A Wish

What do you consider to be important? What do you wish for, or dream about? Some people want material possessions, a large house, or fast car. Other people want a well-paying job. Some would rather have good looks, power, or adventure. These things can make you happy for a short time, but worldly attainment is not lasting.

A Chinese proverb says, “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a month, get married. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else.”

We can find peace and happiness by following Heavenly Father and Jesus and choosing the right.

Heavenly Father has given us commandments to help us be happy. Mosiah 2:41 – “And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

Obedience to the commandments does not guarantee we will never experience challenges. Difficulties are part of life, and we all have rough times.

I have learned that I need to learn to bypass the things of the world. When I do I’m on my way to something higher and better. I just have to rise above the ordinary. The more I strive to become who I am, a child of God with the potential to be as He is, the more I seem unique to those who may be choosing a different direction.

A Mind to Think

D & C 58:26-29 – It is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward. But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.

When I read the above scripture it is my understanding that my Heavenly Father should not have a commandment for every little thing I am to do. He made each us with a mind to think, and the capability to act upon it. What a dull world it would be if I sat around waiting for that still small voice to tell me to do something before I dared to move.

This next verse tells me that I must be doing something good at all times. If I do good deeds always then I will not lose my reward. Men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness.

If I am obedient then I get the compensation for doing what is right. When I have faith in Jesus Christ, I also receive that gift. My purpose here on earth is evident when I develop my character in a Christ like manner.

The last verse to me means your progress toward eternal life has stopped if someone has to tell you everything you need to do. If someone has to tell you to take your neighbor some food you haven’t learned to do good acts on your own. Kindness comes from within.

I'm grateful for a mind to think, and a good heart that I can help others when I see a need. I don't have to sit around waiting for someone to tell me to act. To me it is second nature to be kind and I often wonder why there is so much hatred in our world. It would be a better world if everyone performed acts of kindness.