Hallmarks of Happiness
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Topics
Building Upon the Foundation of Jesus Christ
Elder Sabin emphasizes that building our lives upon the foundation of Jesus Christ is essential for our happiness. He shares a story about his son Justin to illustrate the principle that doing our best to follow Christ and His prophets, despite our limitations, leads to joy and commendation from the Savior.
Therefore, my first observation is that building upon the foundation of Jesus Christ is essential to our happiness.
That is how it will be for us if we do our very best to follow Christ and His prophets in spite of our limitations.Key Points:
- Building our lives upon the foundation of Jesus Christ is essential for our happiness.
- Doing our best to follow Christ and His prophets, despite our limitations, leads to joy and commendation from the Savior.
- Can you share a time when you felt joy or peace from striving to follow Christ, even in the midst of challenges or limitations?
- How has building your life upon the foundation of Jesus Christ brought happiness into your life?
Recognizing Our Divine Lineage
Elder Sabin stresses the importance of knowing and trusting that we are sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father. This understanding changes our perspective and gives our lives purpose and meaning.
My second observation is that it is crucial to our happiness that we remember that we are sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father.
Knowing and trusting this reality changes everything.Key Points:
- Recognizing our divine lineage is crucial to our happiness.
- Knowing and trusting that we are children of a loving Heavenly Father changes our perspective and gives our lives purpose and meaning.
- Can you share an experience when you felt strongly that you are a child of God?
- How has recognizing your divine lineage affected your perspective or actions?
Loving and Serving Others
Elder Sabin discusses the importance of loving and serving others, being kind, forgiving, and nonjudgmental. He shares a humorous family story to illustrate the principle of being considerate and careful of others.
The third hallmark for happiness is to always remember the worth of a soul.
We will never regret being too kind.Key Points:
- Remembering the worth of a soul is a key to happiness.
- Being kind, forgiving, and nonjudgmental is part of loving and serving others.
- Can you share a time when someone's kindness or forgiveness made a significant impact on you?
- How has serving or loving others brought happiness into your life?
Maintaining an Eternal Perspective
Elder Sabin talks about the importance of maintaining an eternal perspective, which provides clarity, comfort, courage, and hope. He shares a powerful story about his daughter Jennifer to illustrate this principle.
My fourth happiness hallmark is to maintain an eternal perspective.
Seeing life from an eternal vantage point provides clarity, comfort, courage, and hope.Key Points:
- Maintaining an eternal perspective is a key to happiness.
- An eternal perspective provides clarity, comfort, courage, and hope.
- Can you share a time when an eternal perspective helped you through a difficult situation?
- How has maintaining an eternal perspective influenced your decisions or actions?
Cultivating Gratitude
Elder Sabin emphasizes the importance of gratitude, stating that we will never be happier than we are grateful. He shares his personal practice of thanking Heavenly Father for the ability to breathe, a simple yet profound blessing.
That brings me to my fifth and final observation, which is you will never be happier than you are grateful.
Ever since that day, I have thanked Heavenly Father morning and night for my ability to breathe.Key Points:
- Gratitude is a key to happiness.
- Appreciating our blessings, even the simple ones, can bring joy into our lives.
- Can you share a time when expressing gratitude brought you happiness?
- What are some simple blessings for which you are grateful?
