say that one more time, the greater the adversity, the

3BelievingChrist,JamesERobinson

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greatertheopportunityforhappiness.Wow,isntthatanoxymoron,tosuggestthatadversity

providesthemeansforhappiness.Hereareafewexamplesforthosedoubting:

1. Ifweallowit,adversitymakesushumble,thusprovidingawayfortheLordtoteachandmoldusintowhathewantsustobecome.IftheLordisteachingandmoldingus,weare

happy.

2. Ifweallowit,adversityturnsustomorespiritualthingslikesincereprayerandearnestscripture study. When we are sincerely praying and studying the scriptures, we are

happy.

3. Ifweallowit,adversityturnsusawayfromthethingsoftheworldandturnsustothethingsofGod.WhenweturntoGodinagreaterdegree,wearehappy.

4. Ifweallowit,adversitywillwidenourperspective,allowingustobetterunderstandourselfandothers. Whenwebetterunderstandourselfandothers,wearehappy.

5. If we allow it, adversity will draws us closer to Christ as we rely on his healingAtonement.

When

we

apply

the

Atonement,

we

are

relieved

of

our

adversities

and

we

arehappy.

Let us always remember, that adversity is part of the Plan. In fact, adversity is evidence of

Gods loveforeachofus.For itwashewhosaidAsmanyasI love,Irebukeandchasten.5

Dontbesoshockedwhenadversitycomesknockingatyourdoor.PresidentHinckleysaid it

best:

Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around

shouting that he's been robbed. Thefact is that mostputts don't drop. Most beef is tough

Mostchildren grow up to bejust ordinarypeople. Most successful marriages requireahigh

degreeofmutualtoleration.Mostjobsaremoreoftendullthanotherwise. . . .Life is likean

oldtime rail journeydelays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only

occasionallybybeautifulvistasandthrillingburstsofspeed.Thetrick istothanktheLordfor

lettingyouhavetheride.

ElderRichardGScottsaid:

Apebbleheldclosetotheeyeappearstobeagiganticobstacle.Castontheground,itisseen

inperspective.Likewise,problemsortrialsinourlivesneedtobeviewedintheperspectiveof

scriptural doctrine. Otherwise they can easily overtake our vision, absorb our energy, and

depriveusofthejoyandbeautytheLordintendsustoreceivehereonearth.Somepeopleare

5Revelations3:19


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like rocks thrown into a sea of problems. They are drowned by them. Be a cork. When

submergedinaproblem,fighttobefreetobobuptoserveagainwithhappiness.

Youragency,therighttomakechoices, isnotgivensothatyoucangetwhatyouwant.This

divinegiftisprovidedsothatyouwillchoosewhatyourFatherinHeavenwantsforyou.That

wayHecanleadyoutobecomeallthatHeintendsyoutobe.Thatpathleadstogloriousjoy

andhappiness.

Now,formyfavoritescriptureonadversity:

2Corinthians4:1718

Forour lightaffliction,which isbutforamoment,workethforusafarmoreexceedingand

eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things

whicharenotseen:forthethingswhichareseenaretemporal;butthethingswhicharenot

seen

are

eternal.

BrotherandSisters,adversitycanbethegreatstumblingblockorthegreatsteppingstone.Its

myhopethateachofuscanfaceadversityheadonwiththeunderstandingthat it issimply

partoftheplan.Begratefulforadversityasitsthepricewepaytobecomeacquaintedwith

God.Remember,theAtonementcoversusforouradversityaswell.ApplytheAtonementand

intime,thatadversitywillbepartiallyandonedayfullytransferredoffofyouandontoChrist.

Conclusion

Inconclusion,itsmyprayerthatwewillbuildourquestforhappinessaroundeternalterm

happinessactivities.Thatwewillpraya littleharder.Thatwewillworka little less.Thatwe

willreadourscripturesmoreoften.Thatwewillrepentwithmoresincerity.Thatwewilllove

alittlemore.ThatwewillfollowtheSaviorsadmonitiontolayasidethethingsofthisworld

andseekforthethingsofabetter.6Aswedothesethingswewillremainhappythroughthis

life and into eternity. Remember, adversity is part of the plan. The trick is to access the

Atonementthroughouradversitiessothatthehappinesscontinuesandcontinueitwill.

Inthe

name

of

Jesus

Christ,

amen.

6D&C25:10

quest for happiness v2

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