Here are two scriptures about happiness that are interesting to compare with each other:
“Behold there never was a happier time among the
people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni.” (Alma
50:23)
And “there was no contention in the land, because of the
love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people… And surely there could
not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the
hand of God.” (4 Nephi 1:15-16)
I only know of two times in the Book of Mormon (or in any scriptures)
where this idea is expressed, the idea that there never was a happier time
among the Nephites, or among all the children of God. Surprisingly, but also
instruct-fully, these two times are polar opposites. One comes at a time of war
and great danger, when the animosity and anger between two peoples was never
higher (Alma’s time); and the other comes at a time of peace and safety, when
there was no contention or strife of any kind amongst all the people, because
of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people (Nephi’s time).
Is it mere coincidence that the only two times this idea is
mentioned is in circumstances that could not be more polar opposite? No. God is
purposely teaching us that the highest and truest and purest levels of
happiness can be found in any situation. In other words, if happiness were a
recipe, it would only require a small amount of ‘circumstances’ as an ingredient. And that ingredient could either be unpleasant like salt, or
pleasant, like sugar. But happiness can be completely and correctly made with
either type of ‘circumstance’ ingredient.
But is the happiness the people of
Moroni experienced and achieved identical to the happiness Nephi and his people
achieved? Of course not. They were in fact vastly different. In other words, the two groups had been
given very different ingredients to make a recipe. But they were both able to
achieve the highest level of happiness possible.
The happiness we achieve from utilizing
our peaceful circumstances is clearly different from the happiness we achieve
from utilizing our difficult circumstances. We derive a different kind of
happiness from ‘the peace of floating down a gentle river’ as compared to the
happiness we derive from ‘the exhilaration of summiting a high mountain peak’.
And one of life’s most vital lessons we must learn—a lesson we will take with
us into the next life—is how to derive happiness from any circumstance we face.
But this is an experiential lesson; a lesson that can only be learned through
practice and effort.
Isn't this true for you? Haven’t you been able to find high
levels of happiness even in very difficult times? I know I have. It is
extremely paradoxical and somewhat difficult to describe. But it is nonetheless
true. Let me ask it this way: what happiness do we miss out on if we are delivered from a trial early rather than enduring through the trial entirely?
There is also a lesson on group/family happiness in this. It
is easy to see how these two groups were different because of their
circumstances. But these two people were in some ways the same, because both
groups were united in working towards a common goal. Individual happiness
can never reach the same levels as family/group happiness. But that type of
happiness requires unity.
Just some food for thought. Thanks for reading.
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