Joy

Joy, defined as a state of happiness or felicity, is at the core of the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Many scriptures refer to this state of joy, most notably: "Adam fell that men might be; and man is, that he might have joy."[1] Joy is part of what Heavenly Father experiences Himself and yearns to give to His daughters and sons. The plan of salvation, also known as the plan of happiness, requires obedience to God's commandments and offers redemption and relief that comes through the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. The ultimate goal of the Plan of Salvation is to return to our heavenly home and inherit eternal life, the kind of life that the Father and the Son live, including a life of joy.

If joy is the condition of having an earthly experience, then why do we encounter heartache, pain, failure, illness, loss, and so forth? Often we think that joy is dependent on well-being, success, or good fortune. In these troubled times when well-being, success, or good fortune sometimes are fleeting, prophets, seers, and revelators have taught where to find joy. President Russell M. Nelson said, " My dear brothers and sisters, 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."[2]

Elder Patrick Kearon said, "Because of the loving plan of our Heavenly Father for each of His children, and because of the redeeming life and mission of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, we can—and should—be the most joyful people on earth! Even as the storms of life in an often-troubled world pound upon us, we can cultivate a growing and abiding sense of joy and inner peace because of our hope in Christ and our understanding of our own place in the beautiful plan of happiness."[3]

Elder D. Todd Christofferson said, "Keeping the Lord’s commandments enables us more fully and more easily to feel His love. The strait and narrow path of the commandments leads directly to the tree of life, and the tree and its fruit, the sweetest and 'most desirable above all things,' are a representation of the love of God and fill the soul “with exceedingly great joy. . . . Even when we are found faithfully keeping the commandments, there are trials and tragedies that could interrupt our joy. But as we strive to overcome these challenges with the Savior’s help, it preserves both the joy we feel now and the joy we anticipate. Christ reassured His disciples, 'In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.' It is in turning to Him, obeying Him, binding ourselves to Him that trial and sorrow are turned to joy.”[4]

President Nelson sets a path to follow to obtain joy. He said:

If we look to the world and follow its formulas for happiness, we will never know joy. The unrighteous may experience any number of emotions and sensations, but they will never experience joy! Joy is a gift for the faithful. It is the gift that comes from intentionally trying to live a righteous life, as taught by Jesus Christ.

He taught us how to have joy. When we choose Heavenly Father to be our God and when we can feel the Savior’s Atonement working in our lives, we will be filled with joy. Every time we nurture our spouse and guide our children, every time we forgive someone or ask for forgiveness, we can feel joy.

Every day that you and I choose to live celestial laws, every day that we keep our covenants and help others to do the same, joy will be ours.

Heed these words of the Psalmist: “I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. … In [His] presence is fulness of joy.” As this principle is embedded in our hearts, each and every day can be a day of joy and gladness. I so testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.[5]