You have probably heard the phrase, ‘Your body is a temple.’ Many faiths have temples, special places of worship and of great beauty, in which believers seek closeness with the Divine. Those who visit the temple would never disrespect or defile it in any way. Similarly, we should feel the same way about our body, treating it with respect by avoiding harmful substances and behaviors. The Apostle Paul said, “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”¹ We can do this by following the Word of Wisdom.

The Word of Wisdom

One way that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints show their respect for the body and mind given to them by Heavenly Father is to follow the Word of Wisdom (WOW). We know that praying and attending church can help us form a relationship with the Lord, however, how we treat our bodies and minds is also important in strengthening this relationship and helping us to be worthy to receive the Holy Spirit.

The Word of Wisdom refers to a revelation had by the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1833 about the physical well-being of the Saints. It was formally accepted by the Church in 1851. Doctrine and Covenants 89 provides that the Saints should not use tobacco, wine, strong drinks, or hot drinks (interpreted by the prophets to mean coffee and black tea) and should eat meat sparingly. It encourages the use of herbs, grains, fruits, and vegetables, but does not require a vegetarian diet.²

Over the years, the importance of the WOW has been shown in ways that could not have been imagined during the early days of the Church. We know now how damaging tobacco products can be. How many of the almost 140,000 people a year in the United States who die from lung cancer or those who suffer for years with impaired breathing from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) would give anything if they could start over and not take up smoking?³ How many people wish they had not prioritized alcohol over family, work, or driving safely?

The Word of Wisdom and Today’s Generation

Though the Word of Wisdom was given to us over a hundred years ago, it is still relevant to us today. In 1949, David O. McKay, then President of the Church, discussed how views on harmful behaviors can change. In the early 20^th Century, it was unusual for women to smoke, and even considered not very ladylike. Over a short span of time, however, in large part due to advertising aimed at women, women’s smoking went from being hidden to openly shown in films. What had been unacceptable only a few years prior, had become accepted and fashionable.⁴   Classic movie fans might remember the iconic scene between a cool Bette Davis and a suave Paul Henreid as they share a cigarette in ‘Now Voyager.’ Who wouldn’t want to start smoking after seeing the beautiful Ms. Davis in that scene?

The same can be said for many of today’s habits, that is, advertising and popular culture make questionable behaviors appear typical and accepted. For example, many young people decide not to smoke tobacco and turn to vaping, or e-cigarettes, as an alternative. In vaping, the user inhales flavored oils using what is often a stylishly designed device. While it may seem like a good substitute for smoking, vaping is not harmless. According to the US Surgeon General, e-cigarettes contain particles that can be inhaled, chemicals that cause lung disease, and even heavy metals such as lead. ⁵ Most people would not knowingly put these things in their bodies, but since vaping is portrayed in popular culture as hip and trendy, and with little information about the health hazards, they don’t question the habit. In addition to lung problems, people have been seriously injured after the vape pen exploded in their face. And like many habits, vaping wastes money that could be better spent.

Another popular habit is stopping at the coffee shop. You already know that drinking coffee is against the WOW. It’s best to avoid coffee shops, but it is also understandable that you may want to socialize with friends who frequent them. If you do go in, take care when choosing a drink.  Even drinks that don’t have ‘coffee’ in the name, may contain it. Mochas, macchiatos, and lattes are coffee drinks. If you do order a drink, don’t be shy about asking if there is coffee in it. Green tea is also popular, but green tea is simply unfermented black tea and drinking it is against the Word of Wisdom.⁶

While the Doctrine and Covenants does not specifically refer to opioids, ecstasy, or other illegal and legal substances in common use today, we can know they are against the Word of Wisdom. As President Joseph Fielding Smith said, “The Word of Wisdom is a basic law. It points the way and gives us ample instruction in regard to both food and drink, good for the body and also detrimental. If we sincerely follow what is written with the aid of the Spirit of the Lord, we need no further counsel.” And “we will know what is good and what is bad for the body, without the Lord presenting us with a detailed list separating the good things from the bad that we may be protected. We will learn by this faithful observance that the promises of the Lord are fulfilled.”⁷  A good rule of thumb if you aren’t sure a substance is prohibited by the WOW, is to consider whether it may be addictive or otherwise impair your mental or physical health. Also, if you continue to buy this item or engage in a behavior such as gambling, will it mean that you won’t have enough money for obligations and essentials? If the answer is ‘yes,’ it is probably best to leave it alone.

Making Changes

Living in harmony with the Word of Wisdom may seem daunting at first. Perhaps you aren’t sure if you can do it. Maybe you’ve smoked since you were a teen. Maybe you can’t imagine giving up Friday nights at the bar with the gang. But change is possible. I was never a big coffee drinker, but I did drink tea. I had tea with meals, tea at work, tea when I was sick, tea all the time. Nothing fancy, in fact, regular supermarket tea was fine with me. As my son got older, we had many happy evenings together sharing a pot of tea. So, it was especially difficult for me to give it up. When I started to investigate the Church, I substituted cocoa for tea, but over time, I found I didn’t even need to do that. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with hot water with lemon. What worked for me in making the change was thinking of the Word of Wisdom as a whole. All the components work together for a healthier life and one more connected to the Spirit. Following the Word of Wisdom is also important because it is one of the ways we show our worthiness to enter the temple. Having experienced the blessings of the temple, I do not want to lose them because I can’t say ‘no’ to a cup of tea.

As you begin following the Word of Wisdom, you can turn to the missionaries. They can help you find a smoking cessation program. They can guide you to Scripture that will encourage you to make other choices when you are tempted to engage in behaviors that are against the WOW. There are fun, drug and alcohol-free, social events at church for all ages. If you feel unsure of yourself, attend church functions so that you won’t be surrounded by temptation. Find outlets such as exercise, being of service, crafts, reading Scripture, or listening to uplifting music to occupy your mind. Even if you are not yet a member of the Church, the missionaries would be happy to give you a blessing to help you with your struggle. The Lord has promised that if you go to Him “with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.”⁸  Know that you can change. Trust in the Lord and do not doubt yourself. You can do this!

The Blessings of the Word of Wisdom

We are all mortal and subject to human frailties. Following the Word of Wisdom does not mean we will never get sick. But it may be much easier to avoid or recover from illnesses if we start from a good base, one that is free from the use of harmful substances such as addictive drugs, tobacco, and alcohol and that is nourished by a variety of healthy foods. Following the WOW can help us have a clear mind, making it easier to make good choices for ourselves and our families.

We can be at peace, knowing that our behaviors are less likely to be the cause of marital strife, poor job performance, a car accident, or misspent finances. Adhering to the Word of Wisdom allows us to be ready to receive spiritual promptings so that we can be guided by the Holy Spirit. The Word of Wisdom is a great source of strength that helps us, as the scripture says, “to run and not be weary and walk and not faint.”⁹

Resources:

1. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20.
2. Doctrine and Covenants 89.
3. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/research/update-on-cancer-deaths/index.htm
4. Conference Report, Oct. 1949, pp. 185–86.
5. https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/
6. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2019/08/vaping-coffee-tea-and-marijuana?lang=eng
7. Improvement Era, Feb. 1956, pp. 78–79.
8. Mosiah 7:33.
9. Doctrine and Covenants 89:20.

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At the end of both days of general conference, for our scripture study time, I asked each of my children (all teens) what stood out to them. Two of the three mentioned Devin Durrant’s talk where he invited us to “ponderize.” It’s great when talks have simple memory tools that make the principles stick, especially for children and youth! (Dear Brother Durrant: It worked. So I’m going to jump on the bandwagon and use the word, too.) [As an edit to the original post, I want to reiterate that Brother Durrant himself notes that this shouldn’t be a replacement for regular scripture study. It is a supplement to it, and an example of an exercise that can build mental and spiritual well-being.]

It was a blessing for me to reflect with my children about how ponderizing has helped me in my life. I shared with them about how I will forever be grateful for the Seminary program and the Scripture Mastery scriptures I marked, memorized, and read and re-read as part of my Seminary experiences. I also am so grateful I had the opportunity to serve a mission. Even though I envy the missionaries who now have Preach My Gospel, I do feel fortunate that I had the opportunity to ponderize a set list of scriptures as a missionary in ways that were similar to what I did in Seminary.

(Now, Preach My Gospel has a lot more scriptures to read, which is great. And if I were a parent of young children, I would definitely use that as a guide for scriptures to choose. But I love that I was exposed to a short list of topically-organized scriptures, each that had a pointed purpose.)

Last night, I saw a mom ask in a Facebook group what scriptures others would recommend that she include on her list of scriptures to ponderize with her children. Of course, the best list of scriptures will be selected over time with the Spirit’s help, so ultimately God can guide even children to scriptures to focus on. I have often been amazed at how my children can so quickly and easily resonate with scriptures and speak with the tongue of angels about them. (If you are a parent of young children, don’t underestimate how much your children can learn and do.)

Still, as a starting point, it was easy for me to share my suggestions above with that mom because of the impact memorizing these scriptures as a youth/young adult (or at least being very familiar with them) still has on me 25-30 years later! Learning, marking, and repeatedly teaching and learning scriptures helped me understand and remember where key doctrines of the Plan of Salvation can be found in the scriptures. (e.g., Want to read doctrinally-dense chapters about the Atonement? Read chapters like 2 Nephi 2 and 9, or Alma 40-42.) And I have often reflected on how much ponderizing has impacted my desire and ability to teach my children the gospel from the scriptures.

I also shared with my son about how becoming so familiar with the word of God leaves a repository from which the Lord can draw from. John 14:26 says “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” The Spirit can bring things to our remembrance when we have His word in our memories!

Thanks to Elder Durrant for encouraging my children to ponderize, and for giving me an opportunity to reflect on the blessing this “small effort…sustained over time” as a youth had and continues to have on my life. (I’m grateful for those who love to ponder scriptures and gospel principles with me now that I am an adult.)

p.s. Not that my opinion matters, but given my experience, I will share this thought: My one suggestion to add to what Elder Durrant invited us to do is to invite your children to mark scriptures they want to remember. Even though digital scripture reading is so often the way we read, I think there is still value in the physical action of pulling out a red pencil and a paper copy of the scriptures and marking them. I would have never imagined that such a simple, physical action as a Seminary student and missionary would make a difference in my ability to remember doctrinal threads and remember where to find verses, but it really did. I think marking scriptures can also invite learning about the context and background of the verse, which also helps the mind and spirit make connections that can stick.

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I’m sitting here after watching “Meet the Mormons” for the second time (was able to see a preview screening and then went with two of my children tonight — the show came out a day early where I live). I’ve got many thoughts swirling around in my head. What can I share about the experience I’ve had with this film?

Because, you know, I’m Mormon (a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). So what else would I say on a Mormon website except that I liked the film?

Let me say this. Honestly, I went in a little skeptical, maybe even nervous. I wasn’t sure what to expect. A movie about Mormons on the big screen? Would I like it? What if I didn’t? (That’d be awkward, being a Mormon blogger and all.)

I loved it. (And I loved it even more the second time around.)

I am a fan of documentaries, so that may have something to do with it. The cinematography is breathtaking, especially in the scenes of Costa Rica and Nepal. The stories are real and diverse. They capture the fact that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is an international faith.

As I’ve read reviews, I have seen people echo what I have felt — that “I think the [stories and the] challenges were diverse enough that somebody could identify with just about any one of them.” (There are some other gems from that article from “famous Mormons” that resonated with me as well.)

But the main reason I loved the film is because of how it made me feel. My son said something similar: “Mom, I didn’t have any major spiritual experiences with the movie, but I just felt good through the whole thing. That was evidence enough to me that truth was being shared.”

What kind of truth? Even if you take out the “Mormon” element (which is more understated than I expected it to be), the film explores the importance of family and the joy in and need for service to others. It encourages not giving up in hard times, and living life wholeheartedly. For Mormons, these principles connect to our faith in Jesus Christ, but these are true principles that can inspire regardless of religious belief, or even if you don’t identify yourself as a person of faith. They connect to so much of what it means to be human.

I left this film the way I feel when I engage with inspiring narratives. I left wanting to be a better person. I left wanting to face my own challenges with more hope. I left wanting to hear more stories!

And yes, I left feeling more surely the reality that God knows and loves all of His children. Tonight, as I watched the film, I felt that in a personal way — that He knows me. I was reminded, again, that He really is intimately involved in our lives — even when we don’t know it, see it, or even believe it. The last story about Dawn, in particular, really hit that truth home to me.

There is a very real message that we all matter to God, and that we each have something to offer this world. The song at the end of the documentary (“Glorious,” sung by David Archuleta) also reiterates this reality. The song in context of the film was one of the things my daughter loved most. She’s usually one who shares a lot with me, but Mary-like, both times we watched the film, I could see that she just wanted to ponder what was left in her heart after experiencing it all. (In fact, the first time she asked me kindly but directly to stop asking her what she thought!)

I hope you will take the opportunity to experience the film if it is in an area near you. (If it isn’t, you can request it here.) In my opinion, the film is not pushy or preachy. It’s informative without being impersonal. I do think that most people will find something that resonates, in the stories and/or in the simple yet powerful principles that are reflected in the narratives.

Note: All proceeds of the film will be donated to the Red Cross.

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My parents are both converts to The Church Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a young and recently baptized married couple in Brazil, one of their biggest dreams was to establish their family in the “Estados Unidos” (USA), more specifically Utah, to be closer to the large body of unified saints there. What they wanted more than anything was to raise their children on high moral ground. This fact, is something they have always been proud of, “our family legacy,” as my dad always says.

So they stood in long lines, filled out many forms, and waited…and waited…for six years. Then one day their request for permanent resident status was approved. That’s when our family (I was six at the time) moved. My dad jokingly recalls, “with four pieces of luggage and eight hundred dollars.”

Through hard work, and sheer grit, I saw my immigrant family struggle to survive. We worked as janitors, we delivered news papers, we worked odd construction jobs. I don’t think I ever saw my parents sleep. But I always saw them on their knees in prayer.

Now looking back at the upbringing they were able to secure for their children, the freedom from corruption and oppression they were able to give us, the opportunity every single one of us was able to access…their struggle was worth it.

This event happening on Tuesday is actually more than just a rally for marriage…to me at least. This event is about gratitude, and exertion of liberty. This event is the opportunity to stand as a collective body of saints for what matters most -our faith, our family, and our freedom.

That’s what brings me to you now. I wanted to share my story and why I want to personally go. It’s because my parents fought for me to have this very opportunity.  I remember waking up at 4:00 am and folding newspapers with my mom and dad. It’s for them that I’m going to this rally. It’s for the sacrifices they made to give me what I enjoy today. It’s for their marriage, the mutual covenant made between each other and God Almighty. It’s for their belief that the “Estados Unidos” is truly a place where if good men dwell, they will be free. It’s for Utah, the ‘city set high on the hill’, built from the ground up… out of nothing.

The very existence of my state was founded upon the backs of those who have gone before us. Courageous men, women, and children — families — that collectively gave their all for what we currently enjoy today. This is the legacy of Utah.

I want to stand with the large group of strong and courageous sons and daughters of those fathers and mothers that are counting on us to continue their legacy. I want to support this event with my presence.

-Carolina Sagebin Allen

Note: Mormon Women: Who We Are and the More Good Foundation take no official stance on events such as those mentioned above. Please remember, also, that this site is not an official site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

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I have the opportunity to teach young women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints every few weeks. This month, the focus in the youth curriculum is the Apostasy and Restoration. (If you are not familiar with Mormon teachings on these topics, I encourage you to click on the previous link.)

I have felt to focus the lesson today for our class on the First Vision. I wanted to share some thoughts that came this week as I was preparing for our class discussion.

I decided to read with my family the account of Joseph Smith’s first vision as recorded in his history (found in our LDS canon of scripture in the Pearl of Great Price).

It struck me with more power perhaps than it ever has because I felt more than ever before how personal his story is, how much it reflects what mortal life can often be like. How much it reflects what some of my own personal journey has been like during the past year or so. I have not been struggling with my faith or testimony of the Church or looking for a religion, but I have wrestled with some of the deepest, lifetime struggles that have been with me since my childhood and have had some other difficult challenges and questions in my life. These things have sometimes left me feeling like I could not take another step. Or feeling like I couldn’t take another step until I had some clarity.

I was moved to tears as I read out loud what Joseph experienced. I could relate to words and phrases he used: “confusion,” “strife,” feeling it was “impossible to come to any certain conclusions” on his own. He was surrounded by a “war of words and tumult of opinions” and “labor[ed] under…extreme difficulties” of all of this confusion.  He writes:

I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?

Joseph turned to the scriptures for insight.

I was one day reading the ^aEpistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack ^bwisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

The scripture sank deeply into his soul.

I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed ^bwisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know, and unless I could get more wisdom than I then had, I would never know;

At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in ^adarkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. I at length came to the determination to “ask of God,” concluding that if he gave wisdom to them that lacked wisdom, and would ^bgive liberally, and not upbraid, I might venture.

I’m struck by how as he sought to open his heart (and, for the first time, his mouth) to ask God his question, he was overcome by the power of the adversary. Clearly his experience teaches us that there is a power that desires that we not pray. This is consistent with a scripture in the Book of Mormon, which states, “For if ye would hearken unto the  ^aSpirit which teacheth a man to ^bpray, ye would know that ye must ^cpray; for the ^devil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray” (2 Nephi 32:8).

Perhaps the application from this is that we should not be surprised if we run into serious, soul-stretching opposition when we are seeking God’s help. I should not be surprised when opposition comes!

My children pointed out how Joseph’s faith was evidenced by the fact that he did not give up when that opposition came. He was pushed to the very limits before the light finally emerged and his prayer was answered, but he  “exert[ed] all [his] powers to ^acall upon God to deliver [him] out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon [him].”

His faith urged him forward. He had questions, he sought answers. He believed they would come.

And they did. God answered him.

As we read these verses as a family, I felt God personally urging me forward, to continue to earnestly and faithfully seek God’s guidance for my personal questions and struggles. I testify that He is there and He does listen. I have never seen God or the Savior, but I know They are real.

If you are struggling with hard issues in your life, with questions that leave you at a loss of what to do, I invite you to read the story of Joseph Smith and consider the patterns and teachings about prayer that are presented in this powerful account. Even if you do not share our faith, I believe you might find something in that story that can validate the reality of your own struggles and give you hope that God is aware of you. He knows you by name and He knows your need. But He does wait for us to wrestle and seek and knock and wait, in faith.

More thoughts tomorrow…. I am looking forward to hearing the thoughts of the young women in our class today, too. I loved learning with and from my children. I love seeing how the Spirit teaches us each in personal ways and that when we share with each other, all can be edified and rejoice together. 

What are your thoughts on Joseph Smith’s story? On prayer? On what helps you push through the darkness when things are difficult and confusing?

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p.s. Those who look a little older than 30 are those who invest their time and energy trying to help make events like this happen. 🙂

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Editor’s note: This is another article in our new series of BYU students sharing letters and reflections on scripture.

Setting Christ-centered Goals as a Family

by Ethan G.

After New Years my wife and I set many goals that we wanted to accomplish during the year, and habits we wanted to incorporate into our lives that would stay with us for our lifetime. Of course, with all New Years goals usually they never happen. Finally, a month later we got back into the groove of things and talked about our goals we had set and why they weren’t happening.

As we talked this past week a scripture came to mind from my reading in Helaman 5:12 which reads:

“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”

We then discussed how we both need to have our goals and desires based in Christ. We needed a united purpose and foundation to build on if we want to keep our relationship strong with each other and with our Heavenly Father. When we are united in our thoughts, desires, and actions we can become one with one another and as we aligned our desires with Heavenly Fathers will we would become one with the Godhead as well. The reason we talked about this was because our goals related to the will of God, we were just having trouble being motivated to get them done. And this came from purpose and remembering the big picture.

As we talked about our foundation and a vision of where we wanted to be the more motivated to get things taken care of in our lives. We then discussed Helaman 10:4-5 and replaced our names with Nephi:

“Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments. And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.”

We have power within each of us. We can all receive the blessings of Heaven according to the will of the Father. It is all about what we have done and who we become. That determines that which is allotted unto us. So as my wife and I and whoever else is reading this, as we set our goals according to the vision of who we can become, we can have the same feelings as Nephi did when he heard a voice of the Lord those many years ago. We can become great if we would stay on top of the small and simple things. Thankfully now we are right back on track, working toward the greater good, improving ourselves, and preparing to be great influences on the lives of those around us.

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This radio host got a call asking, “What about Mitt Romney’s magic underwear?” The answer about how Mormon temple garments are not unlike many other religious garments worn by people of other faiths.

Mitt Romney’s Underwear

[R]eligions around the world have various types of religious garments. If you do the math, most believers on earth belong to a religion that commands its followers or leaders to wear religiously significant clothing.

Mormons are part of that majority.

And Mitt Romney is a Mormon.

And he lives his religion.

So, yes, Mitt Romney wears a religious garment, beneath his outer clothes. He does this for the same reason almost all religious clothing is worn – to remind the believer that he is a believer, and as a token of promises the believer has made to God.

You can read more about Mormon temple garments in other articles as well:

What can you tell me about Mormon underwear?

Why do Mormons wear special underwear?

from lds.org, temple garments explained in a manual for Mormons preparing to “go through the temple” for the first time

LDS Church Temples: Mormon Underwear

Why Mormonism: Mormon Underwear

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There are a lot of different ways we could capture a bit about how work is an important part of Mormon life and beliefs.

For example, we could quote prophetic teachings about the importance of work, such as this one from D. Todd Christofferson, a prophet and apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

A consecrated life is a life of labor. Beginning early in His life, Jesus was about His Father’s business (see Luke 2:48–49). God Himself is glorified by His work of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of His children (see Moses 1:39). We naturally desire to participate with Him in His work, and in so doing, we ought to recognize that all honest work is the work of God. In the words of Thomas Carlyle: “All true Work is sacred; in all true Work, were it but true hand-labour, there is something of divineness. Labour, wide as the Earth, has its summit in Heaven.” ³ 

God has designed this mortal existence to require nearly constant exertion. …  Work builds and refines character, creates beauty, and is the instrument of our service to one another and to God. A consecrated life is filled with work, sometimes repetitive, sometimes menial, sometimes unappreciated but always work that improves, orders, sustains, lifts, ministers, aspires.

We could share posts written by Mormon women for our website about work — work in the home, in the workforce (such as this post about Mormon scientists), in non-profit efforts (for example, read these two posts about two Mormon women changing lives in Ethiopia).

But this post may be one of the funnest (and funniest) posts ever written on Mormon work — it’s a summary of a Christmas Eve work project: cleaning the church building. This is something Mormons do every week (twice a week, actually). As part of the principle of self-reliance, we take turns cleaning the entire church building. Sign-up sheets are passed around on Sundays, and families and individuals come together to keep our buildings clean. You’ll see that the work isn’t always done perfectly, but we do try. Hats off to Mormon Soprano for a great post!

Image created by Tamakawho, found via Wikimedia Commons

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Are Mormons happier than others, even those of other faiths? It’s possible and here is one theory. It’s one thing to believe in a loving Heavenly Father who knows and cares about us. Many people of many faiths believe that and it makes them happier in life than those who don’t. It’s a whole other thing to actually be willing to give the time, energy, and commitment it takes to get to KNOW that loving Heavenly Father and love Him in return. Active Mormons commit their entire lives to this cause. We attend church for three hours each Sunday, sometimes more. Most of us spend some time during the week preparing for this Sunday worship. We spend Monday evenings [Family Home Evening] learning about the gospel and having fun with our families. Our youth go to a gospel activity night midweek each week, and seminary class every day, often in the early hours of the morning before school. Adults attend the temple and review covenants made their regularly. [Youth also participate in temple service.] We visit each other in our homes once a month. Our young men [where scouting is available] are encouraged to become Eagle Scouts, our young women complete a 100+ hour service and gospel-learning goal program. Young men, young women, and senior couples are encouraged to leave their regular lives for a time and at their own expense to serve missions. We have large families when possible because we believe there are many spirits waiting for their turn to come to earth, gain a body, and fulfill God’s plan to return to Him again in eternal family units. Twice a year we spend 8-10 hours on a weekend listening to those we believe are prophets and seers give us inspired direction for us to apply in our lives. We pray and read scriptures daily.

If there is a difference between Mormons and those of other faiths, I think perhaps this level of consecration of our lives is it. And I think our countenances reflect that. When we are baptized and confirmed into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are given the gift of the Holy Ghost in a sacred ordinance. As we renew covenants from this ordinance every week in our sacrament meeting we are promised that His Spirit will always be with us as WE remember HIM always.

For me, as I spend my time immersed in all of these gospel oriented activities, I can remember Him more than I would otherwise. Having His Spirit with me, through the gift of the Holy Ghost, all of the time, IS happiness and peace. If you notice happiness in Mormons, I think this is why. This is the light you are seeing in our countenances.

Our founding prophet Joseph Smith said it this way:

“A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for, from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things. It was through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life.”

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