FAIR

Jesus Christ & Spiritual Growth

What Does It Mean to “Live after the Manner of Happiness”?

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“The Nephites Live after the Manner of Happiness”

Easy ≠ Happy

Between leaving his home, journeying across the sea, and dealing with his murderous brothers, Nephi did not have an easy life. And yet, in 2 Nephi 5:27, this is how he described himself and his people: “And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.”

Nephi’s careful wording indicates that happiness is not just a feeling that sometimes occurs—it is connected to the way we live, and it is something we can work toward. In both good times and bad, we can choose to live as God lives and be blessed with His happiness. But what does it mean to “live after the manner of happiness”? Here are three suggestions:

  1. Keep the commandments.
  2. Change our focus.
  3. Work toward worthy goals.

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Asking Big Questions: How Can I Know if I’m Being Guided by the Holy Ghost?

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by Lyndie Jackson

The “Asking Big Questions” series is made in cooperation with the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project.

With conflicting voices coming at us from all sides, we can find comfort knowing that we have the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide us. As we partake of the sacrament each week, we are promised that we can “always have his Spirit to be with [us]” (Moroni 4:3). What an amazing promise and privilege to be permitted the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost!

Wilford Woodruff counseled, “Every man should get the Spirit of God and then follow its dictates. This is revelation. It [doesn’t] make any difference what the Spirit tells you to do, it will never tell you to do anything that is wrong.”

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Asking Big Questions: How Can I Know If I’ve Been Forgiven?

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by Kamryn Maughan

The “Asking Big Questions” series is made in cooperation with the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project.

Going to the Savior, Peter asked, “How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?” Jesus responded, “I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21–22). Just as we are commanded to forgive others, our merciful Heavenly Father promises to forgive us. Although we may understand this promise, it can be difficult to know if we’ve been forgiven. Three actions can help us feel God’s forgiveness: repenting, recognizing the Spirit, and reflecting on Jesus Christ.

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Asking Big Questions: How Can I Find Jesus Christ in My Studies?

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By Aubrey Barzee

The “Asking Big Questions” series is made in cooperation with the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project.

Though the scriptures testify of Jesus Christ, actually having Christ-centered scripture study can be hard. With so many responsibilities competing for our time, we might just read a few verses without getting much personal meaning out of them and feel satisfied that we’ve checked off “read the scriptures” for the day. We may also find ourselves getting distracted by interesting but inconsequential questions.

Wilford Woodruff wrote in his journal in 1883, “While studying the word of God we learn truths which cannot be obtained from any other source.” His words are supported by another servant of the Lord, Apostle D. Todd Christofferson, who  tated, “The central purpose of all scripture is to fill our souls with faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ.” So, how do we do that? Here are some study strategies that will help us increase our faith in Jesus Christ and feel His love for us personally.

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Asking Big Questions: Why do bad things happen to good people?

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bad things happen by Maddie Christensen

The “Asking Big Questions” series is made in cooperation with the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project.

In a world full of natural disasters, instability, wars, and conflicts, many people wonder why terrible things continue to happen. It feels like we are constantly being bombarded with bad news, heartache, and grief. Through our time here on Earth, we will go through various trials and tribulations that can be hard to understand. So, why do bad things happen to people who are trying to do good? There are three main reasons:

  1. To help us learn.
  2. To help us come closer to Jesus Christ through His Atonement.
  3. To help us have empathy for those around us.

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Asking Big Questions: How Can I Make the Repentance Process Less Intimidating?

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by Craig Lindquist

The “Asking Big Questions” series is made in cooperation with the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project.

A friend recently asked about my thoughts on making repentance less intimidating. My immediate answer was, “Well, perhaps we should get President Nelson to stop using the words ‘daily’ and ‘repentance’ in the same sentence!”1 We both had a chuckle, but while pondering his question, I recalled my first experience with repentance. It was both challenging and liberating.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH REPENTING

As a young man I stole a tool from a local merchant. Later, I began to feel a desire to set my life right with the Lord. This required a visit to my bishop, who, despite my misgivings, was kind and loving. He taught me about the Lord’s love for me and His gratitude for my repentance. He also explained the necessity of making things right. I soon found myself in a checkout line of that same store explaining to the cashier that I wanted to pay for a tool I had stolen years before. Not knowing what to do, she called the manager over and the two of them talked it over with me. But not in private! I can still feel the stares of those waiting in line.

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Asking Big Questions: How Can I Develop a Stronger Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ?

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By Lyndie Jackson

The “Asking Big Questions” series is made in cooperation with the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project.

It is relatively easy to stay in contact and communicate with people across the globe. However, creating and maintaining deep personal relationships takes time and effort. Similarly, the Savior is always close to us, waiting for us with open arms. But it takes more than checking in now and then to develop a deep personal relationship with Him.

Why We Need a Personal Relationship with Christ

Wilford Woodruff urged:

I would here exhort all the Latter day Saints who hear me this day to study well the position you are in, and search your hearts and see if we are in the favour of the Lord our God, and then let us increase continually in faith, in hope, in righteousness, and in every virtuous principle . . . in order to prove us as the friends of God.”1

Speaking of being the friends of God, Elder James E. Faust (1920–2007) said:

Having such a relationship can unchain the divinity within us, and nothing can make a greater difference in our lives as we come to know and understand our divine relationship with God.”2

By drawing closer to Christ, we can unlock our divinity, reach our potential, and be strengthened to become as God is.

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Asking Big Questions: How Can I Recognize the Spirit?

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By Maddie Christensen

The “Asking Big Questions” series is made in cooperation with the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project.

In today’s tumultuous world it can be difficult to make decisions and know what is right. As Latter-day Saints, we have the gift of the Holy Ghost to help us. Through the Holy Ghost, we can know the truth of all things (Moroni 10:5).

Wilford Woodruff was a great example of recognizing spiritual promptings and acting on them. He once shared:

While on my way east I put my carriage into the yard of one of the brethren in Indiana, and Brother Orson Hyde set his wagon by the side of mine, and not more than two feet from it.

Dominicus Carter, of Provo, and my wife and four children were with me. My wife, one child and I went to bed in the carriage, the rest sleeping in the house.

I had been in bed but a short time when a voice said to me: “Get up, and move your carriage.” It was not thunder, lightning or an earthquake, but the still, small voice of the Spirit of God the Holy Ghost.

I told my wife I must get up and move my carriage. She asked: “What for?” I told her I did not know, only the Spirit told me to do it.

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