My talk on Be of Good Cheer that I gave last Sunday.

Preparing this topic was such a good experience for me so I thought I would share what I compiled:

We are all very aware of the state the world is in right now, and even more close to home, the state of our country, our state, and the tough spots many of us are in due to finances, sin or other misfortunes.

President Monson said,
“It would be easy to become discouraged and cynical about the future—or even fearful of what might come—if we allowed ourselves to dwell only on that which is wrong in the world and in our lives.”
And later he says, “We know that there are times when we will suffer, when we will grieve, and when we will be saddened. However, we are told, “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.”2

I’ve never really thought about that statement as much as I have in preparation for this talk, we ARE so we might HAVE JOY. How cool? We exist so we can be happy. I think about my perspective as a mother and I would do anything for my babies to be happy. Sometimes I wish I could shield and protect them from anything that might cause them pain or sadness, I know I can’t. I can’t guard them day in and day out to avoid them falling down and getting hurt, I can’t make it so they make all the decisions that lead to happiness. I know they have to learn for themselves and all I can do is guide them. Heavenly Father has given us a guide and wants our happiness just the same. Realizing our Heavenly Father’s great desire is for us to be happy is the first important principle.

So how do we make this life a happy one despite our trials?
1. Do things that make us happy
2. Have faith and trust in God
3. Serve others
4. Decide to be happy.


1. Do things that make us happy.
I read a talk from Elder Kikuchi from the seventy that had an impression on me. When he was mission president in Hawaii, he instructed his elders and sisters to:
a. • Rise from his bed early—in his case, a few minutes before 6:30 a.m.
b. • Exercise for a few minutes.
c. • Wash his body and shave—make himself clean.
d. • Dress for the day.
e. • Go to a quiet place inside his apartment.
f. • Kneel, subdue his spirit before Heavenly Father, and call upon Him. Talk with Him in reverent prayer.
g. • Wait for His holy inspiration, pondering the scriptures or a recent general conference talk and think about the specific problems he faced.
I pondered this and realized that the days that I take the time to do the things that make me feel good, I am usually in a better mood. To his list I would add a few chores to keep the house in order, some special time for each member of the family and maybe a hobby of my own that makes me excited. That’s a lot to accomplish so if it doesn’t all happen everyday, its fine! Just keeping goals and trying to nourish our minds, bodies, and spirits will help us have a brighter outlook when times our tough.

2. Have Faith and Trust in God.
The sub-title says:
“Be of Good Cheer, the future is as bright as your faith.”
The future is as bright as our faith…

Elder Snow of the Seventy said,
“At times we may feel that our personal lives are unraveling from the natural consequences of living in a fallen world. The agency of man allows the introduction of chaos into lives that long for order, and nothing can seem more hopeless than the tattered lives of those we love. Can they, or we, ever be rescued? Is there any hope for them, or us? In moments of such despair, the priceless promise of God’s deliverance brings hope to troubled hearts.
No prophet has framed it more simply than did President Gordon B. Hinckley in the program for Sister Marjorie Hinckley’s funeral: (and I can just picture President Hinckley saying this) “It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers.”2 President Hinckley’s optimism for the future is rooted in his firm knowledge that the Lord’s promises of deliverance are sure.”
What a wonderful blessing talks can be. Our lives are a little risky right now. With my husband in school, we are putting a lot of faith in businesses and things we do not have much control over. But president Hinckley repeats twice, “He will not forsake us” So each day we CAN wake up happy. We aren’t sentenced to a life of worry and fear. We CAN just have faith, be happy, and keep doing our best. He will not forsake us.
I was in Seattle last weekend visiting a friend and I heard a little story that illustrated faith so beautifully and I’m going to tell it the best I can from memory:
A father was journeying on a train with his little daughter, who was blind, on his lap. After many hours had passed, his friend joined him and asked if he could take his daughter for a few minutes and give him a rest. The father agreed. Once his daughter was safely on his friends lap the father asked her, “do you know who has you?” And she said “No but I know that you know”
We may not know how things are possibly going to work out in our favor but if we trust in Heavenly Father, we can have peace that he knows.
I repeat President Monson’s words, “The future is as bright as our faith.”
3. Serve others:
Ether 12:4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

So the scripture says that those who believe in God are sure, steadfast, and always abounding in good works which leads them to glorify Him. So that would mean the opposite of a disciple of Christ is unsure, fearful, and self-centered which leads us nowhere. Looking outside ourselves to see others pain and trying to remedy that, to act as the Lords hands and mouthpiece can cause nothing but what I like to call the warm fuzzies. Perfect happiness.
President Monson’s stories in his talk, “Be of Good Cheer” and all the real life sufferings we hear daily help us see our problems as obsolete – not unimportant- but just normal problems and instead of dwelling on those, we can pick ourselves up, get out the door and try to help someone else.
I had a Bishop at BYU help me through a rough time. Each time I saw him he encouraged and inspired me to try different things and to really learn to pray etc… Finally I was happy to report to him that I felt a true change of heart and I was very happy and at peace. His words to me I’ll never forget. He said (in his British accent), “Ok love now go and run the Lord’s errand”.

4. Finally we can decide to be happy.

Outside of those people who may be suffering from clinical depression or similar disorders that may need help of a professional, we can decide our attitude about everything.

I once attended a devotional of Sheri Dew. She spoke of “verbal litter”, what trail do you leave behind when you say things because you are in a bad mood? What Spirit does that bring to your home? What kind of a trail do you want to leave behind you?”

For some reason I think of road rage and telemarketers. We always think we can just be rude on the road, but what if when we get cut-off instead of honking and yelling, just assume this person had to get somewhere fast and forgive? What if we recognize that these people are just trying to be good at their job and just decide to be kind. Wouldn’t that be nice for a change for them and bring a better Spirit into our hearts?

The perfect example of making the decision to be happy despite trials is very close to my heart. My little cousin Ashley was diagnosed with Leukemia when she was just a few months old. The side effects from the heavy medicines and chemo left her very weak and tiny. Her lungs were hit the hardest. She carted around an O2 tank as big as her for years and years. There were countless problems besides that. I used to feel sorry for her. All of us grew up dancing and playing but she always took joy in our accomplishments and loved to watch and cheer us on. She died a couple of years ago at the age of 19 and her mother found her diary shortly after. Every single entry started with the words - “I had a good day today”. Little Ashley always had the answer. She told herself she was happy and she had a good day, couldn’t we with our healthy bodies and busy lives just be strong enough to decide to have a good day just like Ashley?

Anyone’s situation can change in a second. A sickness can be cured, a well person may become sick, a poor person can gain wealth and vice versa. We have little control over life’s circumstances. We do have control over how we will react to life’s trials.

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

We have been given the BEST formula for happiness. We will have grief and sorrows. It’s ok to break down and have a bad day, everyone does. But let’s remember that we ARE that we might have JOY. Christ has overcome the world and can help us overcome any problem we might face if we cast our burden upon Him.