HOW TO BE TRULY HAPPY EVERY DAY OF
YOUR LIFE
AND GAIN CELESTIAL GLORY IN THE LIFE TO COME
Robert Hyatt
1988
Happiness is without a doubt the most sought after goal in this world
that we live, yet countless millions have no idea how to achieve this
worthy goal. Many believe that money, fame, and power bring lasting
happiness yet history has shown this not to be the case. What is
happiness then? What does it bring? How does it effect our lives?
How can we be happy continuously and not just for short periods of
time? What then is the secret of happiness?
I believe that happiness comes from the obedience of Gods commandments
and the degree to which we obey these principles is the degree to which
we will be happy. It stands to reason that if we are keeping all of
Gods commandments to the best of our ability, then we will be
correspondingly happy. Disobedience however brings unhappiness.
How then do we keep Gods commandments? Which ones do we keep first,
and are we suppose to keep all of Gods commandments? The answer is
one step at a time and yes we are suppose to keep all of the command-
ments. We should be constantly working towards perfection. Jesus
Christ said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in
heaven is perfect." (Matt. 5:48) It is this continuous process towards
perfection that brings total happiness. Any stagnation of growth
brings unhappiness. Keeping Gods commandments bring multiple blessings.
Not only happiness in this life but they bring happiness in the world
to come.
Our heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to be happy and have joy
in this life and in the life to come, however they did not send us
here to earth without any help and guidance. Three principles help to
keep us on the right path; The first is the Light of Christ. This
powerful force gives us the ability to discern good from evil. The
second is truth revealed by the Holy Ghost. Having Him as a constant
companion gives us additional light and direction. The third is
guidance by the Prophets and the approved general authorities of the
Church. Following the direction of our church leaders help us to stay
on the right path, and thus be totally happy all the days of our lives.
If we keep our lives pure and teachable, the Lord will direct our paths
back to the presence of the Father.
The following are goals worthy of achievement by all Latter-Day Saints
and continuous attainment of these goals will no doubt bring total
happiness and celestial glory in the life to come.
WORTHY GOALS FOR ALL LATTER-DAY SAINTS
PERSONAL GROWTH:
1. PERSONAL PRAYER MORNING AND NIGHT
2. READING THE SCRIPTURES AT LEAST 15 MIN. / DAY
3. DO YOU HAVE THE NEW SCRIPTURES?
4. DO YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENSIGN AND READ IT?
5. HAVE YOU MARRIED IN THE TEMPLE?
6. DO YOU GO TO THE TEMPLE AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE?
7. ARE YOU WEARING TEMPLE GARMENTS ALWAYS?
8. ARE YOU EXERCISING YOUR PRIESTHOOD? BLESSING YOUR CHILDREN?
9. DO YOU SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR CHILDREN?
10. DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN TESTIMONY AND IS IT STRONG?
11. DO YOU BARE YOUR TESTIMONY TO YOUR WIFE, CHILDREN, & THE CHURCH?
12. DO YOU HAVE YOUR PATRIARCHAL BLESSING?
13. ARE YOU A LUKEWARM MEMBER? HOT OR COLD?
14. ARE YOU STRIVING FOR PERFECTION OR CONTENT WITH MEDIOCRITY?
15. DO YOU ALWAYS PARTAKE OF THE SACRAMENT WORTHILY?
16. ARE YOU WRITING IN A PERSONAL JOURNAL?
17. 100% HOME TEACHING? OR VISITING TEACHING?
18. ARE YOUR THOUGHTS CLEAN AND PURE?
19. ARE YOU USING YOUR TIME WISELY? TOO MUCH T.V.?
20. DO YOU CONTROL YOUR ANGER? SWEAR?
21. DO YOU ASSOCIATE WITH APOSTATE GROUPS?
22. DO YOU HONOR YOUR PARENTS?
23. DO YOU VISIT THE SICK OCCASIONALLY?
24. DO YOU GOSSIP?
25. DO YOU SING IN CHURCH OR JUST LISTEN?
26. DO YOU OBEY THE LAWS OF THE LAND?
27. DO YOU HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS?
28. ARE YOU KEEPING YOUR BODY IN TIP-TOP SHAPE? WORD OF WISDOM?
29. DO YOU HAVE GOOD PERSONAL APPEARANCE AND HYGIENE?
30. DO YOU GO TO BED EARLY AND ARISE EARLY?
31. DO YOU LIVE THE LAW OF THE FAST?
32. DO YOU DRINK OR EAT FOODS WITH TOO MUCH CAFFEINE?
FAMILY GROWTH:
33. FAMILY PRAYER MORNING AND NIGHT?
34. DO YOU STUDY THE GOSPEL WITH YOUR WIFE ON A REGULAR BASIS?
35. HUSBAND AND WIFE PRAYER MORNING AND NIGHT?
36. DO YOU HOLD FAMILY HOME EVENINGS WEEKLY?
37. IS YOUR FAMILY ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN SOME ASPECT OF MISSIONARY WORK?
38. DO YOU PRAY FOR MISSIONARIES? COUNTRIES TO OPEN UP TO MISSIONARIES
39. IS YOUR FAMILY SETTING FOALS TOWARDS CELESTIAL LIFE?
40. ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN GENEALOGY?
41. COMPLETED YOUR FAMILY 4 GENERATION CHART?
42. WRITING A FAMILY HISTORY?
43. ATTENDING CHURCH ON A REGULAR BASIS?
44. IS YOUR FAMILY KEEPING THE SABBATH DAY HOLY?
45. ARE YOU HOLDING PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WITH YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS?
46. DO YOU PLAY WITH FACE CARDS OR GAMBLE?
47. DOES YOUR FAMILY ATTEND R RATED OR BAD PG RATED MOVIES?
48. DO YOU KEEP YOUR HOUSE AND YARD CLEAN ALWAYS?
49. ARE YOU HOLDING FREQUENT FAMILY REUNIONS?
50. ARE YOU ACTIVE IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS?
51. DO YOU VOTE FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS?
52. DO YOU TELL YOUR WIFE YOU LOVE HER EVERY DAY?
53. DO YOU TAKE YOUR WIFE OUT ON A DATE ON A REGULAR BASIS?
54. DO YOU BRING HOME FLOWERS TO YOUR WIFE OCCASIONALLY?
55. ARE YOU MULTIPLYING AND REPLENISHING THE EARTH?
56. ARE YOU ALLOWING YOUR KIDS TO DATE BEFORE THE ARE 16?
FINANCIAL GOALS
57. ARE YOU HONEST IN ALL BUSINESS DEALINGS?
58. ARE YOU ADVANCING IN YOUR JOB?
59. DO YOU PAY AN HONEST TITHE?
60. DO YOU PAY FAST OFFERINGS FOR THE POOR?
61. DO YOU PAY AN HONEST BUDGET WHEN APPROPRIATE?
62. ARE YOU BORROWING MONEY FOR ONLY THOSE ITEMS THAT APPRECIATE IN
VALUE?
63. DO YOU HAVE AT LEAST ONE YEAR SUPPLY OF FOOD, CLOTHING, & FUEL?
64. DO YOU HAVE AT LEAST 25% OF YOUR SALARY IN SAVINGS?
65. ARE YOU SAVING 10% OF YOUR SALARY MONTHLY?
66. ARE YOU SAVING AN ADDITIONAL 5% FOR EMERGENCIES?
67. ARE YOU HELPING TO CONSERVE NATURAL ENERGY, ELECTRICITY, ETC.?
68. ARE YOU DEVELOPING YOUR TALENTS?
INSTRUCTIONS:
GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE LIST RANKING YOURSELF ON A SCALE OF 1- 10, TEN
BEING THE BEST OR A COMPLETION OF THE GOAL, THEN PICK AS MANY AS YOU
CAN TO WORK ON. 6 MONTHS LATER, RE-RANK YOURSELF TO SEE AN IMPROVEMENT.
DO THIS AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE UNTIL ALL GOALS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED. YOU
MIGHT WANT TO ADD YOUR OWN GOALS TO THIS LIST. KEEP ADDING GOALS
THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE. THE LORD COMMANDS US TO REACH PERFECTION IN THIS
LIFE, HOWEVER IF WE DO NOT REACH THIS GOAL WE BETTER BE ACTIVELY
WORKING ON GOALS TOWARDS PERFECTION AND NOT STAGNANT IN OUR GROWTH!!
JOHN THE REVELATOR WROTE: ".......I WOULD THAT THOU WERT COLD OR HOT...
BECAUSE THOU ART LUKEWARM, AND NEITHER COLD
NOR HOT, I WILL SPEW THEE OUT OF MY MOUTH."
REVELATION 3:15,16