Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Happiness quotes from Joni Dressen's Lesson

We are not here for the fun of it. We are here for the joy of it, and we want to go forward and do our work as we should do it.

Spencer W. Kimball

Of all people on the face of the earth, Latter-day Saints, with the perspective given them by the gospel, ought to be happy and optimistic.

Howard W. Hunter

I remind you…that regardless of your present age, you are building your life;…it can be full of joy and happiness, or it can be full of misery. It all depends upon you and your attitudes, for your altitude, or the height you climb, is dependent upon your attitude or your response to situations.

Spencer W. Kimball

At the center of our agency is our freedom to form a healthy attitude toward whatever circumstances we are placed in!

Neal A. Maxwell

Our search for happiness largely depends on the degree of righteousness we attain, the degree of selflessness we acquire, the amount and quality of service we render, and the inner peace that we enjoy.

James E. Faust

God did not put us on earth to be victimized by circumstances. He gave us a plan for assured success—his gospel—the perfect plan for happiness.

Richard G. Scott

We must learn to judge ourselves not by what we are but by what, under the influence of the Lord, we may become. We doo not have to measure our potential for success by our known capabilities alone. We can count on the power of God and its expanding influence on our lives. We can know that our ability and strength can be magnified to meet any challenge that confronts us.

Richard G. Scott

Happiness is created. Love is its center. Its principal ingredients are sincere faith, true repentance, full obedience, and selfless service.

Richard G. Scott

Why are people unhappy even in “good times”?

Some reasons given are: lack of meaning or purpose in life, anxiety, fear, poor self-image, doubting one’s capacity to love or worthiness to be loved, not accomplishing anything, bad conscience, inability to form lasting relationships, unsatisfactory home life, loneliness, no sense of belonging, little giving of self, and the summation of them all: lack of life-directing relationships with God and Christ.”

Marion D. Hanks

We cannot permit the mistakes of others to mislead us from our own joy, not can we disqualify ourselves because of our own mistakes. Jesus died for our personal sins. He is the Savior and Redeemer to whom we belong.

Marion D. Hanks

We must, if we will have happiness, follow the straight and prescribed paths. “I will give you a pattern in all things” is one of the Lord’s greatest gifts and promises. Today it comes from him and his prophets. Keeping one’s mind occupied with constructive, useful things on a constant basis prevents Satan from having success in idle minds. Good music, art, literature, recreation, and other worthy pastimes can help establish proper patterns in one’s mind and conduct. Happiness is a by-product of righteous living and sharing within the framework of lofty patterns. Actions of the moment may be fun, but true happiness depends upon how you feel after the involvement is over.

Marvin J. Ashton

Enjoy your membership in the Church. Where else in all the world can you find such a society? Enjoy your activity. When I was a missionary in London fifty years ago, my companion and I would shake hands in the morning and say to one another, “Life is good.” Life in the service of the Lord is good. It is beautiful. It is rewarding. Be happy in that which you do. Cultivate a spirit of gladness in your homes. Subdue and overcome all elements of anger, impatience, and unbecoming talk one to another.

Gordon B. Hinckley (“Live the Gospel, Ensign, November 1984, p.86)

Enjoy your work. Be happy. I meet so many people who constantly complain about the burden of their responsibilities. Of course the pressures are great. There is much, too much, to do. There are financial burdens to add to all of these pressures, and with all of this we are prone to complain, frequently at home, often in public. Turn your thinking around. The gospel is good news. Man is that he might have joy. Be happy! Let that happiness shine through your faces and speak through your testimonies. You can expect problems. There may be occasional tragedies. But shining through all of this is the plea of the Lord: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Gordon B. Hinckley (“Four Imperatives for Religious Educators, Sept. 15, 1978)

Reach out to bless others in all that you do, that, because of your efforts, someone may live a little closer to the Lord and have a little greater happiness in his or her life. That is the end of our existence, when all is said and done: to build happiness in the lives of people, because the thing we teach is the Lord’s plan of happiness.

Gordon B. Hinckley (Boston Massachusetts Regional Conference, April 22, 1995)

If we will live the gospel, if we will put our trust in God, our Eternal Father, if we will do what we are asked to do as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we will be the happiest and most blessed people on the face of the earth.

Gordon B. Hinckley (Pocatello Idaho Biregional Conference, June 4, 1995)

I enjoy these words of Jenkins Lloyd Jones which I clipped from a column in the Deseret News some years ago….Said he:

“Anyone who imagines that bliss in normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed.

“Most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise.

“Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.

“The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”

Gordon B. Hinckley (Four Imperatives for Religions Educators, Sept. 15, 1978, p.4)

Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will b e the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God. But we cannot keep all the commandments without first knowing them, and we cannot expect to know all, or more than we now know unless we comply with or keep those we have already received.

Joseph Smith

I remind you…that regardless of your present age, you are building your life;…it can be full of joy and happiness, or it can be full of misery. It all depends upon you and your attitudes, for your altitude, or the height you climb, is dependent upon your attitude or your response to situations.

Spencer W. Kimball (Ensign, Nov. 1974, 80.)

Articles to consider:

“Getting Over Feeling Underappreciated”, Brad Wilcox, Ensign, Mar 2004, 46-49

“Happiness Now and Forever”, Richard G. Scott, Ensign, Nov 1979, 70

“Joy through Christ”, Marion D. Hanks, Ensign, Jul 1972, 104

“Be a Quality Person”, Marvin J. Ashton, Ensign, Feb 1993, 64

“A Pattern in All Things”, Marvin J. Ashton, Ensign, Nov 1990, 20

“The Message: Who Do You Think You Are?”, James E. Faust, New Era, Mar 2001, 4

“Live in Thanksgiving Daily”, Joseph B. Wirthlin, Ensign, Sep 2001, 6

“Teaching Children Principles of Happiness”, D. Michael Barrett, Ensign, Feb 2003, 14

“Trust in the Lord”, Richard G. Scott, Ensign, Nov 1995, 16

1 comment:

  1. thank-you Joni -- I'm very glad to get these quotes. I will copy them - I will read one every day (or almost everyday) the next week or so. I need to remember how important it is to choice to be happy. and I do believe it is a choice. I think this will help me to remember that God want us to be happy. Thank-you for all you do for us. We love you,Joni. Thanks Bri for doing this site.

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