"All of us want happiness for those we love, and we want as little pain for them as possible. As we read the accounts of happiness—and of pain—in the Book of Mormon, our hearts are stirred as we think of our loved ones. Here is a true account of a time of happiness:
"'And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.
"'And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.'
"Then we read:
"'And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings; yea, even they were blessed and prospered until an hundred and ten years had passed away; and the first generation from Christ had passed away, and there was no contention in all the land' (4 Nephi 1:15–16, 18).
"Loving disciples of Christ pray and work for such a blessing for others and for themselves....
"With the companionship of the Holy Ghost, our hearts can change so that we want and welcome the love of our Heavenly Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ. The way to get the love of God into our hearts is simple, as is the way to lose the feeling of that love in our hearts. For instance, someone may choose to pray less often to Heavenly Father or not to pay a full tithing or to stop feasting on the word of God or to ignore the poor and the needy.
"Any choice not to keep the Lord’s commandments can cause the Spirit to withdraw from our hearts. With that loss, happiness diminishes.
"The happiness we want for our loved ones depends on their choices. As much as we love a child, an investigator, or our friends, we cannot force them to keep the commandments so that they qualify for the Holy Ghost to touch and change their hearts.
"So the best help we can give is whatever leads those we love to watch over their own choices."
- Henry B. Eyring, "Happiness for Those We Love," Ensign, January 2016, p. 4
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When we truly love another person, we are deeply motivated to help them; their happiness becomes more important than our own. We long for them to be at peace, to know God's love, to feel true joy in life. President Eyring discusses the challenges of that situation, particularly when the other isn't perhaps doing all they should to find such happiness. We can't force another to be happy, or to make the choices that lead to happiness. We can only invite and encourage, hoping and praying they will make the right choices.
Understanding the source of happiness, and how it can be lost, is critical. As we feel God's love, we find more and more happiness; but our choices can prevent us from feeling that love:
Learning to recognize and treasure those expressions of God's love in our life is so important in our spiritual progress. By faithful obedience and wise choices, we increase our joy and feel His love.
(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)
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