Swallowed Up in the Joy of Christ

In his recent general conference talk, Elder Sean Douglas spoke about how we can face spiritual hurricanes through our faith in Jesus Christ. In his remarks he quoted a talk from President Nelson from October 2016 entitled Joy and Spiritual Survival in which the prophet said this: “Saints can be happy under every circumstance. We can feel joy even while having a bad day, a bad week, or even a bad year!… The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives. When the focus of our lives is on … Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives.” To illustrate this point, Elder Douglas used the example of his young granddaughter who at five years old had to undergo reconstructive surgery for her hand. He recounted, “Prior to this rather complex operation, we visited with her and gave her a drawing that beautifully depicts a child’s hand warmly holding the hand of the Savior. When we asked her if she was nervous, she replied, ‘No, I am happy!’ Then we asked her, ‘Ruby, how is that so?’ Ruby confidently asserted, ‘Because I know that Jesus will hold my hand.’” Ultimately our happiness comes from knowing that the Savior is with us, that as we keep His commandments and cling to Him we can overcome all of life’s challenges. No matter what the spiritual hurricanes are that rage around us, we can find peace and joy “because of the rock upon which [we] are built, which is a sure foundation,” even Jesus Christ (Helaman 5:12).

                I was impressed by the fact that in addition to Elder Douglas, four other speakers in this most recent general conference also referenced this same talk from President Nelson in October 2016. Elder Rasband said, “President Nelson describes the restored gospel as ‘a message of joy!’ And he explains, ‘The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.’” Elder Villanueva said in the same session, “Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, want us to have joy. President Russell M. Nelson has taught: ‘The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives. When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation, … we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives.’” Elder Cook also said, with a footnote to this same talk, “[President Nelson] has taught us that we can ‘feel enduring peace and joy, even during turbulent times,’ as we strive to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.” In the next session Elder Anthony Perkins also taught, “If you find yourself in dark nights of suffering, by choosing faith you can awake to bright mornings of rejoicing. For example, I visited a young mother being treated for cancer, smiling majestically in her chair despite the pain and a lack of hair. I met a middle-aged couple happily serving as youth leaders though they were unable to conceive children. I sat with a dear woman—a young grandmother, mother, and wife—who would pass away within days, yet amid the family’s tears were laughter and joyful recollections.” He then commented, “These suffering Saints exemplify what President Russell M. Nelson has taught: ‘The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives. When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation … and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives.’” With five speakers all quoting from the same talk about how to find joy despite our circumstances, clearly this must be a message that the Lord wants us to hear! As we focus intently on the Savior, trusting Him and keeping His commandments, no matter what afflictions we face they will all be “swallowed up in the joy of Christ” (Alma 31:38).