Joy - Elder Bednar
Dec 4, 2018
BYU Devotional
Joy is
found in Jesus Christ and is available to every person in every
circumstance.
Joy primarily pertains to mortality and eternity;
fun pertains only to mortality.
Identify, study, and prayerfully
ponder additional principles that enable the spiritual gift of joy.
“Joy comes from exercising faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, worthily
receiving and faithfully honoring sacred ordinances and covenants,
and striving to become deeply converted to the Savior and His
purposes.” —Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles
During a “spiritually powerful testimony meeting”
recently, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
listened intently as a woman declared great joy because of the
Father’s plan of salvation.
“Immediately obvious to me was
the fact that this woman was not simply speaking familiar words,” he
said. “The light that shined in her eyes, the spiritually dignified
tone of her voice, her bright and peaceful countenance—everything
about her affirmed the truthfulness of what she was saying.”
The woman was filled with and radiated joy. “Indeed, she was
becoming more like the Savior and receiving His image in her
countenance, a part of which was becoming joyful.”
The
enduring joy felt by the woman is not a blessing reserved for a
select few, Rather, every person striving to remember and honor
sacred covenants and follow the commandments can receive this gift,
according to God’s will and timing.
“Because of Heavenly
Father’s plan and the Savior’s Atonement, challenges and afflictions
invite us to lift up our eyes to Jesus Christ, the true source of
joy. “The precious perspective provided by the restored gospel
allows us to learn lessons that prepare us for eternity through the
adversities of mortality.”
Joy can endure through times and
experiences both good and bad “because of our knowledge of the
Father’s plan and of the Savior’s Atonement.
“Since becoming
President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
President Russell M. Nelson frequently has extended an invitation to
the people of the world that includes the promise of joy:
‘Our message to the world is simple and sincere: We invite all of
God’s children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior,
receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy, and
qualify for eternal life.
Joy is a condition of great
happiness that results from righteous living.
“Interestingly,
our gospel perspective helps us to understand that joy is more than
a fleeting feeling or emotion; rather, it is a spiritual gift and a
state of being and becoming.”
There is a distinct contrast
between righteous joy and worldly fun...
“Joy comes from
exercising faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, worthily receiving and
faithfully honoring sacred ordinances and covenants, and striving to
become deeply converted to the Savior and His purposes. Fun is the
result of amusement, playful and often boisterous action or speech,
or pleasurable diversion.”
While a day spent on rides at
Disneyland is considered fun, joy comes through worthily preparing
for and participating in the ordinance of the sacrament.
“Joy
primarily is spiritual; fun primarily is temporal,” he said. “Joy
primarily is enduring; fun primarily is temporary. Joy primarily is
deep and rich; fun primarily is shallow. Joy primarily is whole and
complete; fun primarily is partial. Joy primarily pertains to
mortality and eternity; fun pertains only to mortality.
“How
important it is for us to never confuse or trade the enduring, deep
joy of devoted discipleship for temporary and shallow fun.”
Enduring, eternal joy comes through the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and
His gospel—through having faith in the Lord, repenting, being
obedient, serving, and keeping a gospel perspective about the trials
encountered in mortality.
“Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
repentance, obedience, service, and a gospel perspective about the
trials we encounter in mortality all invite us to come unto the
source of enduring joy—Jesus Christ,” he said.
Recognizing
many additional truths could be discussed, Elder Bednar invited
students to identify, study, and prayerfully ponder additional
principles that enable the spiritual gift of joy.
Prior to
Elder Bednar’s address, BYU President Kevin J Worthen addressed
students. With emotion in his voice, he encouraged students to be
“more aware of and more caring for the well-being of every
individual in our community” and invited students to “pay attention
to the thoughts and feelings you experience and then to act on those
impressions.
Men’s choir members sing during the campus
devotional in the Marriott Center at BYU in Provo on Tuesday,
December 4, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
Elder David A. Bednar speaks about the difference between fun
and joy at the campus devotional in the Marriott Center at BYU in
Provo on Tuesday, December 4, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton,
Deseret News.
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
speaks during the campus devotional held in the Marriott Center at
BYU in Provo on Tuesday, December 4, 2018. Photo by Scott G
Winterton, Deseret News.
Audience members listen as Elder
David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaks during the campus
devotional in the Marriott Center at BYU in Provo on Tuesday,
December 4, 2018. Photo by Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.
“You and others will be blessed if you do.”
For students
heading into finals and the Christmas season, the timing of the
words of Elder Bednar was encouraging.
“It was a good
reminder that we are the controllers of our joy,” said Kierra
Maiden, a student from Logan, Utah, studying elementary education.
“Sometimes we put a lot of pressure on ourselves, and it is a good
reminder to be grateful to be here and to find joy. We get to choose
to connect with that eternal joy.”
For Caleb Naumu, a student
from Huntsville, Utah, studying global supply chain management, his
takeaway from the devotional was a sense of responsibility.
“We are often going through the motions without joy,” he said. “If
we are feeling that way, we can focus on Jesus Christ, and through
doing the little principles we will feel better; we will feel joy.”
Naumu said he recognizes that he still has responsibilities and
tasks associated with being a student but that in the busyness he
can focus on the “more important things.”
Aleah Bucknum, from
Wenatchee, Washington, felt impressed to be part of “changing the
conversation” she has with others.
“Rather than talking about
stress and the things I have to do, I can talk about being grateful
and about joyful things.”