A Humble Seeker of Happiness

One of the most poignant scenes in the Book of Mormon is the chance meeting between Alma and the sons of Mosiah. The encounter is described in two places and serves as the book ends for the story of the mission to the Lamanites of the sons of Mosiah. In the first description we read this: “as Alma was journeying from the land of Gideon southward, away to the land of Manti, behold, to his astonishment, he met with the sons of Mosiah journeying towards the land of Zarahemla. Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord.” These sons of Mosiah “had been teaching the word of God for the space of fourteen years among the Lamanites, having had much success in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth” (Alma 17:1-3). During those fourteen years Alma had been serving and preaching among the Nephites, and the sons of Mosiah had been doing the same among the Lamanites. After mentioning this encounter and the joy these brethren felt, Mormon proceeded to give the account of their mission to the Lamanites. Ten chapters later the story was brought back to this point again: “And it came to pass that as Ammon was going forth into the land, that he and his brethren met Alma, over in the place of which has been spoken; and behold, this was a joyful meeting. Now the joy of Ammon was so great even that he was full; yea, he was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the exhausting of his strength; and he fell again to the earth” (Alma 27:16-17). Once again he described the dominant feeling at their reunion as joy. So great was Ammon’s joy that he fell down to the earth, overcome with his feelings at being reunited with their faithful friend Ammon.

               After this description, Mormon then asked us a question about what happened to Ammon: “Now was not this exceeding joy?” He then answered it himself: “Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness.” In the past I think I have understood this to mean that those who humbly seek happiness for themselves will find it. But as I consider this scene more carefully, I do not think that is quite right. Ammon was on his way to find protection for the Anti-Nephi-Lehis whom he had come to love dearly. He was terribly concerned for their welfare and was earnestly seeking to protect them. He was filled with joy at the sight of Alma, and both rejoiced knowing they were all still faithful followers of the Savior. Ammon was not a humble seeker of his own happiness; he was a humble seeking of others’ happiness. In other words, I think that Mormon was trying to show us that true joy will be ours as we humbly seek for the happiness of others. All these men had spent the previous fourteen years serving the Lord and their brethren, giving up all selfish pursuits in the interest of others.

The Savior taught His disciples the same principle during the Last Supper. After humbly washing their dirty feet, He said this: “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:14-17). In this one of His final teachings, the Savior emphasized to His disciples that they would find joy as they selflessly served. Jesus was the perfect example of a humble seeker of the happiness of others, and He promises His disciples that they will find joy as they seek the happiness of others.