Happy Birthday! "we lived after the manner of happiness" (2 Ne. 5:27)‏

Today, on my 57th birthday, I am thinking about the phrase 'Happy Birthday'. Mom organized a surprise birthday party on P-Day. We went back to the light house and hiding on the back steps were forty (40) elders!!

In our family we have often said: "Be Good and You Will Be Happy". This phrase comes from Abinadi who said: "If they be good...happiness" (Mosiah 16:11) 

Nephi says: "we lived after the manner of happiness" (2 Ne. 5:27). Earlier he explains what they did, "we did observe to keep..... the commandments of the Lord in all things" (2 Ne. 5:10).

Keeping the commandments of the Lord in all things results in living after the manner of happiness. 

Moroni explained to Zerahemnah that: "the maintenance of the sacred word of God, to which we owe all our happiness" (Alma 44:5). Happiness comes from maintaining or keeping the commandments.

The word 'happiness' does not appear in the Bible. It occurs thirty (30) times in the Book of Mormon. Interestingly, while Alma is counseling his wayward son Corianton he uses the word 'happiness' thirteen (13)  times. 

Alma was successful in encouraging Corianton to repent. He explained that "wickedness never was happiness" (Alma 41:10). At the last day "one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good" (Alma 41:5). In other words, it is by being good that one becomes happy. One cannot be happy without being good.

Photos of the week......

Last Saturday, June 21st, as part of our monthly training for the Seminary and Institute teachers we were asked to administer a test. The test was very difficult. These six (6) teachers did very well with a combined score of 88%.

 

  

After the teacher training, Mom attended a youth fund raising craft show preparation activity.

 

Mom teaching primary in Dondo. Great class participation!

Teacher with a lot of energy....

 

Photo from the surprise birthday party!

 

 

Sure love you!