1 February 2017
One of the very important commandments God gave Adam and Eve when they were placed in the Garden of Eden was to “be happy.” They were not told to do it if it were convenient, or if it pressed itself upon them. They were told to “Do it.” Since God gives no commandment unto the children of men without also giving them the opportunity and ability to keep that commandment, this is something Adam and Eve must do. And I believe they did it. How did they do it? By using the agency they did have at that point in their lives. They did not yet have the greater mortal agency which would come only after they disobeyed and fell from the grace they then enjoyed, but they had enough to be happy. I believe they obeyed and were happy in the Garden.
There are at least three lessons we can all learn from this, the commandment to “be happy.”
First lesson: It is important for Adam and all of his children to be happy. Why by happy? Because God commands it and every human being can do it and reap the rewards for such obedience. How can one be happy? By insisting on being happy as a matter of choice and will power. We humans have the ability to be happy if we want to. So we should want to and do it. A positive, cheerful attitude becomes every one of the children of men. That positive, cheerful attitude is the basis for feeling happy. It involves a gratitude for all of one’s blessings, an optimism about the prospects for the future, and an admiration for the goodness of God in providing for His children both temporally and spiritually. It is important to note that for any human being, if they were to add up their blessings on one hand, and their trials and sufferings on the other hand, every human would have more blessings than problems. So it is not only possible but reasonable for each human to be happy. Anyone who wants to keep the commandments of God can do so within the limits each is provided. In the worst of physical trials, it is possible to be happy and thank God for His goodness. Those who exercise their agency to do so are rewarded with the sweet peace of the Spirit of God, no matter what their physical problems or circumstances. We live in a time when depression is rampant. The temptation to be depressed is always with us. But the Gospel message is, we don’t have to give in just because we are tempted. We can fight that temptation and be happy.
Second lesson: We live in an age when people are taught they are victims, passive recipients in a fickle world. That is Satan’s message. The Savior’s message is that we are agents, and can do good things. The world says we “fall in love,” a passive reaction to our circumstances. The Savior says we can love anyone and everyone, and should, because it is in our power to do so. The world says someone “made us angry.” The Savior says anger is a choice, and we should not choose it. The world says we are robots controlled by our environment. Some people say they just can’t have faith in Jesus Christ. But the truth is, anyone who wants to can put their trust in Jesus Christ. The Savior tells us that we are agents because His spirit enlightens every person who comes into this world. So we get to believe Satan through our culture, or believe Christ through our conscience. To choose culture over Christ is to give in to Satan and captivity. To choose Christ over culture is to be free, and to be able to grow to become like our Master.
Third lesson: Let us draw our inspiration from the temple, from the scriptures, and from the Holy Spirit (which is the Pearl of Great Price). The world is much with us, giving us lies and half-truths which deceive and derail us if we give in to the world. Much of what we hear in the news, in schools, in textbooks, and sometimes even in church meetings is the garbage generated by Satan. Satan will let us believe anything our heart desires as long as it is not the truth from Jesus Christ. We live in a day when Satan is raging, because he knows he has but a short time. The way of Christ will prevail, but only if you and I make it prevail by force of our own will power. Every other dispensation of the Gospel has failed because eventually the covenant servants of Christ gave in to Satan.
Let us hold fast to the Iron Rod, which is the word of God, and which is vouchsafed to us only through the witness of the Holy Spirit, is my hope and prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.