True Happiness

Welcome to the Neighborhood News

There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. … It is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit”

C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses [1980]

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We are supposed to be embarked in a good cause and doing good at all times, right?

It is so easy to get distracted by circumstances, other people, or extra drama in our lives. Some of us don’t need extra drama, and some of us are a walking example of drama.  We like the attention people other than our spouse give us and we think we’re madly in love and want to start our lives anew. Is that right? Was there abuse or cheating from the ‘guilty’ party? Or was it all in our heads?

Here’s a quotation from a talk given by Elder Neal A. Maxwell, The Pathway to Discipleship, 1998:

“As striving disciples, you and I must strategically focus on the interaction of immortal individuals and immortal principles as applied to life’s changing tactical situations. It is vital, therefore, for you and for me, in the words of Jacob, to see things ‘as they really are’ and things ‘as they really will be’ (Jacob 4:13). It’s interesting that those who have eyes single to the glory of God are those who see the most of reality.

“But this road of discipleship which we are considering here is not easy. It requires sturdy, all-weather souls who are constant in every season of life and who are not easily stalled or thrown off course. Likewise, even with this accurate view of the mortal experience we still need time and the wise use of our moral agency. We still need God’s long-suffering to help us. We need all of these combined in order to gain experience in life. Amid this ongoing process, you and I can actually come to know for ourselves, like Alma of old, who ‘fasted and prayed many days that I might know ‘ that these immortal principles are true (Alma 5:46).”

So, as ballplayers say, we need to keep our eyes on the ball, and don’t lose track of what’s really important. We have our agency to decide on what’s important, no one else can make that decision for us. Eternal happiness with those we love is so much more important than the vain and short-lived things of the world.

To see the Neighborhood News for Monday, 27 June, please click here.

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