Choose to be Happy

The reading for this past week was Alma 56-63, and Helaman 1-4. I would like to focus on a concept that we talked about in class. In Alma 58 there are some great trials and battles that the Nephites are struggling with. A song that I really like says, “like stones in the river we are tossed and turned, smoothed until the edges are gone.” This is only half of the story though: trials are meant to help us change, but how we change is a choice of our own. We can either become more like Christ and Heavenly Father, or more like the devil. In Alma 58 we see that the Nephites chose to become more Christ-like, because it says, in verse 10, “we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies.” Then in verse 11 it talks about how they became better, because “the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith.” However, as we’ve seen earlier in the Book of Mormon with Laman, Lemuel and Nephi, trials can make people either better, or bitter. The difference between becoming better and bitter is that when people become bitter, they are too focused on themselves (too much focus on “I”). So, you might be wondering what the take-away is on this. It’s simple. When we focus on ourselves throughout a trial, we are destined to become bitter, and more like the devil. However, if we turn to God, and trust in Him and His timing, then we can become better, and rise above our situation. This is because faith, and happiness are both choices, and when we choose them, we are turning to God. As the verse in 58:11 shows, when we have faith in God, He will bless us in even more faith and happiness.