How to Be Happy in Hard Times: Post #4

          Today in Relief Society, we read a lesson from the life of President Ezra Taft Benson, who was President of the LDS Church from 1985-1994. The lesson we read is called "Living Joyfully in Troubled TImes" from the book Teachings of Presidents: Ezra Taft Benson. I know that usually I write my own thoughts about things, but today this lesson touched me so much that I thought I'd share a few quotes from President Benson on how to find happiness even when things aren't looking so good. 

1. Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said that President Benson always had a buoyancy and cheerfulness about him. "Such buoyancy," he said, "comes not from ignoring enveloping events, but from noticing these and yet looking beyond them to promises having to do with how the kingdom will finally prevail." 

One of my favorite quotes of all times is: "All the water in the world cannot sink the smallest boat--until some gets inside." Keeping ourselves afloat consists not of ignoring the bad things that happen to us, but of having the hope that the promised blessings will be ours someday. So, be buoyant! 

2. "We have no cause to really worry. Live the gospel, keep the commandments. Attend to your prayers night and morning in your home. Maintain the standards of the Church. Try and live calmly and cheerfully. ...Happiness must be earned from day to day. But it is worth the effort." 

Maintain your standards and live calmly and cheerfully.

3. When President George Albert Smith was sick, "He [the Prophet Joseph Smith] told me I should never get discouraged, whatever difficulty might surround me. If I were sunk into the lowest pit of Nova Scotia and all the Rocky Mountains piled on top of me, I ought not to be discouraged, but hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage, and I should come out on the top of the heap."

4. "There are times when you simply have to righteously hang on and outlast the devil until his depressive spirit leaves you." 

My softball coach taught me, "When you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on." Sometimes all you can do is keep fighting and hang on! 

5. "You can have that certain knowledge that in due time God will wipe away all tears and that 'eye hath not seen, not ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Cor. 2:9). Be cheerful in all that you do. Live joyfully. Live happily. Live enthusiastically, knowing that God does not dwell in gloom and melancholy, but in light and love." 

Remember that our God is a God of love and light--He has so many things in store for us. 

6. "To live happily is to grow in spiritual strength toward perfection." 

God does not expect us to be perfect, but he expects us to try to grow spiritually everyday so that we can reach that perfection someday.

7. "Let us remember that the real source of our strength and happiness is beyond the measure of men and circumstances." 

Our happiness comes from doing what the Lord has asked us, and not what men of the world think of us. God is enough. 

8. "Brethren," said Paul, "but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philip. 3:13-14)." 

We have to put our past behind us (credit to The Lion King) and press toward the mark. 

What I learned today from a prophet of God is that our happiness is largely up to us. When we get to that fork in the road, we can either choose to be bitter, or get better. Never give up! Just keep swimming. Have faith in promises that God has promised us. Be happy.