Happiness

Alma 50:23

"But behold there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, yea, even at this time, in the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges."

When I view that statement that there never was a happier time, it makes me reflect about what exactly has led to that being able to be said.  As I understand from the preceding chapters, Moroni had gained the trust of his people because he was ensuring their safety and protection as well as providing a good example for them to follow by trusting in the Lord.  Truly, living life in such a manner that pleases the Lord will ensure my personal happiness and will ensure that I am always able to smile and to keep my head up.  These are not maybes, these are promises and sureties. 

People today often get happiness mixed up with satisfaction.  It is satisfying to see the newest blockbuster movie that has just come out.  It is satisfying to drive 100mph down the freeway.  It is satisfying to view pornography and lie, steal, and cheat.  But this satisfaction goes away just as quickly as it arrived, and sometimes faster - leaving nothing behind but wasted time, regret, and sorrow (to varying degrees depending on what it is).  What I need to focus on is the good, better, best principle.  There are good ways to spend my time, there are better ways to spend it, and there are the best ways I can spend it.  As I have previously reminded myself, we are accountable for our time spent here on earth.  How wonderful would it be to be able to look the Savior in the eyes during my judgment and be able to say that I spent my time on earth doing things that were the best options available to me.  That would surely be a very, very happy moment.