A Joyful Heart ~ Part Two

    Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on BYU (Brigham Young University) Devotional in June 2004, and it is called "A Joyful Heart" by Elder Dale E. Miller. This post is part two and I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional. 

Elder Miller has mentioned the following; "Allow me to mention other patterns in your lives to build joy. These patterns have greatly helped Laurel and me in our journey through life together. You always have to keep humor as a significant part of your lives. We often reflect on humorous moments. 

... Home movies attest to the joyful times, particularly during family gatherings. These moments we treasure; they lift us when we are apart. We encourage you to keep humor and the memories of good times as a part of dealing with the everyday vicissitudes of life.

One caution: Don’t ever use humor at the expense of someone else! ... You may not know that there is occasional humor mixed into our work at Church headquarters. The General Authorities and officers are typically happy, optimistic people. Humor shows up at times in unexpected ways.

... Let me recommend another ingredient of joy. I was fortunate to marry a girl with music in her soul. As she sits at the piano playing the classics and hymns, it brings a great sense of peace and enjoyment. Incidentally, she could step up to this pulpit and sing almost every popular song written in our time excluding grunge, hip-hop, and rap, of course! 

To keep our relationship harmonious, I won’t ask her to receive your requests now. Each of our children and now our grandchildren has learned to play musical instruments. Our experience leads us to recommend that you steer your children away from learning to play drums. Let them take that up when they move into their own homes!

... I have come to recognize much later in life the importance of bringing into my soul the melodies and words of our hymns and other uplifting music. Now as I sing sacrament hymns, they become my words, my prayers, and my thanksgivings.

We possess particular hymns especially written to bring peace and healing to our souls. Let’s listen for a moment as the Tabernacle Choir sings to lift our souls. ... Uplifting music is designed to bring peace into our lives. Another lesson about happiness occurred while I was serving as a mission president in Venezuela. 

"If you carry joy in your heart, you can heal
any moment." - Carlos Santana.

The assistants came into my office one day and said, “ President, there are two types of missionaries in our mission: those who use most of their week preparing for PDay and those who use their P-Day to plan their week.” 

There is a message here. You returned missionaries know what I am talking about. We notice a great difference in those who come into the mission prepared to work hard because they have had earlier experiences of working hard. They gain satisfaction in life from accomplishing worthwhile goals.

President David O. Mc Kay commented on the importance of work in bringing happiness: One source of happiness springs from the realization of having accomplished something worthwhile. ... The accomplishing of a fixed determination in the quest for truth and nobility of soul always produces happiness. [Pathways, 107]

That is why effective missionaries do not want to leave their missions and always look back on mission life with satisfaction. When you look back from the other side of the veil, will you feel likewise? ... Has it occurred to you that sincere and heartfelt prayer brings discovery, and discovery brings joy?

Of all the challenging times in our lives, I think Laurel would agree with me that our three-year mission in Venezuela would count high on the list. We had our young family with us. Their happiness and well-being were an ever-important issue balanced with the everyday challenges of the missionaries, culture, language, illness, crime, political turmoil, and so forth.

I remember so well a particular day on the island country of Trinidad and Tobago. We were trying to gain official recognition for the Church. After many failed attempts I remember falling to my knees in my hotel room in the capital city, Port of Spain. I poured out my heart to God, saying, “Heavenly Father, I can’t do this alone! The obstacles are too great.”

... A voice came to my mind saying, “Be patient. I will open the pathway to establish my Church here.” The Spirit spoke to my mind, bringing great peace and consolation to my heart. Prayer indeed brings peace, healing, and a sense of joy.

Please consider prayer as an active and open channel to a loving and listening Heavenly Father. It helps at times to have the image of His countenance before you, the Savior at His side advocating on your behalf. He does listen. ... He always listens to the prayers of your heart."

Stay Tuned until next time.