Happily Ever After

So I have been keeping a journal since my first young women's leader told me I should and when I get bored waiting for Kyle to finish the Police Academy at night I read them.

This week I found a poem I wrote for seminary back in March of 2003.

"I want to be a temple 

I want to stay clean and pure.

I want to see my Father's face, 

and live with Him once more.

I can be a temple

I won't do drugs or swear.

I'll represent a temple, 

so I can visit there.

I will be a temple

I'll choose the right each day.

I will be a temple, 

an example in every way.

Temples are so beautiful,

they sparkle and they shine.

I want to be a temple 

So Heavenly Father will be proud to say, She's mine."

It got me thinking about a few things lately, coming from lots of different places and yesterday during testimony meeting I heard some things I really liked also.

But first can I say how much I love testimony meeting! It is my favorite meeting in the church, usually. I feel like I get so much out of hearing other peoples testimonies and the experiences that lead them to witnesses of the truth.  It's when I can count on feeling the spirit.

Anyways, the theme of most of the meeting was about being happy.  

I have just always had the attitude that people should make the best of situations out of their control, count their blessings and then choose to be happy.

And when you are able to choose your circumstances choose the ones that will make you the happiest.  

Those 2 things can be hard sometimes, but it's possible right?  

The gospel teaches us that one day we will rest from all our cares and sorrows, being perfectly happy, but I don't believe that happiness is just something we will have someday.  Heavenly Father wants us to be happy now also.  When we are doing our best to live close to him we will be happy because we will receive his blessings and protection.  We will feel His love.  As long as we remain faithful we will have a happily ever after and that gives me hope.

I also think happiness and love are very connected.  As long as I had someone in my life that loved me I think I could be happy.  If you love someone that much though you would want to be with them forever right?

Heavenly Father loves us that much.  Enough that he wants to be with us forever.

He knows that we will have relationships here that we will want to last forever also, in order to be eternally happy.  

That is why I am so grateful for temples and the chance we have to have a happily ever after starting here on earth.  The priesthood has been restored to seal families together forever!

Nothing else will make us happier than being worthy of a temple recommend and the covenants we make there in the Lord's house.  Heavenly Father has provided a perfect plan of happiness!

Agency affects more than the person using it so sadness can come from a few places.  Either our own poor choices, the poor choices of others close to us, or the few trials that simply just happen by no fault of anybody.

If everyone was doing their best to become closer to their Savior then almost 2/3 of the world's sadness would be gone.

In spite of that, I know 2 things:

1."There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different than the things we do."

and 2. People will always make time for what is most important to them.

So choose to be around people that will cause you to be  happy for eternity and be an example to those who don't.  Life is to short to not be enjoyed.  There are downs, but I am grateful for them because they make the highs even higher.  There is SO much love to be felt, adventures to be had and lessons to be learned!

Life is a wonderful blessing meant to be happy :)