I once saw a sign in a store window that said, “Happiness, $15.00.” I was so curious to know how much happiness I could buy for $15 that I went inside to see. What I found was a lot of cheap trinkets and souvenirs—not one thing I saw could possibly bring me the type of happiness that the sign implied! Over the years, I’ve thought many times about that sign and how easy it can be to look for happiness in items that are cheap or temporary. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are blessed to know how and where true happiness is found. It is found in carefully living the gospel established by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and in striving to become more like Him.

Where does the world tell us we can find happiness?

Why does this ‘happiness’ never last?

Sister Craven tells a story of a train and a train engineer. What point(s) do you think she is trying to get across by telling this story?

There is a careful way and a casual way to do everything, including living the gospel. As we consider our commitment to the Savior, are we careful or casual? Because of our mortal nature, don’t we sometimes rationalize our behavior, at times referring to our actions as being in the gray, or mixing good with something that’s not so good? Anytime we say, “however,” “except,” or “but” when it applies to following the counsel of our prophet leaders or living the gospel carefully, we are in fact saying, “That counsel does not apply to me.” We can rationalize all we want, but the fact is, there is not a right way to do the wrong thing!

What do you think Sister Craven means when she talks about our commitment to the Saviour being careful or casual? How would casual and careful compare?

“The way of the Lord is the way of happiness. Wickedness never was happiness. Transgression never was happiness. Sin never was happiness. Disobedience never was happiness. The way of happiness is following the way of the Lord. I believe this with all my heart. If there is any message that runs through all of the Book of Mormon, it is this great transcendent message, that when the people lived in righteousness they were happy and they were prospered. And when they fell into wickedness they were miserable, they were at war, they were in poverty, they were in trouble. That theme goes all the way through the Book of Mormon. As it was true then, so it is true now. The way of happiness for the people of this Church lies in following the ways of the Lord.” (Gordon B Hinckley, Church News, 06/01/96)

The youth theme for 2019 is taken from John 14:15, where the Lord instructs, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” If we love Him as we claim, can’t we show that love by being a little more careful in living His commandments?

How can we embrace voluntary, wholehearted obedience as part of our lives?

As we ponder the difference between careful and casual in our gospel living, here are some thoughts to consider:

• Are we careful in our Sabbath-day worship and in our preparation to partake of the sacrament each week?
• Could we be more careful in our prayers and scripture study or be more actively engaged in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families?
• Are we careful in our temple worship, and do we carefully and deliberately live the covenants we made both at baptism and in the temple?
• Are we careful in our appearance and modest in our dress, especially in sacred places and circumstances?
• Are we careful in how we wear the sacred temple garments? Or do the fashions of the world dictate a more casual attitude?
• Are we careful in how we minister to others and in how we fulfill our callings in the Church, or are we indifferent or casual in our call to serve?
• Are we careful or casual in what we read and what we watch on TV and our mobile devices?
• Are we careful in our language? Or do we casually embrace the crude and vulgar?

As you consider these suggestions from Sister Craven, are there some areas where youcould be a little more careful in living the commandments?

It’s impossible to live a perfect life. Only one man was able to live perfectly while dwelling on this telestial planet. That was Jesus Christ. Although we may not be perfect, brothers and sisters, we can be worthy: worthy to partake of the sacrament, worthy of temple blessings, and worthy to receive personal revelation.

What is the difference between being perfect and being worthy?

Where can we find lasting happiness?

(Passages in italics are excerpts from Sister Craven’s talk.)