Listen to and obey the spirit. To do the best we can and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment. President Russell M. Nelson has taught that “Saints can be happy under every circumstance. At times, we feel like we are doing everything that we’re supposed to. Mary asked Mommy, “Why are the people so sad?” Mommy said, “I don’t know, but maybe we can smile at them and help them be happy.”, As they walked along, Mary saw a woman coming toward them. Overall, we’re just not feeling it. Tell the children that when we choose to be happy, we can help others feel happy too. To me, those words mean that I may not be able to control my situation, but I can choose how I react. We may choose to be grateful each day or choose to be ungrateful and hateful, but whatever we choose, it … It is a part of who they are. [wp_ad_camp_3] 6 Ways For Young Single Adults To Prepare For Marriage. A little effort can go a long way in increasing happiness. If I am going to choose to be happy, then I am going to have to realize all the good things in my life. “If you really want joy and happiness, then serve others with all your heart. We feel alone at church. (clap, clap), Then your face will surely show it. Choose to live all your life with goodness and love. First and foremost, we have to choose to be happy. One is as though nothing is a miracle. Ask God for a hug (This sounds strange, I know, but you can ask for a spiritual hug anytime from your Father). You are paid in full. The choice is yours” ―Gordon B. Hinckley. After the words are reviewed move the next three song pages over about a foot. Choose to be happy by choosing the _____! Listen often, to … It will help you to know when you have heard His will. Spend a few minutes everyday searching for verses on happiness and joy. As you keep a miracle journal, you can experience that as well. ― Gordon B. Hinckley. As I take a few minutes to write down all the things that I am grateful for, I will realize how blessed I am. Tell them that their smiles help everyone feel happy. What a great talk, and a great message. As for the others, surely I am free to do what I like with my own money. I had the hope that He would answer me. The Church has given the nonprofit organization a $400,000 donation to support the … As a bishop, he visited the elderly and the sick. Here are a few things that he has done that we can do too: If you were to spend one week focusing on others, trying to make them happy, you would experience that happiness as well. The time to be happy is now, the place to be happy is here. Here are three blessings that will come: Hopefully, more than anything, you will gain a love for focusing on others and incorporate it more in your life, rather than making it a one-week challenge. What a great talk, and a great message. Here is how you can access those powers: These verses won’t take away completely from your hardships, but they will make your burdens lighter. In the beginning, you might write things that could be seen as coincidental to worldly eyes. Here are ten suggestions to get you started on the road to a more joyful life. In the LDS Church, we have high expectations and high ideals. To prepare yourself spiritually to teach this lesson, please read and ponder the following: Our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy; the plan He created for us is often called the “great plan of happiness” (Alma 42:8). Plan no more than two or three minutes for each activity. By Sheila E. Wilson “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Liahona, Oct. 1998, 24). If you’re worried that you’re starting to enjoy your ward, make sure to avoid … “To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside of ourselves” ―Thomas S. Monson. Mission President Nolan Taylor taught his missionaries in Oklahoma the importance of this with a new word, Turn-hearken-do. Optional activities: To maintain the children’s interest and active participation, use a variety of teaching methods; alternate stories with singing, activity verses, games, and movement. It’s about all the choices that we make in order to provide for our emotional health. Infamous pirates such as Davy Jones and Blackbeard were well known for scavenging the seven seas for gold and battling navies over power. The phrase is taken from an LDS hymn of the same name written by Joseph L. Townsend. So how do you become one of the happy people? Stand in front of a child and smile at him or her. Then say, “Let’s go share our smiles.” Take the child by the hand, go to another child, and smile. Begin taking note of what you do or say when you start to feel negative. Little by little, you will find joy as you come to see God’s hand in your life. If they had only known just how powerful the scriptures were, though, they would have lusted after them instead, as they are worth more than gold. (place both hands over heart). This is such a powerful reminder! Jointly published by the Deseret News and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its content supports the doctrines, principles and practices of the Church. Both he and the laborers agree to a day’s wage and move forward with their respective duties. Heavenly Father and Jesus want us to be happy. Righteousness cannot exist without its opposite, wickedness. Due to unhappiness, some of us have felt the need for greener pastures. Share with us your experiences! People have hurt us. Expect to be bored. One of the brethren advised the others to lift where they stood. Yet, it doesn’t seem to be enough. Tell the following story: Mary and her mommy were going for a walk (point to Mary and Mommy in the picture). Choose to be Happy. We would find that to be dishonorable. If you have ever struggled with being happy, you are not alone. Had one of those men just decided to watch the brethren’s struggle, the piano might have still moved but it would have been a heavier weight for each man to lift. 1.7k. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: You can choose to be 'sad, mad or glad' - Church News Instead of diving into and conquering that whole gallon of BYU Creamery ice cream in your freezer, go on a walk and get fresh air. It is said that music is the language of the soul. If you have many children, you may want to share a smile with two or three children at a time. If you know of a busy or stressed out mom, offer to watch her kids for a few hours. Actually, when we are unduly impatient, … They Work Hard. I know that it is Christ's church restored to the earth in our day by the Prophet Joseph Smith. As each brother did so, carrying their share of the weight, the piano was moved. We’re not satisfied in our families. A smile is very contagious. Although adversity is an important part of life, we can choose to have a positive outlook, and our cheerful attitude can help others be more optimistic as well. As a boy, he would do his neighbor’s yard work. Choosing Christ Expands Them. We cannot take hold of someone else’s agency. Heavenly Father and Jesus want us to be happy. Invite the children to join you. This ability to choose is power; it is our God-given gift of agency. This product is a digital download. Some people they passed were frowning (ask the children to frown). Choose to be Happy No matter what life throws at us we can still choose to be happy. “You choose to be offended” was one of my high school teachers’ mantra. In summary the householder goes out and starts hiring laborers at 6 A.M., 9 A.M., 12:00 noon and 3 P.M. Have a child hold the picture on page 82. Choose to follow the example of our Savior _____. As we use our agency correctly, choosing positive things (such as happiness) over negative things, we honor God and become happier people. Why not spread that curve of happiness around more often? Choose to be like Jesus and live in His light. Ask God to show you the love that He has for that person (this would be great to apply to home or visiting teachees!). Begin with a gathering activity. ” Then this piercing question to anyone then or now who needs to hear it: “ Why should you be jealous because I choose to be kind? This does not include the time that they will spend going to leadership meetings, attending the temple, going to ward and stake functions or any time that is put towards church callings. Here are four things that you need to know about agency: You can use your agency by choosing to be happier. There are times when we may find ourselves faltering in our abilities to love another person or ourselves. In a church that believes that the Lord asks that we give our all, it can be a struggle to be happy and to deal with what we perceive to be the pressure. Her LDS mission to Oklahoma turned her into an avid OU fan. Choose to follow the example of our Savior _____. I choose happiness and I choose sadness. When times are tough, read through your list of miracles. [wp_ad_camp_3] 6 Ways For Young Single Adults To Prepare For Marriage. As a single LDS guy I live in a culture that stresses the need for marriage, a common problem is that people are often times not ready to get married. Marriage is the “M word” in the YSA wards of the Church. Repeat, replacing “clap your hands” with other actions, such as “turn around,” “pat your knees,” and so on. Life obstacles can be overwhelming, even spiritually handicapping. Take your pay and enjoy the blessing. Therefore, we must take care of this gift as well. They give answers to the petitioner; hope to the hopeless; direction to the lost; and peace to the distraught. 1. As you delight in turning to the Lord, you will bask in joy. “When we love the Lord, obedience ceases to be a burden. This website is not owned by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). Say Happy Valentine's Day to your loved ones with this FREE Valentine's Day card exclusively from LDSBookstore.com. ... As an adolescent, I recognized my blessed and privileged life and yet, for a period of time, I still wasn’t happy. If you want to be happy, by all means, do the opposite. If the child chose correctly ask if any of the children can remember the words that go with the picture. For the illustration activity: Copy the illustration on page 83 for each child. (shake head from side to side), And smile that frown away. If you let them, the scriptures can even give you the power to be happy. Written By: Joseph L. Townsend Invite the children to say “happy.”. That means when you purchase it, a link with a file will be sent to your computer. Here are five ways that you can lift where you stand: By lifting the burdens of others we are lifting where we stand. I had the knowledge that He loved me. (pull corners of mouth down to a frown), Change it for a smile. Marriage is the “M word” in the YSA wards of the Church. Church donates $400,000 to assist exploited children in Hawaii Newsroom of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - A partnership to assist exploited children in Hawaii has been launched by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Ho’ōla Nā Pua (New Life for Our Children). Cultivate a spirit of optimism. We hold onto anger and may even feel guilt and, because of that, we find it hard to forgive ourselves and others. (push corners of mouth into a smile), By smiling all the while. Although adversity is an important part of life, we can choose to have a positive outlook, and our cheerful attitude can help others be more optimistic as well. We are accountable for every choices we make. Listen to relaxing, uplifting music. To do the best we can and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment. More importantly, you will make your Heavenly Father happy by giving Him your obedience. Have a child choose which song page is the first one in the verse. “You choose to be offended” was one of my high school teachers’ mantra. “Patience is tied very closely to faith in our Heavenly Father. Invite the child to smile. At one point on my mission I was really searching for those windows and felt prompted to write down a miracle that I saw every day. As a single LDS guy I live in a culture that stresses the need for marriage, a common problem is that people are often times not ready to get married. President Thomas S. Monson, the 16th prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, once said, “We can choose to have a positive attitude. I choose happiness and I choose sadness. Letting out a genuine smile makes… Mary smiled her biggest smile (invite the children to smile their biggest smiles). There are a zillion reasons why this could be. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine.”. “What can I get out of this?” is an attitude where people constantly look to others for the fulfillment of their needs. Our reactions to the obstacles that life presents us are entirely within our control. Sing or say the words to “If You’re Happy” (Children’s Songbook, 266) and do the actions below. 1. But if you follow the steps in this humorous list closely, you’ll be miserable in no time. It may be easier than you think. It means “turn to the Lord; hearken to His word; and do His will”. We hope that you will choose to use several of the seven ways listed here to help you be happier. … We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. 01 January 2017 Sharing Time -Agency Is the Gift to Choose for Ourselves; 02 February 2017 When We Choose the Right, We Are Blessed; 03 March 2017: Living Prophets Teach Me to Choose the Right; 04 April 2017: Jesus Christ Teaches Me to Choose the Right Repetition is fun for the children, and it helps them learn. Humbly search the words of the prophets and listen to those that God has put in your path to counsel you (Bishops, Home Teachers, Relief Society president, etc). “Happiness is a choice”, well, that is so true. “Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high” ―Richard G. Scott. Choose to be like Jesus and live in His light. They get things done. Review: Repeat activities from previous lessons as often as you would like. We either choose to be happy or choose otherwise. At times, others are the solution to our struggle with happiness. Jointly published by the Deseret News and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its content supports the doctrines, principles and practices of the Church. Choose to Be Happy: Gratitude Journal Last week my husband and I studied President Uchtdorf’s talk: “A Summer With Great-Aunt Rose”. One who knew him well described the prophet as always wearing “an unconscious smile.” 1 I have known people like that—­individuals who are continually smiling ­without even realizing it. Have them (1) Read the scripture out loud and explain the principle we should follow; (2) Choose a song or hymn that matches Jesus Christ’s teaching and lead the Primary in singing it; (3) Act out ways we can follow Jesus Christ’s teaching and let others guess … (nod head up and down). (smile; point to face). Gratitude Journal Prompts Gratitude Quotes Attitude Of Gratitude Gratitude Ideas Happiness Quotes Happy Quotes Conference Talks General Conference Activity Day Girls. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude.” Thomas S. Monson | “Living the Abundant Life,” Ensign, Jan. 2012, 4. Seek Him out in faith with a desire to change and follow His example. To me, those words mean that I may not be able to control my situation, but I can choose how I react. Accept and magnify callings given to you. In Matthew 20:1-15 it talks about the parable of laborers in the vineyard. Gain a knowledge of and faith in God’s Plan of Happiness. During these times, prayer is our best tool. When the woman saw Mary’s happy face, she smiled back. Continue until all the children are holding hands. She enjoys speaking Spanish and cooking Thai food. If I Choose to Obey, I’ll Be Happy All Day! 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