Blessings and Happiness Comes From Keeping the Commandments

Dr. Martin Seligman, director of the University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center, gave a lecture at BYU today about "well-being." http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/; http://byub.org/devotionals. He shared with us many, well-proven facts which show that well-being can be laerned and taught. In other words, we can learn how to be optimistic and happy. He talked about techniques such as discovering what your strengths are and then using them everyday. He mentioned metacognition, focusing on questions such as "what went well today?" "why?" He also talked about participating in meaningful activites like service and how the satisfaction gained from altruism differs from the happiness we feel while we watch a movie. All in all, his thoughts were very insightful.

I would like to add another dimension to this idea: God. Another aspect to life that adds deeper meaning and greater happiness is making God a part of everyday life. Specifically. I would like the blessings that come from keeping the commandments. A children's hymn, "Keep the Commandments" reads:

"Keep the commandments; keep the commandments!

In this there is safety; in this there is peace.

He will send blessings; He will send blessings,

words of a prophet: Keep the commandments.

In this there is safety and peace.

We are His children; we are His children,

and we must be tested to show we are true.

Hold to His promises; hold to His promises,

heeding the prophets: Keep the commandments.

In this there is safety and peace" http://www.lds.org/cm.

As a little child I was taught that I will be happy when I am obedient. This applies to my relationships with my parents, with school and with my Heavenly Father. Recently, I just got engaged to a wonderful man and we will be married in temple for all time and all eternity. I feel so blessed to have access to the wonderful privelege of being married in the House of the Lord and I know that, in part, it is because of my steadfastness in keeping His commandments that I am able to do this.

John 15:10 states: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love http://scriptures.lds.org/. I have truly felt of his love as I have kept the commandments. I know that He has always loved me and always will, but when I am choosing the right, I am happy and am more sensitive to the Holy Spirit thus I greater feel of His love. When we keep the commandments, the Lord blesses us for it and we are happy. In addition to what Dr. Seligman taught, we can find deeper meaning and happiness in life through the gospel of Jesus Christ.