"Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness."
Alma 41:10
This is an imperative thing that we all need to learn in our lives, and often re-learn. When we are tempted by sin, we often think that whatever it is will make us happier. We really believe it on some level, and that is often why we make the choices we do. We think stealing the money will make us happier. We think adultery will make us happier. We think gambling, pornography, alcohol, drugs, fornication, gossip, lying, or revenge will make us happier... or any of the multitudinous other things that we do in opposition to the Lord's will. But just as the high from a drug is a parody of happiness, drawing us in and getting us addicted, wanting that feeling more than we want reality, so are all of the temporary benefits of all the kinds of sin. We mistake lust for love, revenge for justice, laughter for friendship, greed for satisfaction. None of it lasts, and none of it is real and lasting happiness or peace. If we lie to accomplish something, and we don't accomplish it the right way, whatever it is can crumble beneath us. It isn't built on a solid foundation, and we always have to worry that it will be destroyed.
Today, let's remember that *righteousness* is the way to happiness. Shortcuts through sin don't work. Let's tell the truth, and find the honest way. Let's make the hard choices to avoid the imitation, knock-off happiness, and find the true happiness behind the facade. We're going to have problems in life... that's a given. But even though it is hard, let's face our troubles in the right way and not try to cheat our way out... then our triumph will be real, and we won't have to keep going back to start. And our reward of true and eternal happiness will be vastly better than any temporary high.
Alma 41:10
This is an imperative thing that we all need to learn in our lives, and often re-learn. When we are tempted by sin, we often think that whatever it is will make us happier. We really believe it on some level, and that is often why we make the choices we do. We think stealing the money will make us happier. We think adultery will make us happier. We think gambling, pornography, alcohol, drugs, fornication, gossip, lying, or revenge will make us happier... or any of the multitudinous other things that we do in opposition to the Lord's will. But just as the high from a drug is a parody of happiness, drawing us in and getting us addicted, wanting that feeling more than we want reality, so are all of the temporary benefits of all the kinds of sin. We mistake lust for love, revenge for justice, laughter for friendship, greed for satisfaction. None of it lasts, and none of it is real and lasting happiness or peace. If we lie to accomplish something, and we don't accomplish it the right way, whatever it is can crumble beneath us. It isn't built on a solid foundation, and we always have to worry that it will be destroyed.
Today, let's remember that *righteousness* is the way to happiness. Shortcuts through sin don't work. Let's tell the truth, and find the honest way. Let's make the hard choices to avoid the imitation, knock-off happiness, and find the true happiness behind the facade. We're going to have problems in life... that's a given. But even though it is hard, let's face our troubles in the right way and not try to cheat our way out... then our triumph will be real, and we won't have to keep going back to start. And our reward of true and eternal happiness will be vastly better than any temporary high.
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