I am in my early thirties and loving it. I have three kids and have been married for 9 years. At church, I teach an Adult Sunday School class. I love camping, nature, writing and playing games with my family.

I have been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or Mormon church, since I was baptized at age 8 [the minimum age at which children are baptized]. A lot of my happiness stems from that one really good decision to join the church. I was cute, but nerdy, in High School and went on to college where I obtained a Business Degree in Finance. Promptly after graduation, I received a job offer from a prominent bank to work as a Bonds Broker. I was happy to have a job where I could completely support myself. I bought myself a Jeep Grand Cherokee and thought I was hot stuff.

But after months and months of cold calls, I thought, “There must be something more to life than Fund Managers hanging up and swearing at me.” That night I went home and pulled out the yellow pages. I circled every job that I thought I might like or be good at. I found a trend. Either I was supposed to be a teacher or a florist! I started calling private schools, since I didn’t have a teaching degree, and landed a job teaching Math. Can I tell you how happy I was? My smile muscles ached when I got home from work because I found what was just right for me. I have since taught math and quite a lot of science.

Initially, this change was hard. I had prepared to be and do something different in life. But when I started teaching I was happy. Thinking about this experience reminds me about the one thing I appreciate most about the Gospel of Jesus Christ: it allows for change. Through the principle of repentance we can do and become better.

I have friends who think that they are “bad apples” or are too far gone for happiness. This is simply not true! We can all change, and become better and happier. Sincere repentance has a lot to do with changing. With faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe that He has the power to forgive sins and make us clean again.

I am thankful that I have learned about repentance since an early age. Just like changing careers was uncomfortable at first but led to happiness, change through repentance can lead to greater happiness in the future.

I hope you smile so much today that your face muscles ache.

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