During the April 1954 General Conference, Elder Milton R. Hunter of the First Council of the Seventy delivered a talk on obtaining joy. In this talk, he discusses how we as Latter-day Saints have the tools for true happiness within our grasp. It is up to us to use them.
Elder Hunter begins by asking, if you had one wish, what would it be? He noted that, in his years at teaching institute, many would respond with material wishes. After some discussion, they concluded that the things of this world were of only passing consequence. They do not provide complete satisfaction. It is, instead, the spiritual things that are most desirable.
He then quotes the scripture mastery verse found in 2 Nephi 2:25, “Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they may have joy.” Using that scripture as his basis, Elder Hunter testifies of his belief that God wishes upon His children “an abundance of joy.” Furthermore, He expects us, as faithful Latter-day Saints, to live a joy-filled life. He reminds us that, “God has placed within the reach of the members of the Church of Jesus Christ the possibilities of that joy, that perpetual and eternal joy, if we will just obey the laws that bring that joy into our lives.”
Elder Hunter then describes that, throughout history, many have sought pleasure rather than joy. Many have sought wealth for the purpose of obtaining joy, only to discover that many responsibilities and problems come from that wealth. He goes on to state that money itself is not good or evil, but our character. He reminds us of D&C 56:16-17, where both the selfish rich man and the greedy poor man are chastised.
Others have sought to obtain happiness by satisfying their physical appetites, breaking the Word of Wisdom. Even Latter-day Saints have fell into this trap. In doing so, they cut off many opportunities for abundant life. Elder Hunter issues a specific warning on alcohol, stating, “The devil has found no better tool to bring about poverty, misery, and divorce, and even to lead one into gross sins, than the use of alcohol.”
Still others seek sexual gratification and call that joy. Predictably, they find that such selfishness and self-indulgence leads them to pain, shame, and regret, and never to joy.
If abundant life cannot be obtained in the physical world, Elder Hunter asks, where can it be found? He first states that happiness comes, not from the outside, but from within. He paraphrases Proverbs 23:7 to “As a man thinketh in his heart, so shall his joy become.” We can find happiness even with the most meager of possessions, if we abide by the spiritual laws which will bring us there.
Acknowledging that he does not have time to present all of the laws that will bring us true joy, Elder Hunter states that faith is definitely a necessity. We must have faith in God, in Christ, in the gospel, in others, and especially in ourselves. Regarding the last, he states the need for “faith that we can accomplish the things which we righteously take into our hearts to accomplish.” He continues by stating, “I know that we may meet many disappointments; but if we are to be happy, we cannot take them too seriously.”
Other things that will bring us joy are courage, good health, work, and service. He elaborates a little on each of these important tools. He concludes the list with obedience; we must be obedient to the commandments of God to find true joy.
This is a wonderful talk on joy. I have often heard it said that we have the ability to choose our attitudes and our responses. We as Saints have the fullness of the gospel and of eternity placed in our hands. We have but to embrace it to find true joy.
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