Elder Christofferson talks about joy of the Saints that comes from three sources:
- the joy of keeping Christ’s commandments
- the joy of overcoming through Christ
- the joy of serving as Christ serves.
What is joy? Is it different to happiness or pleasure?
Notice that each of these sources of joy spring from Christ in some way. How is Jesus Christ the ultimate source of joy?
The Joy of Keeping Christ’s Commandments
‘God sees things in their true perspective, and He shares that perspective with us through His commandments, effectively guiding us around the pitfalls and potholes of mortality toward eternal joy. The Prophet Joseph Smith explained: “When His commandments teach us, it is in view of eternity; for we are looked upon by God as though we were in eternity; God dwells in eternity, and does not view things as we do.” ‘
‘When we see things as they really were, really are, and really will be dispensations are merely seasons, new friendships are but relationships resumed, and prophets sent forth on their errands from the Lord reflect associations which arc across the ages as they later rendezvous on mountaintops and hills, in woods, fields, groves, and even jails. ‘ (Neal A Maxwell, General Conference, April 1986)
How can we see things in their true perspective? How does that perspective contribute to our joy?
‘Keeping the Lord’s commandments enables us more fully and more easily to feel His love. The strait and narrow path of the commandments leads directly to the tree of life, and the tree and its fruit, the sweetest and “most desirable above all things,” are a representation of the love of God and fill the soul “with exceedingly great joy.” ‘
In what ways do the commandments represent God’s love for us?
The joy of overcoming through Christ
‘Even when we are found faithfully keeping the commandments, there are trials and tragedies that could interrupt our joy. But as we strive to overcome these challenges with the Savior’s help, it preserves both the joy we feel now and the joy we anticipate. Christ reassured His disciples, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” It is in turning to Him, obeying Him, binding ourselves to Him that trial and sorrow are turned to joy. ‘
The purpose and mission of Jesus Christ included that He would “take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people,” “take upon him their infirmities,” and “succor his people according to their infirmities.”(Alma 7:11–12). Sister Jean B Bingham said: ‘Whether they are personal struggles, family troubles, or community crises, peace will come as we trust that God’s Only Begotten Son has power to soothe our aching souls.’
‘He knows, in a way that no one else can understand, what it is that we need, individually, in order to move forward in the midst of change. Unlike friends and loved ones, the Savior not only sympathizes with us, but He can empathize perfectly because He has been where we are. In addition to paying the price and suffering for our sins, Jesus Christ also walked every path, dealt with every challenge, faced every hurt—physical, emotional, or spiritual—that we will ever encounter in mortality.’ (W Christopher Waddell)
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has taught: “There really is light at the end of the tunnel. It is the Light of the World, the Bright and Morning Star, the ‘light that is endless, that can never be darkened’ [Mosiah 16:9].
Alma the Younger taught this sacred truth when he said, “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.” (Alma 36:3)
After recovering from serious health challenges, Elder Robert D. Hales shared the following in general conference:
“On a few occasions, I told the Lord that I had surely learned the lessons to be taught and that it wouldn’t be necessary for me to endure any more suffering. Such entreaties seemed to be of no avail, for it was made clear to me that this purifying process of testing was to be endured in the Lord’s time and in the Lord’s own way. … I … learned that I would not be left alone to meet these trials and tribulations but that guardian angels would attend me. There were some that were near angels in the form of doctors, nurses, and most of all my sweet companion, Mary. And on occasion, when the Lord so desired, I was to be comforted with visitations of heavenly hosts that brought comfort and eternal reassurances in my time of need.”[Robert D. Hales, “The Covenant of Baptism: To Be in the Kingdom and of the Kingdom,” Liahona, Jan. 2001, 6; Ensign, Nov. 2000, 6.]
Emily Freeman said: Trials provide an opportunity for us to seek the Saviour..We come to know Him in a way we might not have before. Brigham Young,said about the terrible persecutions and drivings of the early Saints:
‘You that have not passed through the trials, and persecutions . . . , but have only read of them . . . may think how awful they were to endure, and wonder that the Saints survived them at all. The thought of it makes your hearts sink within you . . . , and you are ready to exclaim, “I could not have endured it.” I have been in the heat of it, and I never felt better in all my life; I never felt the peace and power of the Almighty more copiously poured upon me than in the keenest part of our trials. They appeared nothing to me’. [JD 1:313]
Elder Christofferson referred to the story of Jack Rushton as an example of overcoming through Christ. You may wish to review this Ensign article about Brother Rushton – It’s Good to be Alive.
How has the Saviour helped you to overcome trials and tribulations in your own life?
The joy of serving as Christ serves
‘… the joy “set before us” is the joy of assisting the Savior in His work of redemption. As the seed and children of Abraham, we participate in blessing all the families of the earth “with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal.”
How does assisting the Saviour in His work of redemption bring joy?
‘The fruits of our service to one another in the Church are part of the joy “set before us.” Even in times of discouragement or stress, we can minister patiently if we are focused on the joy of pleasing God and bringing light, relief, and happiness to His children, our brothers and sisters. ‘
Have you had experiences when serving others has helped you to overcome, even temporarily, your own difficulties?
How can we make serving as Christ served a way of life?
How can you find more joy through Jesus Christ?
(NB: Passages in italics are excerpts from Elder Christofferson’s address)
Latter-day Bloke 