Knowing Happiness
Hello Humans! Today we had stake conference. My experience went as follows: I walked into the Cannon Activity Center (CAC Building) and heard this gorgeous music. It was coming from the Choir, and they were practicing for the “real-deal” minutes away. I followed my roommates and we found our seats. It was so hot in the CAC, and we were all a little tired. The meeting started, and the Choir sang a rendition of “How Firm a Foundation,” mixed with “We Thank Thee O God For a Prophet.” I got chills, and the room felt about twenty degrees Celsius colder than it actually was. I was hit with the line, “For they who reject this glad message shall never such happiness know.” Then, the meeting dragged on forever. The seats were not comfortable at all. The guy behind me kept switching positions, and in doing so, kicking my back. It was hot as heck in there, which made us all almost fall asleep. The rest hymn was one that no one knew, and was a slow-tempo song, so it put us all to sleep even more. But no matter how boring, uncomfortable, or full of us trying to stay awake, the spirit was very strong there.
The line, “For they who reject this glad message shall never such happiness know” kept echoing in my brain throughout the meeting. I lately have been thinking a ton about my co-workers and a couple of family members back in Utah. And my heart became sad. Not for me, because I have learned, here in Hawaii, how to become a very happy person. But for my co-workers and family members. Because I love them, and want them to experience the maximum amount of happiness possible, because they all deserve it. There are so many amazing people in this world, who do their part to make the world a better place, and then go to bed, and repeat, every day, without any knowledge of who they are, where they are going, or why they’re here. Their lives have no purpose, other than to be successful on this Earth. And that can get very boring after a little while. I want them to experience the full happiness of the gospel. I never really brought the gospel up at work, unless prompted to or asked a question, because I didn’t want any un-needed drama at work. Sometimes I look back and wish I had. What would have happened if I had insisted, preached, and testified of the gospel? I will never know. What if I had pushed my cousin to come back to church? What if I had born testimony more often with my family?
This little heart-wrenching experience has taught me to share the gospel with others now. To share my little bit of light with anyone who will listen, so that I can help them know happiness.
I am so grateful for my testimony of the restored gospel on the Earth today. I am so grateful for my Savior, and for his Atonement. I’m so happy that I can repent every day, and try again, to be better the next day. I’m so grateful that I have a family that raised me in the gospel, and pushes to make me the best person I possibly can be. I am so grateful for the amazing experience and opportunity I have to go to school here, surrounded by others who help lift me up to be a better person than I am. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon, and the truth it holds and the lessons it teaches us. I am grateful for a living prophet and apostles who help to lead and guide us in these treacherous times. I am so grateful for the temple of the Lord, and the knowledge that I am worthy to enter his house. I am so grateful for my covenants and how they help me to stay on the straight and narrow. I am so grateful for Science, and how it strengthens my testimony of Christ.
Stay wild, flower child.