The Vision: Doctrine and Covenants 76

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1 The Vision: Doctrine and Covenants 76 CJW 1. I had read THE VISION recorded in this Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and it had given me more light and more knowledge with regard to the dealings of God with men than all the revelations I had ever read, in the Bible or anywhere else.... This vision of which I speak opened my eyes. It showed me the power of God and the righteousness of God in dealing with the human family. Before I saw Joseph I said I did not care how old he was, or how young he was; I did not care how he looked whether his hair was long or short; the man that advanced that revelation was a prophet of God. I knew it for myself. (Wilford Woodruff, Deseret Weekly News, vol. 43, p. 321) 2. The vision given to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon is the greatest vision I ever knew given to the children of men, incorporating more in a few pages than any other revelation I have any knowledge of. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 8:36) 3. All sins shall be forgiven except the sin against the Holy Ghost; for Jesus will save all except the sons of perdition. What must a man do to commit the unpardonable sin?... He has got to say that the sun does not shine while he sees it; he has got to deny Jesus Christ when the heavens have been opened unto him, and to deny the plan of salvation with his eyes open to the truth of it; and from that time he begins to be an enemy. This is the case with many apostates of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When a man begins to be an enemy to this work, he hunts me, he seeks to kill me, and never ceases to thirst for my blood. He gets the spirit of the devil the same spirit which they had who crucified the Lord of Life the same spirit that sins against the Holy Ghost. You cannot save such persons; you cannot bring them to repentance; they make open war, like the devil, and awful is the consequence. (TPJS, pp ) 4. The Church of the Firstborn is the church among exalted beings in the highest heaven of the celestial world. It is the church among those for whom the family unit continues in eternity. In a sense it is the inner circle within the Lord s church on earth. It is composed of those who have entered into that patriarchal order which is called the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. As baptism admits repentant souls to membership in the earthly church, so celestial marriage opens the door to membership in the heavenly church. (Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p. 337) 5. Some might suppose that it would be a great blessing to be taken and carried directly into heaven and there set down, but in reality that would be no blessing to such persons; they could not reap a full reward, could not enjoy the glory of the kingdom, and could not comprehend and abide the light thereof, but it would be to them a hell intolerable and I suppose would consume them much quicker than would hell fire. It would be no blessing to you to be carried into the celestial kingdom, and obliged to stay therein, unless you were prepared to dwell there. (Discourses of Brigham Young, p.95) 6. Those destined to inherit the terrestrial kingdom are: (1) those who died without law those heathen and pagan people who do not hear the gospel in this life, and who would not accept it with all their hearts should they hear it; (2) those who hear and reject the gospel in this life and then accept it in the spirit world; (3) those who are honorable men of the earth, who [are] blinded by the craftiness of men ; and (4) those who are lukewarm members of the true church and who have testimonies, but who are not true and faithful in all things. (see D&C 76:71-80) (Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p. 146) 7. To hell there is an exit as well as an entrance.... True, we read of everlasting punishment, unending suffering, eternal damnation. That is a direful expression; but in his mercy the Lord has made plain what those words mean. "Eternal punishment," he says, is God's punishment, for he is eternal; and that condition or state or possibility will ever exist for the sinner who deserves and really needs such condemnation; but this does not mean that the individual sufferer or sinner is to be eternally and everlastingly made to endure and suffer. No man will be kept in hell longer than is necessary to bring him to a fitness for something better. When he reaches that stage the prison doors will open and there will be rejoicing among the hosts who welcome him into a better state. (James E. Talmage, Conf. Rep., Apr. 1930, p. 97) 1

2 8. After a person has been assigned to his place in the kingdom, either in the telestial, the terrestrial, or the celestial, or to his exaltation, he will never advance from his assigned glory to another glory. That is eternal! That is why we must make our decisions early in life and why it is imperative that such decisions be right. (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.50) 9. There are some people who have supposed that if we are quickened telestial bodies that eventually, throughout the ages of eternity, we will continue to progress until we will find our place in the celestial kingdom, but the scriptures and revelations of God have said that those who are quickened telestial bodies cannot come where God and Christ dwell, worlds without end. (George Albert Smith, CR, Oct. 1945, p.172) 10. It has been asked if it is possible for one who inherits the telestial glory to advance in time to the celestial glory? The answer to this question is, No! The scriptures are clear on this point. Speaking of those who go to the telestial kingdom, the revelation says: "And they shall be servants of the Most High; but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end (D&C 76:112). (Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Doc. of Sal., Vol.2, p.31) 11. I could explain a hundredfold more than I ever have of the glories of the kingdoms manifested to me in the vision, were I permitted, and were the people prepared to receive it. (TPJS, p. 305) 12. If there is a law that God has revealed and it is necessary to be obeyed before celestial glory can be reached, I want to know it and obey it. All that I am on this earth for is to get celestial glory. (George Q. Cannon, CR., April 1900, p.55) 13. If you and I ever get into the celestial kingdom, we have got to keep the law of that kingdom. Show me the law that a man keeps and I will tell you where he is going. (Wilford Woodruff, CR, 1:325, July 29, 1889) 14. Celestial Kingdom: Attitudes and Behaviors of Exaltation: A. Those who received a testimony of Jesus (v. 51) B. Those who received baptism (vs. 51) C. Those who received the Holy Ghost (vs. 52) D. Those who kept the commandments (vs. 52) E. Those who overcame all things (vs. 60) F. Those who were sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise (vs. 53) G. Those who complied with the new and everlasting covenant of marriage (D&C 131:1-3) 15. Celestial Kingdom: Conditions and Rewards of Exaltation: A. with Christ at his second coming (vs. 63) B. Come forth in the morning of the first resurrection (vv ; 88:28-29) C. Become members of the Church of the Firstborn (vs. 54) D. Become kings and priests to God and receive of the Father s fulness, glory, and grace (vv , 94) E. Receive all things from the Father (vv. 55,59) F. Dwell forever in the presence of God and Christ (vs. 62) G. Become gods (vv. 58; D&C 132:19-20) 16. Terrestrial Kingdom: Attitudes and Behaviors: A. Those who died without law (vs. 72) B. Those not receptive to the testimony of Jesus on earth, but afterwards accepted it (vv ) C. Those honorable men of the earth who were blinded by the craftiness of others (vs. 75) D. Those who received a testimony of Jesus but were not valiant therein (vs. 75) 2

3 17. Terrestrial Kingdom: Conditions, Rewards, and Limitations: A. Receive of the presence of the Son, but not of the fulness of the Father (vs. 77) B. Come forth in the first resurrection, after the resurrection of celestial beings (vv. 78; 88:99) C. Serve as ministers to those in the telestial kingdom (vs. 86) D. Dwell in a kingdom whose glory, power, and dominion exceed the telestial kingdom (vs. 91) E. Receive of the Holy Ghost through ministrations of celestial beings (vs. 87) 18. Telestial Kingdom: Attitudes and Behaviors: A. Those who willfully reject the gospel, the testimony of Jesus, the prophets, and the everlasting covenant (vv ) B. Those who once were murderers, liars, sorcerers, adulterers, and whoremongers (vs. 103; Revelation 22:15) C. Those who deny not the Holy Spirit (vs. 83) 19. Telestial Kingdom: Conditions, Rewards, and Limitations: A. Will not be resurrected until the second, or last, resurrection (vs. 85) B. Are cast into hell until the last resurrection (vv. 84, 104-6) C. Can never go where God and Christ dwell (vs. 112) D. Receive the Holy Ghost through the ministration of terrestrial beings (vs. 86) E. Will be servants of the Most High (vs. 112) 20. Sons of Perdition: Qualifications (vs.31) A. Know the Lord s power B. Have been partakers of His power C. Allow the Devil to overcome them D. Deny the truth E. Defy the Lord s power 21. Sons of Perdition: Conditions and consequences: A. Suffer the wrath of God (vs.33) B. No forgiveness (vs.34) C. Shall not be redeemed (vv.37-38) D. Consigned to Everlasting punishment (i.e. outer Darkness) (vv.44-48) 3

4 Recognizing and Receiving Revelation Clyde J. Williams 1. There are only certain ones who are going to hear when that knock comes or His voice is raised. He then declared, My sheep hear my voice... (John 10:27). The pure in heart are the only ones who are qualified to see and to hear and listen and know his voice when He speaks (Teachings of Harold B. Lee, p. 414). 2. Would you like a formula to tell you how to get a personal revelation? It might be written in many ways. My formula is simply this: 1. Search the scriptures. 2. Keep the commandments. 3. Ask in faith Any person who will do this will get his heart so in tune with the infinite that there will come into his being, from the still small voice, the eternal realities of religion (Bruce R. McConkie, BYU Speeches, Oct. 11, 1966, p. 8). 3. Petitioning in prayer has taught me, again and again, that the vault of heaven with all its blessings is to be opened only by a combination lock. One tumbler falls when there is faith, a second when there is personal righteousness; the third and final tumbler falls only when what is sought is, in God's judgement not ours right for us. Sometimes we pound on the vault door for something we want very much and wonder why the door does not open. We would be very spoiled children if that vault door opened any more easily than it does. I can tell, looking back, that God truly loves me by inventorying the petitions He has refused to grant me. Our rejected petitions tell us much about ourselves but also much about our flawless Father (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, New Era, Apr. 1978, p. 6). 4. I have had problems which it seemed to me that I could not solve. I have suffered in facing those problems until it seemed that I could not go forward without a solution to them. Through faith, and on many occasions fasting for a day each week over long periods of time, I have had answers to those problems revealed to my mind in finished sentences. I have heard the voice of God and I know His words (Marion G. Romney, Improvement Era, Jan. 1957, p. 46). 5. A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation... (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, June 1889, 3:381). 6. Answers to prayer come most often by a still voice and are discerned by our deepest, inner-most feelings (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1977, p. 32). 7. I have come to know that inspiration comes more as a feeling than as a sound (Elder Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Nov. 1979, p. 20). 8. I can identify eight different purposes served by communication from God: (1) to testify; (2) to prophesy; (3) to comfort; (4) to uplift; (5) to inform; (6) to restrain; (7) to confirm; and (8) to impel (Dallin H. Oaks, BYU Speeches, Sept , p. 2). 9. I made a rule for myself a number of years ago with reference to this subject. When someone relates a spiritual experience to me, personally or in a small, intimate group, I make it a rigid rule not to talk about it thereafter. I assume that it was told to me in a moment of trust and confidence, and therefore I never talk about it. If, however, on some future occasion I hear that individual talk about it in public in a large gathering, or where a number of people are present, then I know that it has been stated publicly and I can feel free under the right circumstances to relate it. But I know many, many sacred and important things that have been related to me by others that I will not discuss unless I am privileged to do so under the rule stated above. I know that others of the Brethren have the same feeling (Boyd K. Packer, Teach Ye Diligently, pp ). 10. But is prayer only one-way communication? No! One of the reasons prayer is the soul's sincere desire (Hymns, no. 220) is because prayer is such a privilege not only to speak to our Father in Heaven, but also to receive love and

5 inspiration from him. At the end of our prayers, we need to do some intense listening even for several minutes. We have prayed for counsel and help. Now we must be still, and know that [he is] God (Ps. 46:10) (President Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, Oct. 1981, p. 5). 11. I will inform you that it is contrary to the economy of God for any member of the Church, or any one, to receive instruction for those in authority, higher than themselves; therefore you will see the impropriety of giving heed to them; but if any person have a vision or a visitation from a heavenly messenger, it must be for his own benefit and instruction; for the fundamental principles, government, and doctrine of the Church are vested in the keys of the kingdom (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 21). 12. The burning bushes, the smoking mountains... the Cumorahs, and the Kirtlands were realities but they were the exceptions. The great volume of revelation came to Moses and to Joseph and come to today's prophet in the less spectacular way--that of deep impressions but without spectacle or glamour or dramatic events. Always expecting the spectacular, many will miss entirely the constant flow of revealed communication (President Spencer W. Kimball, Church News, Jan. 5, 1974, p. 2). 13. I have learned that the best time to wrestle with major problems is early in the morning. Our minds are then fresh and alert. The blackboards of our minds have been erased by a good night's sleep. The accumulated distractions of the day are not in our way. Our bodies have been rested also. That is the time to think something through carefully and to receive personal revelation. I heard President Harold B. Lee begin many a statement about matters involving revelation with an expression something like this: "In the early hours of the morning, while I was pondering upon that subject..." He made it a practice to work in the fresh, alert hours of the early morning on the problems that required revelation. The Lord knew something when He directed in the Doctrine and Covenants.... cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated (D&C 88:124)... I've learned the power of the dictum, Early to bed, early to rise. When I'm under pressure, you won't find me burning the midnight oil. I'd much rather be in bed early and getting up in the wee hours of the morning, when I can be close to Him who guides this work (Boyd K. Packer, Teach Ye Diligently, pp ). 14. At other times people who pride themselves on their strict observance of the rules and ordinances and ceremonies of the Church are led astray by false spirits, who exercise an influence so imitative of that which proceeds from a Divine source that even these persons, who think they are "the very elect," find it difficult to discern the essential difference.... When visions, dreams, tongues, prophecy, impressions or any extraordinary gift or inspiration conveys something out of harmony with the accepted revelations of the Church or contrary to the decisions of its constituted authorities, Latter-day Saints may know that it is not of God, no matter how plausible it may appear (Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, Charles W. Penrose, Messages of the First Presidency, vol. 4, p. 285). 15. I believe if one wants revelations enough to crave them beyond the rightness of it, that eventually he will get his revelations but they may not come from God. I am sure that there can be many spectacular things performed, because the devil is very responsive. He is listening and he is eager to do it. And so he gives strange experiences. I think some actually do get unusual experiences and revelations (Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 458). 16. As you move forward in life, you cannot make a major mistake, any mistake that will have any lasting consequence in your life, without having been warned and told not to do it. It cannot be done in this Church (Boyd K. Packer, Mine Errand from the Lord, p. 131). 17. We should study things out in our minds, using the reasoning powers our Creator has placed within us. Then we should pray for guidance and act upon it if we receive it. If we do not receive guidance, we should act upon our best judgement. Persons who persist in seeking revelatory guidance on subjects on which the Lord has not chosen to direct us may concoct an answer out of their own fantasy or bias, or they may even receive an answer through the medium of false revelation (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, Oct. 1994, p. 14).

6 Divine Perspective Clyde J. Williams 2009 BYU Education Week 1. Three things are necessary in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation. First, the idea that he actually exists. Secondly, a correct idea of his character, perfections and attributes. Thirdly, an actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to His will. (Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith, 3:2-5) 2. The commandments of God are given to us expressly for our benefit, and if we live in obedience to them we shall live so as to understand the mind and will of God for ourselves. (Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, p.224) 3. A hundred years from now, today's seeming deprivations and tribulations will not matter then unless we let them matter too much now. A hundred years from now, today's serious physical ailment will be but a fleeting memory.... So much depends, therefore, upon our maintaining gospel perspective in the midst of ordinariness and pressures of temptation, tribulation, and deprivation. (Neal A. Maxwell, Brigham Young University Speeches , p. 19) 4. Each one of you has it within the realm of his possibility to develop a kingdom over which you will preside as its king and god. You will need to develop yourself and grow in ability and power and worthiness, to govern such a world with all of its people. You are sent to this earth not merely to have a good time or to satisfy urges or passions or desires. You are sent to this earth, no to ride merry-go-rounds, airplanes, automobiles, and have what the world calls "fun." You are sent to school, for that matter, to begin as a human infant and grow to unbelievable proportions in wisdom, judgment, knowledge, and power.... That is why in our childhood and your youth and our young adulthood we must stretch and grow and remember and prepare for the later life when limitation will terminate so that we can go on and on and on. (Spencer W. Kimball, Salt Lake Institute of Religion Devotional, Oct. 22, 1076, p. 2) 5. For everything you have suffered, for everything that has occurred to you which you thought an evil at the time, you will receive fourfold, and that suffering will have had a tendency to make you better and stronger and to feel you have been blessed. When you look back over your experiences you will see that you have advanced far ahead and have gone up several rounds of the ladder toward exaltation and glory. (The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, p.117) 6. The nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at the point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his maker and is caught up to dwell with Him. (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 51) 7. For now, I offer this comfort: God is our Father! All the love and generosity manifest in the ideal earthly father is magnified in Him who is our Father and our God beyond the capacity of mortal mind to comprehend. His judgments are just, his mercy without limit, his power to compensate beyond any earthly comparison. Remember that mortal life is a brief moment, for we will live eternally. There will be ample (I almost use the word time, but time does not apply here), there will be ample opportunity for all injustices, all inequities to be made right, all loneliness and deprivation compensated, and all worthiness rewarded when we keep the faith. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most

7 miserable" (1 Cor. 15:19). It does not all end with mortal death; it just begins. (Boyd K. Packer, Brigham Young University 18 th Stake Fireside, Mar. 1992, p. 8-9) 8. With celestial sight, trials impossible to change become possible to endure. (Russell M. Nelson, CR, Apr. 1988, p. 40) 9. A young sailor once learned a valuable lesson that applies to this principle. One evening he was on lookout for enemy submarines. He was looking directly at the horizon in hopes of seeing any submarines silhouetted against the night sky. A seasoned veteran approached him and in this sailor's words the following conversation took place. "What are you doing?" "Well, I'm looking for enemy submarines." "Where?" "I'm looking right at the horizon." "That's what I figured. Try this experiment with me. Pick out a star in the sky. Choose a relatively faint star and look at it." I did. "Can you see it?" "Yes." "Is anything happening?" "Yes." "What is it?" I can't see it anymore," I said, "It's fading away." "Now, pick out another similar star," he said, "except this time look just above it." I did. "Keep looking at it." I did. "Anything happening?" "Yes." "What is it?" "I can still see it clearly." "Isn't that strange?" he observed. "Sometimes by looking above an object, we see it more clearly than when we look directly at it." (Lael J. Woodbury, "Continually Before the Lord," Church Education Systems' Commissioners Lecture Series, p. 9) 10. The more clearly we see eternity, the more obvious it becomes that the Lord s work in which we engaged is one vast and grand work with striking similarities on each side of the veil.... If we live in such a way that the considerations of eternity press upon us, we will make better decisions. (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 25) 11. It is very important that we not assume the perspective of mortality when making the decisions that bear on eternity. (Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book, p. 76)

8 True Happiness CJW 1. Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be 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.... But in obedience there is joy and peace... and as God has designed our happiness and the happiness of all his creatures, he never has He never will institute an ordinance or give a commandment to His people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness which He has designed, and which will not end in the greatest amount of good and glory to those who become the recipients of his law and ordinances. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p ) 2. The person who is thinking of others and doing for others is happy. Happiness lies in that little kindness we do when we don t expect anything in return. (Teachings of Harold B. Lee, p.620) 3. Our eternal happiness will be in proportion to the way that we devote ourselves to helping others. It will be conditioned upon the things that we do and say while we are here in mortality. (George Albert Smith, Conference Report, Oct. 1936, p. 71) 4. If you understand the great Plan of Happiness and follow it, what goes on in the world will not determine your happiness. (Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, May 1994, p. 20) 5. What is the price of happiness? You will be surprised with the simplicity of the answer.... First, you must live the gospel of Jesus Christ in its purity and simplicity-not half-hearted compliance, but... an all-out devoted consecration to the great program of salvation.... Second, you must forget yourself and love your companion more than yourself. If you do these thing, happiness will be yours in great and never failing abundance. (Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle, p. 126) 6. Keep the Faith. Your happiness lies in following the gospel of Jesus Christ. That s the case with all of us. Wickedness never was happiness (Alma 41:10), said Alma to his son Corianton. That s as true as the sunrise in the morning. Wickedness never was happiness. There is no happiness in doing what s wrong. There is no happiness in sin. There is misery and pain and regret and heartache and suffering. Happiness lies in walking in righteousness. Happiness lies in faithfulness and in righteousness. (TGBHinckley, p.256) 7. Some people bring happiness wherever they go others, whenever they go. What is your Classification? (Golden K. Driggs, Vital Quotations, p. 57) 8. Happiness is not a station we arrive at in life s journey. It is a manner of traveling! (Unknown) 9. The temple endowment is the sure guide to happiness here and eternal life to come. (THBLee, p. 578) 10. The difference between false happiness and true happiness is this: for the true, the price is paid before you enjoy it; for the false, after you enjoy it. The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes to do, but in liking what one has to do. (Sir James M. Barrie) 11. It is very important to be happy in this work. We have a lot of gloomy people in the Church because they do not understand, I guess, that this is the gospel of happiness. It is something to be happy about, to get excited about. (TGBHinckley, p. 256) 12. If we only find joy in our own successes, we automatically relegate ourselves to a very limited sphere of joy But, if we learn to find joy in the successes of others, as well as our own, our potential for feeling joy is unlimited. (Author Unknown)

9 13. Some people are like rocks thrown into a sea of problems. They are drowned by them. Be a cork. When submerged in a problem, fight to be free to bob up to serve again with happiness. (Richard G. Scott, Ensign, May 1996, pp ) 14. He is the most happy and successful in life whose interests are coupled with giving assistance to others and helping them find the way. (Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, p. 267) 15. 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, THWH, p. 268) 16. 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. (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 173) 17. We have got to obtain knowledge before we obtain permanent happiness; we have got to be wide awake to the things of God. (Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, p. 63) 18. What does it detract from one person because another is honored? Rightly viewed, is there not enough honor to spare in God's kingdom for all who will receive it? (Bruce R. McConkie, DNTC, 1:201) 19. The first morning's glance in the mirror cannot reflect joy if there is any recollection of misdeeds the night before. The surest step toward joy in the morning is virtue in the evening! (Elder Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, Nov. 1986, p. 68) 20. At temple dedications I have seen more tears of joy elicited by music than by the spoken word. (Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, Nov. 1994, p. 10) 21. The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what we want most for what we want at the moment! 22. The Lord wants us to be happy. He will do His part if we will do our part. The Christ-like life is the life that brings true happiness. There is no true happiness without God. (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 339) 23. There is no music in hell, for all good music belongs to heaven. Sweet harmonious sounds give exquisite joy to human beings capable of appreciating music. (Discourses of Brigham Young, p ) 24. Let us be a happy people. The Lord s plan is a plan of happiness. The way will be lighter, the worries will be fewer, the confrontations will be less difficult if we cultivate a spirit of happiness. (Gordon B. Hinckley, Conference Report, Oct. 2002, p The key to happiness is to get the spirit and keep it. (Marion G. Romney, CR, Oct. 1961, p.61) 26. Remember this! The line "And they all lived happily ever after" is never written into the second act. That line belongs in the third act when the mysteries are solved and everything is put right. (Boyd K. Packer, CES Fireside, May 1995, p. 2-3) 12 Keys to Obtaining Happiness 1. Keep the Commandments and Covenants 2. Seek Knowledge and Revelation 3. Trust in the Lord 4. Share the Gospel 5. Serve and Do Good for Others 6. Take Joy in the Successes of Others 7. Be Industrious and Hard Working 8. Develop God Given Talents and Skills 9. Listen to Good Uplifting Music 10. Seek Repentance and Forgiveness 11. Avoid worldly Counterfeit Happiness 12. Cultivate and Attitude of Happiness