Farewell Talk

I humbly seek the assistance of our Father’s Spirit as I speak to you this morning.

Aristotle once suggested that everyone who lives has the same basic objective, and that is: to be happy. The Prophet Joseph Smith defined happiness as “the object and design of our existence; and [it] will be the end thereof,” Well yes, I agree but I think we all need a little more detail, a little bit more of an explanation of happiness. Where can we find happiness? Well Webster defines joy as a “State of happiness;… Or that which causes … happiness.” So then if Joy causes happiness where do we find Joy? I will tell you.

In speaking of our days, Amos prophesied (Amos 8:11-12) “And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek… and shall not find it.” The challenges we face, our growth experiences, are intended to be temporary scenes played out on the stage of a life filled with continuing peace and happiness. Sadness, heartache, and disappointment are events in life. It is not intended that they be the substance of life. The lesson we are to learn is very important; trials should not be allowed to become the confining focus of everything that we do. Life can and should be wondrously rewarding. It is our understanding and application of the laws of God that will give our lives glorious purpose as we conquer the difficulties of life.

In the book of Mormon, King Benjamin counseled his people (.Mosiah 2:41) … I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. Our Heavenly Father gives us commands so that we may know where it is that we find joy. What it is that heavenly father calls is divine plan for us?…

In ( Alma 42:8) the “great plan of happiness” Heavenly father has given us a plan, a set of guild lines, a way to find eternal joy. There are three essential truths that this plan is based upon.

The first is the Creation.

Our Father in Heaven knows exactly, every whit who we are; he created us just that way. We are perfect in how he has made us. So much so that (Mathew 10:29) “ the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Elder Wirthlin reminds us that “We are created as much from the dust of eternity as we are from the dust of the earth. Every one of us has potential we can scarcely imagine.” We have the ability to become any and everything God created us to be. Strength, Courage, Love- Every ability that we have, he gave to us and in whatever degree we need. The lives that we are living, we have always been foreordained to live. George Q. Cannon explains it this way,” God has chosen us out of the world and has given us a great mission. I do not entertain a doubt myself but that we were selected and for-ordained for the mission before the world was; that we had our parts allotted to us in this mortal state of existence as our savior had his assigned to Him” What an incredible truth! We were called to our lives just as the savior of mankind was called to his. The lessons we are learning, have a reason. Of course with our choices come consequences, but if we follow him by doing as his words teach us and repent, it will never be asked of us to bear up more then we can handle. He, the Lord, is bound when we do what he asks. What we are asked is become the best that we can be, to live our life and endure our pains with all the ability that God has bestowed upon us with trust that the power of heaven will be there to back us up. We should say unto him..(Psalms 16:11): Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. And we will see that it is true and that there is nothing in life that we cannot overcome because we are creations, children of God. 

2 The second truth pertaining to Heavenly Fathers Plan is the Fall.

After heavenly father created us we were in a state of innocence. We were like children, without personal experience. In order for us to become our best selves the choice to rise to our potential needed to be our own. We needed to have all previous knowledge erased so that all of our faith was in accordance to our agency. The scriptures teach that there “must needs be … opposition in all things.” If not, “righteousness could not be brought to pass,” neither happiness, nor joy, neither redemption. If Eve and Adam had not transgressed in (2 Nephi 2:23-25) …they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” Because of the fall we can be happy because we know the difference between joy and pain, heath and sickness, fear and faith. Yet still: (Alma 41:10-11) “All men that are … in a carnal state … without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness” God is joy. And because we are not with him we do not feel it always but if we do what is right he says in D&C 11:13 “I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy.’ So we may not be able to have his presence by sight but we can have his spirit with us anytime we choose. We are given the spirit which tells us good from evil so that we may know the difference between sadness and happiness. When we understand that being filled with joy involves being filled with the Holy Ghost, we realize that true happiness comes from repenting of our sins and living worthy of the Spirit. I promise He  ill protect you in your endeavors and me in mine, as long as we keep the worthiness to receive his voice of the spirit.

From this I gain the knowledge that simply: It’s only life. (Psalms 30:5) For in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. The tears and the trials are essential for us to be able to learn who we are so that we can choose to become better then that, everyday even. (Alma 36:3) for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day. Jesus taught: “Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.”,” He who is faithful shall overcome all things, and shall be lifted up at the last day.” That’s beautiful and its because We have a Heavenly Father and he knows us every wit. He gave us the savior to be with and to help us bear up our burdens. No matter what happens, no matter my weaknesses, I know that I should not neither fear nor worry my abilities or circumstances for they are in the hands of the Lord (John 16: 20&22) Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” The lessons that we learn in this life echo who we will be in all eternity. So this life is only a temporary test to sculpt us by choice into who we are and will be. As Paul (2 Corinthians 7:4) Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation, because if we the fall had not taken place, all of our progression would cease. I am joyful in our tribulations for with them comes growth to be like Christ. (1 Peter 4:12-13) Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. Between the process of who we are and who we have always been is the process of who we are becoming and what makes this all possible, in the great plan of happiness is the third truth, the atonement of Jesus Christ. Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the 12 apostles states , “ I testify that with unimaginable suffering and agony at an incalculable price, the Savior earned His right to be our Redeemer, our Final Judge. I know that He lives and that He loves you. Consistently make Him your “lead” in life. The secure anchors of His laws will assure safety and success as you scale the challenges you will face. You will not fall into serious transgression. Yours will be a life of peace and happiness crowned with exaltation in the celestial kingdom.” Because Jesus Christ came to earth and lived a perfect life and then died in our behalf, gives us a very important step in our happiness. Because of the fall we will sin, we will make mistakes, But because of the atonement they can be washed away and be remembered no more. All of us are promised (2 Nephi 9:18) they who have endured the crosses of the world… they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever. Each of us needs to repent to some degree or another every single day. To repent means to make real changes in your life, changes that the Savior desires you to make to increase your happiness. When we live beneath ourselves, it’s not possible to feel peace of mind and self-confidence. When we are living up to who we can be anything is possible. And while it is fallible to strive to be perfect, through the atonement we become our best selves.


My favorite story in the Book of Mormon is the story of Alma and the sons of Mosiah. These people, the Nephites, had just had two great kings consecutively. They knew the gospel of Jesus Christ and lived it the best they could. They had a prophet and they listened, now here comes the opposition, The prophets son Alma and the sons of the king rebelled. They not only didn’t believe themselves but they set out to destroy the belief of others and they were successful for sometime. So great was their success that the Lord sent an Angel to them, which they were not able to deny. In explaining his experiences to his son Helaman,  In (Alma 36:13-21) he says

13 Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments.

14 Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.

15 Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds.

16 And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.

17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am b in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.

Oh how I love those words because I know they are so true. I know what guilt feels like, we all do. I also know what redemption feels like and that it is only through the atonement of our savior. (Alma 27:18) Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness. These men now knew that. It was no longer a question of belief for they now knew.

(Helaman 3:35) They did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God. We have this story because it applies to us. The very same atonement is for every single person ever.

These men took their trials and used them for good. They then used all the knowledge that they had gained and chose to teach it. What a great choice that is.

Its not that they taught it that’s important, these men took their knowledge to their enemies. The Nephites and the Lamanites are the two central nations of the Book of Mormon. Nephi and Lamon, brothers, were divided in faith. They separated their families and created these two nations. Since that time there had continuously been numerable wars and blood shed between them. The Nephites were the ones who had the gospel and that led to much of their success. Alma and the son’s of Mosiah were Nephites and they chose to serve the Lamanites. Now I seek your understanding in this choice endeavor. A Nephite could not so much go into the dividing wilderness alone without the risk of being slaughtered. The Lamanites hated the Nephites. Anyway, so on they went. Ammon, who was a son of Mosiah, found residence in the servants of the King. Now the Lamanites were very rebellious, even against their own king. When the servants who Shepard his flocks were doing their job, men would come and scatter them. This action happened many times and cased the death of many servants. Ammon was this type of servant. These men came and in short he beat them single handedly. Because of the promise God had made to his mom he was able to have the power to defend himself. This was astonishing to the other servants and they took it to the King. Ammon was then favored by the king for King Lamoni thought that Ammon was the great sprit. Ammon taught him the truth. King Lamoni was so overcome that he fell to the ground.

Alma 19:6 Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God— Everyone else though, didn’t see it as Ammon and assumed he was dead. Save his wife. Ammon explained to the Queen and she believed. The awoke and said:&13-14 For as sure as thou livest, behold, I have seen my Redeemer; and he shall come forth, and be born of a woman, and he shall redeem all mankind who believe on his name. Now, when he had said these words, his heart was swollen within him, and he sunk again with joy; and the queen also sunk down, being overpowered by the Spirit.

14 Now Ammon seeing the Spirit of the Lord poured out according to his prayers upon the Lamanites, his brethren, who had been the cause of so much mourning among the Nephites, or among all the people of God because of their iniquities and their traditions, he fell upon his knees, and began to pour out his soul in prayer and thanksgiving to God for what he had done for his brethren; and he was also overpowered with joy; and thus they all three had sunk to the earth.

When they all awoke King Lamoni declared the gospel  to his people. I love this story! What great missionary work. Isn’t that amazing that through the power of the Lord Ammon was able to become such a great tool because he had repented and gained knowledge? He saved many souls from pain and gave them the choice to have joy. The same applies to us, Richard G. Scott said” You have a choice. You can wring your hands and be consumed with concern for the future or choose to use the counsel the Lord has given to live with peace and happiness in a world awash with evil. If you choose to concentrate on the dark side, this is what you will see. As you continue to center your mind and heart in Him, He will help you have a rich and full life no matter what happens in the world around you” Weather you or I can make an effect like Ammon, which is a probable not, it doesn’t matter because we all have the choice to be happy . President Marion G. Romney tells us, “Jesus Christ, our Savior, has the power to heal our spirits. Every person’s spirit is ill when it is burdened with sin. No son or daughter of God is ever completely happy until his spirit is healed by the power of the Spirit of God. When one receives forgiveness, his spirit is healed and he has peace of conscience. Thereafter his happiness increases as he strives to perfect himself by inculcating into his life the attributes of charity …One develops within himself that charity which Mormon defines as the pure love of Christ. This is the path to true happiness, the path by which one comes to be like our Father in heaven.” (1 Nephi 11:22) And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things. And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul. I do know this to be true, with all that I am.

Christ teaches in (John16:33) ….that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. May we one day hear the savior say… (Mathew 25:21) Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.


The people of Houston Texas may ask me ( Alma 22:15-16) What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy?…Behold… I will give up all that I possess, yea, that I may receive this great joy.  And I will answer as Aaron If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.

Abraham Lincoln said, “Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be” Which is true. God is joy and we will always have the choice to have him with us. Joseph B. Wirthlin who I just love, said this, “Make up your mind to be happy—even when you don’t have money, even when you don’t have a clear complexion, even when you don’t have the Nobel Prize. Some of the happiest people I know have none of these things the world insists are necessary for satisfaction and joy. Why are they happy? I suppose it is because they don’t listen very well. Or they listen too well—to the things their hearts tell them. They glory in the beauty of the earth. They glory in the rivers and the canyons and the call of the meadowlark. They glory in the love of their families, the stumbling steps of a toddler, the wise and tender smile of the elderly.” Life is beautiful

( 2 Nephi 10:23 )Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death [misery] or the way of eternal life [joy and happiness].” “

President Gordon B. Hinckley …. The story.

“The whole world changed. The fog lifted. The sun began to shine in my life. I had a new interest. I saw the beauty of this land. I saw the greatness of the people. … Everything that has happened to me since that’s been good I can trace to that decision made in that little house…(when)I got on my knees in that little bedroom … and made a pledge that I would try to give myself unto the Lord” President Hinckley continued by saying: “You want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause, and bend your efforts to helping people” Just like Aaron, just like President Hinckley the Lord promises: (D&C 42:61) If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal. The gospel can bring JOY through the pain and sadness in life. We can say as Albert Camus “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” Because truly, “Fully understood and embraced, the gospel of Jesus Christ heals broken hearts, infuses meaning into lives, binds loved ones together with ties that transcend mortality, and brings to life a sublime joy.” Elder Joseph Wirthlin

For those of us who know this joy, M. Russell Ballard asks” Do we reflect in our countenances the joy of living the gospel of Christ as true disciples should? If we do not understand and willingly teach others of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith, who will?” As for me, I will learn how in 10 days and just like President Hinckley, who signed my mission call,  if I choose to give myself over to the Lord, all that’s good that will happen in my life will relate to this next year and a half. I will be able to say to the people of The Texas Houston South Mission (Mosiah 3: 3) …Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee; for behold, I am come to declare unto you the glad tidings of great joy. Because I do know that …(Alma 30:34) if we do not receive anything for our labors in the church, what doth it profit us to labor in the church save it were to declare the truth, that we may have rejoicings in the joy of our brethren? That’s all I want really, to make others Happy because what good is life if you can’t share what you have to make others better, happier. That is, Charity, the Love of Christ. ( Alma 26:12-14) And “Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

With all the hope that I poses, I would use the word’s of the savior (John 17:19-13)

9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be b one, as we are.

12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost…

13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.