A great deal of perceived happiness is fleeting, as it is based on an erroneous understanding of reality and limited experience with it.5
The breadth, depth, and intensity of reality is vast and virtually unknown to most.
Apparent happiness can rot the instant it is exposed to information that erodes the assumptions and presumptions it is based on. Apparent happiness can disappear in a moment when we:
- Learn of the existence of something better than what we have.6
- Learn that the cost of what we seek or have is much greater than we thought.7
- Learn that the benefit of what we seek or have is much less than we thought.8
- Learn that the value of what we have or seek does not endure for as long as we had hoped.9
This loss of perceived value is an unavoidable part of the purpose of life,10 for how else would we gain the motivation necessary to seek something better or experience greater joy than we would otherwise have when we find it?11 God’s intent is not that we endlessly churn over lost joy, but that we are able to increasingly approach greater joy that is longer lasting than what we had before, eventually obtaining maximal joy that can endure all circumstances here and hereafter.12
God has the greatest enduring joy. If you desire greater lasting joy, you will find it by discovering and assimilating more of God’s character.
You will have greater enduring joy through doing what God would do in your place than anything else.13
God’s knowledge of all things past, present, and future14 uniquely positions him to know what is of greatest lasting worth. God’s happiness is not based on ignorance. God knows “things as they really are, and... things as they really will be.” (Jacob 4:13) He lives according to his knowledge, which yields “a never-ending state of happiness.” (Mosiah 2:41)
God’s character is the optimized path to the greatest enduring happiness given reality. God’s character is not just different, it is better.15 In fact, it is the best.16 God’s knowledge, beliefs, and desires are all optimally tuned17 to yield the greatest joy for himself and all others across the duration of eternity.18 There is no other set of traits that will yield greater joy for longer across the duration of eternity.19
What provides the greatest lasting joy is not obvious. Gaining a more correct idea of the options available and a more accurate estimate of the lasting value each provides is an important part of the purpose of life. God’s character is optimal, tested, and proven. You will never devise a better way to be than how God already is. As you learn and live more like God, you will gain a more correct idea of the choices available to you in life20 and which of them provide the greatest lasting worth.21
Footnotes
- 1. ...he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy. (Mosiah 4:20) ↩
- 2. If any man desires to do His will (God’s pleasure), he will know (have the needed illumination to recognize, and can tell for himself) whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking from Myself and of My own accord and on My own authority. (John 7:17, AMP) ↩
- 3. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen. (Moroni 7:48) ↩
- 4. ...these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves....Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth....That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:13, 17, 21-23) ↩
- 5. “Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.” (Proverbs 15:21) The path to God’s happiness is most clearly demonstrated by those who have endured the greatest suffering. One who has joy in spite of great pain is much more likely to have an accurate and abundant understanding of God than one who has seemingly greater joy but who lacks as much experience with sorrow. ↩
- 6. And the presence of God withdrew from Moses, that his glory was not upon Moses; and Moses was left unto himself. And as he was left unto himself, he fell unto the earth. And it came to pass that it was for the space of many hours before Moses did again receive his natural strength like unto man; and he said unto himself: Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed. (Moses 1:9-10) ↩
- 7. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? (Matthew 19:23-25) ↩
- 8. I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. (Ecclesiastes 1:16-17, NIV) ↩
- 9. And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. (Job 1:21) ↩
- 10. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (John 15:2) ↩
- 11. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:4-7) ↩
- 12. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.....that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain... (John 15:11, 16) ↩
- 13. Righteousness is what God would do in your place. Iniquity is anything else. Those who choose iniquity choose something other than the joy that is only available in God: “...ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head.” (Helaman 13:38) ↩
- 14. O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it. (2 Nephi 9:20) ↩
- 15. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says Jehovah. But as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9, Gileadi Translation) ↩
- 16. And the Lord said unto me: These two facts do exist, that there are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other; there shall be another more intelligent than they; I am the Lord thy God, I am more intelligent than they all. (Abraham 3:19) ↩
- 17. As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. (Psalm 18:30) ↩
- 18. Let them praise the character of the Lord: for his character alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. (Psalm 148:13, Author’s Reflection) ↩
- 19. And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen. (2 Nephi 31:21) ↩
- 20. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. (Psalms 36:9) And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit. (D&C 84:46) ↩
- 21. Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ. (Moroni 7:19) ↩