February 26: Lesson Recap

Conference Address

Joy and Spiritual Survival, Russell M. Nelson (Oct. 2016)

www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/joy-and-spiritual-survival?lang=eng

When the focus of our lives is on Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening, or no happening in our lives.

These are the latter days, a host of prophets including Isaiah, Paul, Nephi, and Mormon foresaw that perilous times would come, that in our day the whole world would be in commotion, that men would be "lovers of their own selves... without natural affection... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God," and that many would become servants of Satan. Indeed you and I "wrestle against the rulers of the darkness of this world, [and] against spiritual wickedness in high places."

As commotion in the latter days continues, what can help us? What can help each of us with our personal struggles and with the rigorous challenge of living today? The prophet Lehi clearly knew opposition, anxiety, heartache, disappointment and sorrow, yet he declared "Men are, that they might have joy," (2 Nephi 2:25). Of all the words he could have used to describe the nature and purpose of our lives here in mortality he chose the word joy!

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? The answer is a resounding yes! But how is this possible? And what must we do to claim the joy that Heavenly Father has in store for us? We can choose not to complain. We can be happy under every circumstance. We can feel hoy even while having a bad day, a bad week, or even a bad year!

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 on 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. Just as the Savior offers peace that "passeth all understanding," He also offers an intensity, depth, and breadth of joy that defy human logic or mortal comprehension. It doesn't seem possible to feel joy when we are in the midst of our toughest trials, or when brought low by horrible circumstances. Yet that is precisely the joy the Savior offers. His joy is constant, assuring us that our "afflictions shall be but a small moment" and be consecrated to our gain.

How do we claim this joy? We can start by "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" "in every thought." We can give thanks for Him in our prayers and by keeping covenants we've made with Him and our Heavenly Father. As our Savior becomes more and more real to us and as we plead for His joy to given to us, our joy will increase. Joy is powerful, and focusing on joy brings God's power into our lives. In all things Christ is our ultimate exemplar. In order for Christ to endure the most excruciating experience ever endured on the earth, our Savior focused on joy. Anything that opposes Christ or His doctrine will interrupt our joy. We learn to "suffer with joy," for suffering can be swallowed up in the joy of Christ.

If we look to the world and its formulas for happiness, we will never know joy. The unrighteous may experience any number of emotions and sensations, but hey 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.