President Russell M. Nelson on finding joy in any circumstance

President Russell M. Nelson (born Sept 9, 1924) was an internationally-renowned heart surgeon when he was called to serve as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became president of that quorum on July 15, 2015. Following the death of President Monson, he was set apart as president of the Church on January 14, 2018.

"Life is filled with detours and dead ends, trials and challenges of every kind. Each of us has likely had times when distress, anguish, and despair almost consumed us. Yet we are here to have joy?

"Yes! The answer is a resounding yes! But how is that possible? And what must we do to claim the joy that Heavenly Father has in store for us? ...

"The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.

"When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation... and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy. We feel it at Christmastime when we sing, 'Joy to the world, the Lord is come.' And we can feel it all year round. For Latter-day Saints, Jesus Christ is joy! ...

"Just as the Savior offers peace that 'passeth all understanding' (Philippians 4:7), He also offers an intensity, depth, and breadth of joy that defy human logic or mortal comprehension. For example, it doesn’t seem possible to feel joy when your child suffers with an incurable illness or when you lose your job or when your spouse betrays you. Yet that is precisely the joy the Savior offers. His joy is constant, assuring us that our 'afflictions shall be but a small moment' (D&C 121:7) and be consecrated to our gain (see 2 Ne 2:2)."

- Russell M. Nelson, "Joy and Spiritual Survival," General Conference, October 2016
Click here to read or hear the complete talk

President Nelson has a joyful countenance. For a man who is 97 years old, he always looks and acts remarkably optimistic and upbeat. In this wonderful talk, he shared thoughts about living with joy regardless of the circumstances that surround us. I love his testimony that we can truly find joy, even in times of "distress, anguish, and despair" as those challenges come to each of us in life.

The grand key to finding joy lies in this beautiful statement: "The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives." When the focus is on the Savior and on His love for us, we truly can find and feel His joy in any circumstance.

And what the Savior offers to us has "an intensity, depth, and breadth of joy that defy human logic or mortal comprehension." Why would we not make every effort to claim that profound promise?

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2022)
October 12, 2016