A basic need of every human being is to find and feel joy. I have met so many people who have so many wonderful beautiful things, yet they cannot find happiness! How can this be? They have a beautiful home filled with beautiful things, a beautiful family and the means to go on many fun adventures. Yet they still seem to feel that something is missing. Then you learn of the destitute people of other countries who live in huts with dirt floors and eat simple meager meals day after day- and they are so happy!! How can this phenomenon be?!
I recently read a talk from Elder James E. Faust entitled "Heirs to the Kingdom of God". He touched on this same idea and went on to say "One of the nation's leading pollsters, Richard Wirthlin, has identified through polls an expression of the basic needs of people in the United States. These needs are self-esteem, peace of mind, and personal contentment. I believe these are the needs of God's children everywhere. How can these needs be satisfied? I suggest that behind each of these is the requirement to establish one's own personal identity as the offspring of God. All 3 needs, regardless of ethnic background, culture, or country can be met if we look to the divinity that is within us."
Last Sunday our Relief Society President gave a powerful lesson about the Atonement. She wrote a definition she had found of the Atonement on the board.
"Atonement: The greatest expression of Divine Love."
Then she asked the women to share moments when they had felt their Divine Worth as a child of God, when they had felt this Divine Love. For the next 25 or 30 minutes person after person shared these beautiful moments in their lives. There were a couple of factors that were the same in every story. First, the woman was in a moment of excruciating pain and turmoil. Most of them were associated with the loss of a loved one who was very near and dear to them, but there were other struggles that were shared. Each one seemed to be in a place of incredible anguish, they were really needing answers and comfort. Second, each woman shared how in that moment of terrible pain, a massive comforting feeling- or the spirit- would come and bear witness to their heart and soul that they were loved, and that everything was going to be okay.
When we are struggling in life and don't know if life can ever be okay, if we are finding that we cannot seem to find true joy and happiness in our lives, there is an answer. Every one of us can know this lasting joy and peace in our lives. In fact, these struggles are often instrumental in our discovering the Love of our Father in Heaven, our Divine worth as His child, and the incredible love He has for us. It comes from heaven above- that wonderful understanding of the Divinity that lies within each one of us.
Near the close of his talk Elder Faust concludes:"Each of us, regardless of our nationality, needs to reach down into the innermost recesses of our souls to find the divinity that is deep within us and to earnestly petition the Lord for an endowment of special wisdom and inspiration. Only when we so profoundly reach the depths of our beings can we discover our true identity, our self-worth, and our purpose in life. Only as we seek to be purged of selfishness and of concern for recognition and wealth can we find some sweet relief from the anxieties, hurts, pains, miseries, and concerns of this world.... God can not only help us find a sublime and everlasting joy and contentment, but He will change us so that we can become heirs of the kingdom of God."
God knows us better than we know ourselves, He loves us more than we can fathom. He wants us to be happy- no matter who we are or what mistakes we may have made. He wants us to be filled with joy and peace NOW, and He wants us to live with Him in happiness forever and ever. We are His beloved sons and daughters, and we are His work and His glory. There is nothing more important to us than our happiness and fulfillment. Turn to Him, seek to understand your true identity as His son or daughter by getting to know Him. We can do that as we live His commandments and do as He taught- He teaches us and gives commandments for really this reason- so that we can be happy forever and ever.
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