Happy...

Alma 50:23 But behold there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, yea, even at this time, in the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges.

I thought this was an interesting statement considering that they had been in wars with the Lamanites. It is interesting when it says there was never a happier time among the people of Nephi since the days of Nephi. Neither of those times were easy. There were very stressful things happening. *Nephi doesn't talk of being happy, does he? Anyway, it is interesting to think about what happiness means. I think these scriptures are telling us that in the midst of great trials, we can feel happiness. That comes from feeling supported by God in our trials and feeling His love despite what is happening in our lives. It comes from having the Holy spirit with us.

When I read this scripture in Alma, it immediately made me think of this one:

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.

*I just found a scripture where Nephi does indeed talk about happiness. I stand corrected.

2 Ne. 5: 27
27 And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.

** I am still thinking about happiness and it reminded me of this great talk by Pres. Uchtdorf to the Young Women of the church:
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=bcf8ebf1f8a38210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Find a different fan!

So, my experience at the gym this morning gave me something to think about....

I have been going to a new gym for a few weeks and so I am still figuring out where everything is. I walk/run on the treadmill and sometimes I like to do it with a fan on. It makes it much more comfortable. This morning I looked around for the fan that I usually use and someone had moved it down by some other machines so I didn't want to go get it in case someone else had it over there and was going to use it. So on I walked, sweating, and finished. When I got off, I walked in front of the treadmill and there was a fan that I could have used.

Okay, here is the gospel application. Sometimes we are looking for an answer to a prayer or some direction from Heavenly Father and we don't think we are receiving anything. But sometimes the answer or direction we are looking for comes in a way we don't expect or aren't looking for, or it doesn't come in a way that it usually comes. That's when we need to look around and see if there is a different "fan" we can use.

There are many ways to receive direction from our Father in Heaven. Here are some of the ways: prayer, scriptures, words of the Prophets, talks at church, conversations with others, lessons at church, patriarchal blessings, other types of blessings, quiet contemplation time, attending the temple, counsel of parents, listening to hymns and other worthy music, etc. When we are looking for an answer, we need to make sure our hearts are open to any of the ways the Spirit will speak to us.