So how can we achieve it?

Many people fail to see joy because they have an ‘I will be happy when’ mentality, a belief that once we finally ‘make it’, we’ll be content and happy. What if we don’t make it? What happens then? Is our happiness solely dependent on whether something happens in our lives or not? Is our happiness conditional on our success?

If we let this mentality define us, our lives will become a spiral of momentary peak moments every time we ‘make it’ but without ever truly understanding and embracing the joys that come from learning the ‘aha’ moments and growth we experience while working towards our goals.

It’s not that we shouldn’t focus on our goals and destination. The destination is what gives us purpose. It’s the driving force behind our efforts. But while we enjoy making those efforts, it doesn’t hurt to pause and let the positive emotions linger a little while longer and celebrate our progress every day, no matter how small. If we don’t progress and experience a setback, we can still recognize the lessons that the experience taught us and how we can do and become better. When we do this, happiness becomes something that we can pursue and achieve every day.

Another important thing about happiness is that it is not the absence of struggles, frustrations, pain, opposition, and other unpleasant feelings. We all experience some degree of difficulty in our lives. Happiness is learning how to live with difficulties and responding to them the best way we can. How we respond to these difficulties can expand our capacity to see, feel, and embrace happiness. In our response lies growth and learning that can lead to fulfillment and joy. We can grow through what we go through with optimism and hope for good things to come.

The last and key aspect to achieving lasting happiness is walking side by side with God every step of the way. Because happiness is the purpose and design of our existence, it is not surprising that before sending us to Earth, God prepared a path to help us achieve what we came here for, if we choose to. This path has been laid out for us in the holy scriptures, written by prophets of old and living prophets in the latter days.

This path to lasting happiness is not about living perfectly because no one can attain perfection in this life, except Jesus Christ who was perfected line upon line, precept upon precept. All that God requires of us is our best efforts.  In a meeting with Primary children, President Russel M. Nelson shared perhaps the most reassuring words to help us better understand the immense love that God has for us. He said, “[T]he Lord loves effort, because effort brings rewards that can’t come without it.” Our efforts to follow the commandments, love God, our neighbor, even our enemies, forgive others, live humbly and peacefully, respect others no matter their beliefs, care for ourselves and those in need, remember Him in times of joy and sorrow, and strive to continue in the path that will lead us back to Him, really do COUNT.

Our efforts count no matter how small we think they are. If we give it the best we can, He will magnify our efforts and help us reap the promised reward of eternal happiness. Happiness doesn’t just happen, we make it happen through Christ who is the ultimate author of lasting happiness.

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Holding his hand gently, Chona reminded her dad of his parents and siblings who have passed on before him, that they will welcome him as he reunites with them again. “Don’t be scared, dad. Our separation will be temporary. We will see you again, that’s for sure,” she added with a firm belief of the promise of the Plan of Salvation.

Her dad smiled and went back to sleep.

We all have fears. They come in many forms and degrees in our lives. But the most common and perhaps the fear that terrifies us the most is death.

What happens after we die?

One of the most common reasons why many of us fear death is not knowing what happens next. Fortunately, the Plan of Salvation can give us a clear picture of what happens after we die.

Every one of us will pass beyond this life and cross into the strange territory called death – a state when our body and our spirit separate. When that happens, our physical bodies die but our spirits live on. Our spirits then go to what we call the spirit world. This is where we will get to reunite with our families and friends who have passed on before us.

Are we going to stay in the spirit world forever?

Fortunately, this is not the end of the story. Someday, our bodies and spirits will be reunited again. We will shake off the sleep of death, and we will live again. We’ll look the same, but our bodies will be perfect. Every pain, sickness, and imperfection will be gone. Our bodies will become immortal and will never die again. This is called the Resurrection and it’s made possible by the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made 2000 years ago. His atonement and resurrection overcame death. Because of Him, every one of us will be resurrected too. No one is exempt. All of us will live again. All of us who have been and will be born will be resurrected, regardless of the choices that we make.

At the time of resurrection, Jesus, our Savior will judge us individually. This final judgment will be based on our desires, actions, and choices. Only Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know our hearts. They know our individual circumstances and the challenges we face in life. So only They can judge us perfectly. When it’s time for the final judgment, it will be one of mercy, healing, and love. Because of His great love for each of us, God’s ultimate goal is to help all of us return to our heavenly home – the Celestial kingdom.

Whether we will live with God or not depends largely on the choices that we make here on Earth. He has provided commandments as a guide to help us live righteous lives and we have the power to make those choices. We won’t always make the right choices, we will make mistakes sometimes, but through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can repent and be renewed from sins.

The Plan of Salvation can give us hope and change the way we look at death

Knowing about the Plan of Salvation and Resurrection can give us hope and strength to face the challenges we experience here on Earth.  Our knowledge of these things can change the way we look at our trials like physical, mental, and emotional deficiencies, disappointments, and loss, even death. We can find comfort that our challenges are temporary, and we can look forward to that glorious day when our bodies will be resurrected and perfected. And if we live righteously, we get the opportunity to live and dwell with God and with our loved ones forever.

With these profound truths, Chona’s dad passed on peacefully. But even with these truths, it was still hard for her and her family. Her grief and sadness were still immeasurable, but her knowledge of God’s plan helped her understand why death is inevitable. It gave her a firm hope of someday reuniting with her father again.

To live again, to be reunited with those who died before us, and to be free from earthly pain – isn’t this wonderful blessing and plan an undeniable evidence of God’s unimaginable love for us?

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The Wonder and Joys of Childhood

When I look back at my childhood memories. I am amazed at how awesome my imagination was. I grew up not having a lot of toys because my family only had enough for the basic necessities. But I look back and I feel like I didn’t lack anything. I remember playing outside and imagining that I was a soldier and scraping my knees from crawling trying to dodge bullets. There was a time when I believed that I was a mermaid. My skin got burned from staying on the beach for long periods of time. I learned to cook rice from playing house – sneaking into our kitchen to get a fistful of grains and cooking them in a can – with real fire made from twigs. Then my father, who was a fireman, would lecture us about fire safety when we got caught. Those moments were priceless! I am grateful for them all – the mischief and the learning moments.

Dating, Courtship & Marriage

Falling in love is a great adventure. People may or may not agree but love is a beautiful journey. My encounter with love started with the crushes that I had when I was a teenager. With the butterflies in my stomach, I learned that love is not always thrills and excitement. It can also involve heartaches and betrayals. I look back at the strange and funny feeling of liking someone. There were also moments when I needed to give way to other girls because we had the same crushes. When I remember those moments, I can’t help but laugh and also realize that some relationships are more important that other relationships. No wonder love is the most common story and song topic of all time. It takes us on a roller coaster ride. But for me, the greatest adventure was finding that one true love and choosing to stay together. I am now in an adventure that I consider the most important. My marriage has been nice, warm, scary, joyful, weird, lovely, and all the other emotions rolled into one. It is a great opportunity for me to be experiencing this type of adventure.

The Journey Towards the Golden Years

I consider myself to be in the middle of my life. I have a goal age when I want to “retire” and I am about half of it right now. At this stage, I look forward to what the coming years have in store for me. Of course I feel the fear of the unknown, but also the excitement of someone who is trying to make a fallout shelter for the end of the world. Now, my adventure is preparing for the sunset of my life. There are still a lot of things to do and sometimes I get overwhelmed. But I have family and friends on this adventure with me. I feel passionately the need to fight for things that I know are important. Although I choose my battles wisely, I am very vocal about a few things that are precious to me. I fight for women and family, for truth, and for the environment. Part of my advocacy is wellness and good health. We have things we need to fight for in life and doing so is a great adventure in itself. I think aging is graceful if we are striving for something better.

As I look at life, we are all on a great adventure. It is sad that some people think their lives are less than those of others because nothing much is happening. There are a lot of things that are happening. We can make a lot of things happen. Our lives are not the same but life is a great adventure in itself. We fight villains and we stand with heroes everyday. As we journey home to our God, let us make every day count. May we leave a legacy of joy, learning, love and purpose as we live our own adventures.

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I Can Be a Producer and Not Just a Consumer

In this world, there are two kinds of beings – the givers and the takers. People are considered takers; thus the title “consumers”. We take and take not just because we need things, but greed is a strong force that propels us to take more than what we need. Working in my garden taught me that I can be a giver. I may not be giving a lot from such a tiny parcel of land, but I feel I have contributed to producing oxygen instead of just consuming it to produce carbon dioxide. Am I a giver in other things in my daily life? Do I produce happiness, and comfort, and service for others? There are so many ways we can contribute to this world. It is indeed an eye opener for me, how much the little things we do can make a difference.

I Can Work With Nature

Humans, through our intelligence and technology, have made breakthroughs that have changed the way the world works. We have solved numerous problems, but advancements in technology have also endangered the natural order of things. We tend to tailor nature to suit what we want, but what we don’t understand is that nature knows better than we do. In my garden, I learned that I cannot force a seed to sprout. I cannot will a plant to flower or fruit. “To everything there is a season” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). I can use all the fertilizers and other concoctions or methods science can offer, but the best produce can only come from the works of the Lord Himself. And it is the same with other things in my life. Some things I can’t rush: my progression in the gospel, the things I am learning in mortality, I cannot even speed through my trials. I must be patient and work with nature and not against it.

Persistence From Weeds

There is one thing I cannot seem to stop propagating in my tiny garden: weeds. They come in different forms but they have one thing in common – they never die! I have gone to great lengths to get rid of them, but they keep growing! Finally, I tossed my garden tools in the air and told myself, “There must be something these weeds are good for…” I may not know now, but maybe someday the cure for cancer could come from these pesky plants. One thing I know for sure… Weeds taught me persistence. No matter what I do to deter their growth, they cleverly find ways to sprout. And so the persistent weeds gave me staying power when I face challenges. And when I am tempted to give up in the face of life’s challenges I tell myself, “Be like the weeds… Be like the weeds…”

Planting Increased My Hope for a Better Tomorrow

Audrey Hepburn said, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” I am reminded of how Alma compared the word of God unto a seed (Alma 32: 28-43). The nourishing of a seed will eventually bring forth fruit. Well, not all plants produce fruit, they might give edible leaves, medicinal roots, beautiful flowers, etc. The point is if we give a seed a chance to grow – like that of the word of God – we will someday reap the rewards. My faith increases as I tend to every single plant in my garden. And my hope for a better tomorrow exponentially increases as I get to watch a seed develop into a beautiful mature plant.

As I pondered upon the lessons that I’ve learned from my garden, somehow I understood why Heavenly Father prepared a garden for Adam and Eve. I am sure they learned numerous things from all the flora and fauna that they saw around them. I feel Heavenly Father’s love in my tiny garden. His promise that “…the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare…” (D&C 104:17) holds true.I hope we could all experience Eden in our own home as we create beautiful things, with the Lord’s help, in our lives, families, and communities. It is simply magical!

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The clash between the desires of Jesus Christ and Lucifer when it comes to the welfare of humanity has never been more apparent than in today’s world. The pressure is felt most strongly within the family. As hard as we work to keep our family safe from the adversary’s attacks, it feels like Satan works twice as hard. He wants to win individual souls by plucking them from the protection of family relationships. He does this because he knows he can never win. The next best thing he can do is share his misery and woe with unfortunate souls that fall into his traps. The battleline has been drawn. How then do we stay on the winning side and have our family with us?

Willing Obedience to God

Trusting The One who understands everything from beginning to end, is the safest thing to do. It is comforting to know that He seeks the eternal joy of us all. The commandments that the Savior gives to us are, in actuality, instructions for safety and happiness. If we offer our will and submit it to our all-knowing and all-powerful Heavenly Father, He will be able to guide us every step of the way. By doing so, we need not risk going on unsafe roads. All we have to do is follow the path the Savior has marked for us. If husband and wife, parents and children, put complete trust in the plan that a loving Father in Heaven has designed for His children, we will all be able to stay within the bounds of safety.

Integrity in All That We Do

Another way to avoid being collateral damage in the adversary’s war, is to instill in our being the value of integrity. Integrity goes beyond its popular definition. It is popularly known as being honest in all that we do. But integrity is more than that. It delves into the “why” in all that we do. Motives make or break every act. No matter how good the act, if it is carried out because of selfish or evil desires, it is still not counted as righteousness. Our relationship as a family is strongly dependent upon what is inside our hearts. Parents often tell children, “We only want what is best for you.” But do we really base our opinions and advice upon what is best for our children? Or do we do so for personal gratification? It is in times like these that we need to check our motives, examine our inner desires and ask ourselves the “why” of everything that we do. Confidence will wax strong in each family member and each will learn to have faith in humanity, as well as caution where appropriate.

Protection From Within

We can build high walls or install state-of-the-art security systems for our homes to prevent outside physical dangers from intruding. We can even make our homes fire-proof, earthquake-safe or get all the insurance money can buy to prepare for a natural disaster. These preparations are good but they are not enough. If we want to protect our families from the dangers of the world, we start doing so from within. There are threats more dangerous than robbers or calamities. These threats are often subtle and sometimes seem harmless at first, but the effects can be devastating. Pornography, deceit, addiction, abuse and other menacing perils are accessible through the internet and through any other media that we expose ourselves to. If we want to protect our family from these dangers, we need to learn and teach correct principles (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/viewpoint-learn-and-live-correct-principles?lang=eng). By doing so, we equip ourselves and our children with the moral courage needed to combat such threats when they are confronted with them. Even if nobody is watching, we will be able to make correct choices and avoid pain and regret. We need to reinforce this kind of protection because we cannot be with our family all the time.

Yes, we can help and pray for our family members when they are facing difficult situations but if we fortify our families early on, we can save ourselves from a lot of tears and heartache later on. And if trying times come, and they surely will, we will know what to do and who to trust. We are on the frontline of the battle between good and evil as we fight to protect what is sacred and of great worth. We have the help of heaven as we do our best to partner with Heavenly Father to bring to pass His work and His glory.

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Why the discrepancy?

When we try to picture godhood, we want to see very nice people wearing white glowing robes and not having any weakness at all. Then we look at ourselves with all of life’s mess and the comparison feels impossible. It seems as though man’s nature is simply vicious and self-destructive. Maybe this is why we often excuse ourselves from our mistakes by saying, “I am only human.”

Or We Can Think Otherwise

While human nature has been overused throughout the ages as a reason for being weak, maybe we should instead try to retrace our steps and ask, “Why, with all these weaknesses, does God trust me to be an agent to myself? Why does He allow me to make mistakes?” Yes, trusting us to retain our agency is one big leap of faith for our Heavenly Father. He places this divine trust in us despite the large chance that we will not be obedient to Him. Doesn’t that make you feel good about yourself? That someone divine knows you can overcome challenges, however big they are? Maybe being human then, is not that bad at all!

Harnessing the Natural Man

Weakness and all, we have the capacity to be honed into something remarkable, if we but humble ourselves and allow God to help us (Ether 12:27). The flaws that we now have are but crude resources that, when overcome, will transform us into better creatures. Consider the natural resources that we use to our advantage. A raging waterfall and a scorching sun are both very damaging if we come into contact with them as they are. But if we make use of our intellect and capacity to work on these crude resources, they can produce something much greater – the electricity to power our cities and homes.

Weakness Into Strength

If we accept our weaknesses and work to overcome them so we can be molded into better versions of ourselves, then we have power within us to bolster a beautiful transformation. Our natural tendencies can either abase us or make us polished individuals. It is all up to us. But wouldn’t it be nice if we considered ourselves diamonds in the rough? Instead of choosing to remain as pieces of coal, let us allow ourselves to be made into precious gems. Being human then, is not a form of weakness but a state of opportunity and a time to understand the raw materials needed for godhood that are already inside of us (2 Nephi 2:21).

For most, it is our goal to rise above our human tendencies, however; it is not always that easy to do. Believing that we are more than what we appear to be right now makes the difference. Our Heavenly Father believes in us. He knows we are innately good, but because we are exposed to a carnal environment, we can be placed in situations when we sometimes forget who we really are. But remember… That is the key. Remember and trust that gut feeling that you are special – that you are divine.

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The straight and narrow path is a clear way that the Lord has provided, for us to come back into His presence. The path is not marked by narrow walls or signs pointing where we should go, but by the commandments and guidelines that He has revealed through His prophets—both old and modern.

We are commanded to follow the straight and narrow path, but we are not expected to follow it perfectly, at least in this life, because it is impossible to do so in our mortal state. We are just expected to continue to strive to stay on the path once we’re on it.

To many people staying on the path means remaining faithful despite challenges, obeying the commandments with exactness, adhering to the counsel of prophets and leaders, attending church regularly, paying a full tithe, and reading the scriptures daily, among many other things. To them, it means having a steady commitment to live the gospel of Jesus Christ day by day.

Many people aspire and strive to “stay on the path” this way. Somehow, it has become the standard of living the gospel that we use to judge ourselves and even others, when we each live the gospel a little differently. Sometimes, we even question our faith or commitment to the teachings of the Savior.

However, on our journey along this straight and narrow path, we must recognize that everybody walks it a little differently. Some walk it as soberly as possible—living the gospel almost perfectly. Others stagger unsteadily from side to side but remain on the path. Many people lurch one step forward and two steps backward but stay on the path. Others find a small alley and do a detour only to find themselves tiptoeing their way back on the path. Many lose their way and never come back.

So what’s the point of pointing all these out? It’s a call to perhaps help us understand that every one of us, in our own way, is just trying to stay on the path that will lead us home to our Heavenly Father. And no matter how we do it—staggering, backwards, flaws and all—He is happy with every little step we take to press forward.

God knows that life sometimes sends us hurling in different directions—directions that often rock our faith and challenge our beliefs. He knows our struggles and silent petitions. He knows about the many times that we we’ve stood at the edge of another alley, but we chose to stay on the path. He knows the moments when we were almost at the brink of sin, but we decided to listen to His promptings. He remembers the nights we didn’t feel like praying to Him, but we did anyway. He knows about the times when we felt too ashamed to return to Him, but we swallowed our pride and repented of our sins. He knows how hard we are trying.

So the next time we feel that we are walking the path a little unsteadily, let’s not beat ourselves up thinking that we’re not faithful enough. Because no matter how unsteady we are, we have a steady God who offers His hand to help us get back on our feet again.

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Experiencing Trials is a Natural Thing

Our time on Earth is our preparation to meet God (Alma 34:32), and this process involves uncomfortable and difficult times called trials. They may come due to sin, unwise choices, or as a natural result of living in a “fallen world.” Or they may come for seemingly no reason at all. No matter the origin of our trials, one thing is sure – they are there to mold us and refine us to become the person God expects us to be. Trials are, in fact, part of Heavenly Father’s Plan of Salvation. Therefore, as the Apostle Paul said, we should not think of them as something strange (1 Peter 4:12).

Accepting and embracing trials will likely not result in a special immunity to them. We will be subjected to them as much as everybody else. But, in the process, we will gain a different perspective, and we will respond better to circumstances that seem to take our breath and our hopes away. We may even experience joy in the midst of our difficulties.

Trials are Temporary

When trials come, it might feel like time has slowed down – or even stopped altogether. Our pain and negative emotions sometimes make what really are short times seem like an eternity. Don’t let yourself be fooled!  Experiencing trials is just a phase of our lives that will soon pass. They are as temporary as our time on Earth, and, when compared to the eternity ahead of us, they are but a twinkling of an eye. Hang in there, my friend! As God promised the afflicted Prophet Joseph Smith, your trials “shall be but a small moment,” and God will bless you if you endure it well (Doctrine and Covenants 121: 7-8).

All trials can be overcome with God’s help

While it’s good to have a positive mindset about trials and a better understanding of their temporary state, trials are best addressed through proactive efforts on our part. However, our trials sometimes seem more than “we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).” Despite our efforts, our burdens are still sometimes heavy, and we feel far from any relief. With our limited capacity as human beings, we cannot bear our trials alone. We need the help of other people and especially help from God.

When Jesus Christ was performing the most difficult task of all, atoning for our sins, He prayed to His Father in Heaven for help. If someone as grand, great, and divine as Jesus Christ needed help, how much more should we ask heaven to help us bear our trials? Like Jesus Christ, may we not just ask our Father in Heaven to help us in our trials, but may we also be humble enough to accept the Father’s will and utter “…nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done (Luke 22:42).” I know that our loving Father in Heaven will not abandon us or leave us comfortless. He will sustain us in our times of difficulty. He knows well that we can rise above it, with the help of  His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. All trials, even the most difficult trial of the Atonement, were made to be overcome.

With this increased knowledge of trials, may we respond to trials more positively. May we hold on more to our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ for solace. I promise in the eternal view, it will be over in the twinkling of an eye, and as long as we stay true to our Heavenly Father, He can and will make everything eternally alright again.

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In a world with increased access and almost everything at our fingertips, we accumulate clutter every single day. Whenever we scroll through our social media, watch a TV show, or listen to music, we either consciously or unconsciously pick up bits of worldly mental clutter. Sometimes, we think that because these bits of clutter are so tiny, they won’t cause any harm. The problem is that they pile up and take so much space in our minds that we no longer have space for things that really matter. And worse, as our minds become accustomed to the clutter of the world, bigger clutter becomes less of a nuisance.

Other factors that contribute to our cluttered lives could be past disappointments, hatred, guilt, heartache, failed expectations, envy, past mistakes, or other unpleasant feelings. Clutter is not necessarily bad. Sometimes it consists of countless good choices and priorities that we try so hard to fit into our already-occupied life.

So how do we declutter our lives? Here are a few ideas from church leaders we could learn from.

William R. Bradford—Unclutter Your Life, April 1992 General Conference

In April 1992, Elder Bradford said that decluttering is more than organizing things. Decluttering is about getting rid of things that do not strengthen our spiritual foundation. He further added that in order to declutter our lives, “we need to develop a list of basics, a list of those things that are indispensable to our mortal welfare and happiness and our eternal salvation. This list must follow the gospel pattern and contain the elements needed for our sanctification and perfection.” When we know what matters most for us, we would find it easier to forgive a family member or a friend, forgive ourselves of past mistakes, serve others, delete a movie that contains inappropriate scenes, not listen to music that uses profane language, and say no to things that can potentially clutter our lives.

He also pronounced the need to examine how we use our time because essentially “we give our lives to that which we give our time.” Reflecting on our day-to-day activities and writing them down will give us a full view of where we are spending our lives. Then we can reflect if these things are worth spending our time, considering that time spent is something we can never get back.

Dallin H. Oaks—Good, Better, Best, October 2007 General Conference

In one of his sermons, Dallin H. Oaks emphasized that there are many good things that we can do but he cautioned that “it is not enough that something is good” because “other choices are better, and still others are best.“ He admonished to consider the choices we make and ensure that we do not spend too much for that which is good and leave little time for that which is better and best.

With countless options of good things that we can pursue, Elder Oaks implored that divinely appointed responsibilities in the family should not be infringed by other worthy activities. He further encouraged that “we have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best because they develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthen our families.”

Decluttering our lives does not happen overnight, but in order to achieve a cluttered-free life, we need to start somewhere. We can begin with our closets at home, applications on our mobile phones, or the TV series we watch that consume hours and hours of our lives. Then we can move to determining what good activities we can give less of our time to, so we can give more of our time to the things that matter most.

Decluttering will bring peace, ease our burdens, and lead to greater joy. It is not a ‘nice to do’ item that we can add to our to-do list, but a Christ-like virtue that is worth pursuing, for God delights in plainness, simplicity, and choosing the “good part” of that which is good.

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We May Think We Are Never Enough

As we set goals and work on the things that we need to do to be perfect, there are times when we fail. In our effort to reach every goal and carry out every plan, we sometimes forget to give ourselves room to make mistakes. Instead of learning from mistakes and failures, there is a tendency to shrink and sulk. And because the fact of the matter is that we can never be completely perfect in this life, feelings of disappointment can overwhelm us if we let them. We may have difficulty forgiving ourselves. There is so much danger in cultivating this kind of thought. It will not only hurt us but it can derail us from the path of progression.

We Compete With Others

The adversary wants us to think that the road to perfection is a race instead of a journey. If we are not ahead or if we are not moving as fast as we would like to up the ladder, we harbor feelings of anger and jealousy. In our desire to be the best versions of ourselves, we sometimes forget to be good. Competition strains relationships and hinders charitable thoughts and feelings. There is nothing wrong with healthy competition. But if it is hurting people’s feelings, then it is not helping. And at times, the one hurt the most is our self.

We Boast in Our Own Strength

We may get enveloped in the process of perfecting ourselves too much when we achieve successes. This can make us feel the pull of pride and push the tender mercies of heaven away. Because we work so hard to reach where we want to be and be who we want to become, we may have a tendency to forget to acknowledge divine help. We all want the affirmation of the praise of men, but it is not what is most important. What the world thinks of us should never matter more than what the Lord thinks of us. Satan, in all his subtlety, encourages us to magnify ourselves and what we can do, instead of glorifying God who is the source of all things.

We Expect Perfection from Others

“If I have to work this hard, then they should too!” How often do we hear these words in our heads? Or, “Why would they make those mistakes when they already know the commandments?” Since we are focused on trying so hard to be perfect, we may expect other people to do what we do, and to think how we think. It can be so easy to develop a very judgmental attitude. Remember that every child of God is a unique being. Although we all have the same mandate to work towards perfection, Heavenly Father reminds us often that we do it line upon line, precept upon precept. We must remember that we all differ in our pace. Getting too absorbed with perfecting ourselves in this life will cloud our understanding of this eternal truth.

The Savior of the world, though he lived perfectly, did not attain perfection until the Atonement was completed and He was received by the Father as a glorified, resurrected being. May we keep this in mind and take it to heart. We can do so much good and we can touch the lives of others in this life, even if we are not yet perfect. Find joy in the journey and learn from every experience – in successes and failures alike. Heavenly Father wants us to rise above worldly thoughts and guard our intentions. This way, Satan will not be able to influence our words and our actions. Perfection is very much attainable, but we are not required to run faster than we are able. Instead, let us hold on to the enabling power of the Atonement and allow its redeeming power to make us whole.

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