Multiple speakers addressed the topic of finding joy during the Saturday, April 1, sessions of the 193rd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here’s what they shared.
Joy through parenthood
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Saturday afternoon session about the sacred duty of parents — and about accepting the privilege of parenthood “courageously and joyfully.”
When growing a flower, a person can’t tug on a stem to make it grow or force its petals to open. They also can’t neglect the flower and expect it to flourish. Instead, they have to provide the best conditions for growing, he explained.
Parents must do the same for their children by providing “nourishing soil” and “heavenly water,” removing weeds, then patiently allowing them to make inspired choices.
“The result will be more beautiful and more stunning and more joyful than anything you could accomplish just by yourself,” Elder Uchtdorf said.
Joy through prayer, scripture study and patriarchal blessings
Elder Randall K. Bennett, General Authority Seventy, spoke during the Saturday afternoon session about how prayer, scripture study and his patriarchal blessing brought him joy despite his challenging circumstances.
Elder Bennett’s parents divorced when he was a child, and during this difficult time, he received and relied on his patriarchal blessing.
“Cherishing my patriarchal blessing while I was young blessed me with courage when I was discouraged, comfort when I was fearful, peace when I felt anxious, hope when I felt hopeless, and joy when I needed it most,” he said.
Studying his patriarchal blessing increased Elder Bennett’s desire to read his scriptures, pray daily, follow the prophets and submit his will to Heavenly Father’s. He said that focus, in turn, “helped me experience great joy, despite my personal circumstances.”
Joy through repentance
During his Saturday afternoon address, Elder Craig C. Christensen said a joy that is more profound and elevating than any pleasure or comfort the world can offer comes after an individual goes through the repentance process.
“Repentance brings joy because it prepares our hearts to receive the influence of the Holy Ghost,” he said. “To be filled with joy means to be filled with the Holy Ghost. Our joy increases as we work daily to bring the Spirit into our lives.”
People were created to have joy, but it isn’t cheap or casually given — joy was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
“The joy we speak of is a gift for the faithful, yet it comes with a price,” Elder Christensen said. “If we really understood the value of true, godly joy, we would not hesitate to sacrifice any worldly possession or make any necessary life changes to receive it.”
The idea of repentance as the pathway to joy may seem contradictory, he continued. “Repentance, at times, can be painful and difficult. It requires admitting that some of our thoughts and actions — even some of our beliefs — have been wrong. Repentance also requires change, which, at times, can be uncomfortable. But joy and comfort are not the same thing.”
Sin, including the sin of complacency, limits an individual’s joy. “As we repent of our sins, we must focus on the great joy that follows.”
Additionally, helping others repent is a natural expression of gratitude towards the Savior “and it is a source of great joy,” Elder Christensen said.
He also finds it helpful “to try to imagine the joy the Savior must feel each time we receive the blessings of His atoning sacrifice in our lives.”
Elder Christensen bore his personal witness that repenting daily and coming unto Jesus Christ “is the way to experience joy — joy beyond our imagination. That is why we are here on earth. That is why God prepared His great plan of happiness for us.”
Elder K. Brett Nattress, during the Saturday evening session, spoke about a young man named Danny with a good heart who made some poor choices. During one conversation, Elder Nattress and Danny read the story of Alma the Younger — someone who also made poor choices but through repentance became a powerful missionary and prophet.
“As we read these passages, tears began to flow,” Elder Nattress said. “Alma’s joy was the joy (Danny) had been searching for.”
Danny’s repentance process led to a mighty change of heart. He served a mission and, upon his return, tearfully asked Elder Nattress if he’d truly been forgiven.
“I said, ‘Danny, have you looked in the mirror? Have you seen your eyes? They are filled with light, and you are beaming with the Spirit of the Lord. Of course, you have been forgiven. You are amazing. Now what you need to do is move forward with your life. Don’t look back. Look forward with faith to the next ordinance.’”
Danny went on to marry in the temple, complete his education, and today is a faithful husband and father.
Joy through temple work
During the Sunday morning session, Elder Kevin R. Duncan said everyone shouted for joy in the heavens when they heard God’s plan of happiness, and they continue shouting for joy here when they live according to that plan.
That joy comes from the knowledge of temple gifts such as priesthood authority, families sealed forever and eternal life.
Temples bring joy to those who participate in ordinances and make covenants in them, Elder Duncan said.
On Palm Sunday, praise God and His goodness. “What do we hear in the gospel which we have received? Truly a voice of gladness.”
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