The faithful of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a reputation for seeming happy, as was pointed out in BYU President Kevin Worthen’s talk yesterday. He recounted a campus visitor who, passing many students, inquired whether there was some kind of happiness initiative on campus. Julieann Selden, writing for LDSLiving, asked,

We are known for our big hearts, bright smiles, and willingness to bring potato salad to anyone in need. But … Do we allow ourselves to feel deep human emotion, or do we feel pressure to put on a smiling face even when the world is crumbling around us?

It’s a natural instinct to think that those who smile a lot are either ignorant or willfully unaware of the challenges of life. In fact, the cultural cynicism that has only been growing in my lifetime looks on these smiles with distrust because they don’t seem to face the grimness of reality.

By combining the earlier thoughts of Selden and yesterday’s from Worthen, there is a powerful honesty that is a refreshing step away from the world’s sarcastic pessimism. I see it as two messages:

1. Experiencing joy is a choice born of awareness, not ignorance
2. Sorrow and misery need not be discounted by that joy

1. Experiencing joy is a choice

Kevin Worthen is president of a first-rate university, meaning he is necessarily situated in the midst of an academic hotbed of critical thought. As such, universities are places which exert a gravitational pull on those hard-life sentiments that we could expect to repel joy. His devotional message expresses that joy, like faith, love, and all good things, needs to be struggled for with decision and bravery. Enlisting the words of apostles and prophets in bolsterin this message, in his talk you can read deeper on the six points about joy:

1. Recognize and constantly remember that our ability to have joy in this life and the eternities is not dependent on external circumstances. From Russel M. Nelson: “Joy is not in our circumstance; it’s in our focus.” This is to be taken literally, not abstractly. Don’t wait for your circumstances to change before you experience joy.

2. We should recognize and remember that enduring joy does not mean uninterrupted bliss and a life free of challenges. Suffering is part of the process by which we gain enduring joy. Joy is about transcending suffering, not avoiding it. Don’t be led astray that you are failing at this because you have tough days. With the Savior’s help we can still experience joy while in the midst of our afflictions.

3. True joy, enduring joy, comes only through obedience to God’s commandments. The commandments are the guidelines for attaining joy. It is concern for the well-being of our fellows that we give God joy.

4. Repentance is a critical part of experiencing joy, because we will not be perfectly obedient. Many confuse the pain of needing repentance as being pain of repenting. Repentance always stretches our soul, sometimes to the edge of our capacity.

5. Joy is a principle of power, increasing our capabilities.

6. We need to recognize that all of this (joy) is possible only because of Jesus Christ. For Latter-day Saints, Jesus Christ IS joy. The author and finisher of our joy, in addition to our faith.

2. Sorrow and misery need not be discounted by that joy

Worthen also makes the strong point that joy in no way ignores difficulty; in fact, life’s troubles are what give opportunity and significance to choosing joy. Enter the thoughts of Selden, who has juggled the joint struggles of grad school and working through her husband’s fight against an aggressive cancer. She writes of the need to admit our challenges and pains instead of masking ourselves in false optimism. Driving her message with the observation that Jesus, our paragon of joy, also wept, she concludes:

By facing my feelings head on, I am finding true joy. I no longer criticize myself for emotional responses to difficult situations. I no longer expect myself to always be positive and cheerful, regardless of painful circumstances. I am using my experiences and emotions to lift others through understanding and empathy. My pain, heartache, sadness, anger, frustration, worry, and disappointment are helping me learn, grow, and support the people around me.

Conclusion

These two, Worthen’s devotional and Selden’s article, are complementary perspectives on joy. Worthen elaborates on the power of joy while Selden discusses the often painstaking process of wending through trials with the honesty and courage that it can take to come out with joy on the other side. Both use Jesus Christ as their pilot and inspiration for these thoughts. I recommend reading them together.

photo by Reji, 2010