Sister Perry: Finding joy, happiness in life

Finding joy and happiness isn't very difficult, but important in our lives, Sister Barbara Perry told several hundred young single adults at a fireside Sunday, Feb. 22."Joy will come to us as we keep the commandments," Sister Perry said.Sister Perry and her husband, Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve, spoke at the concluding fireside of a weekend education conference by the 25 to 30 Association at the Salt Lake City Institute of Religion. The conference theme, "Stand Fast," was from Alma 58:40.Happiness and joy have been the subject of news magazine articles, books and several scientific and psychological studies, and the focus of books, Sister Perry outlined. Many of them concluded that more studying needed to be done.There has also been a lot said about joy and happiness in the scriptures and other LDS references, including during King Benjamin's address in Mosiah 2 and the people's reaction in Mosiah 4."Real joy comes from peace of conscience" not from fame and fortune, Sister Perry said.Quoting Joseph Smith, Sister Perry shared that, "Happiness is the object and design of our existence, and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness and keeping the commandments of God.""That doesn't mean we won't have difficulties," she warned.Simply through daily prayer and scripture study, simple service and being worthy of a temple recommend, everyone can experience peace and happiness.Gratitude will also help in the pursuit of happiness and joy.Sister Perry said one thing her 99-year-old mother said during her life was: "I am the happiest person in the world. I have so much to be thankful for."Personally, the times of joy and happiness have included other people, whether it was during her nursing work in labor and delivery units or watching others' joy at reunions and conferences, Sister Perry said.Elder Perry was serving in the area presidency in Europe when members of the church in Austria celebrated the 50-year anniversary of the government's recognition of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The celebration included members gathering from across Austria, and many mission presidents and returned missionaries came, too."It was a joyous time for the Saints in Austria," she said. "What joy they have to be together ...""Now that Barbara filled you with joy and happiness, I'll tell you what to do with it," Elder Perry said following his wife's remarks.He pointed out that this generation is an important generation politically and financially with many responsibilities.It's important to have a "real foundation" in the truths of the gospel, Elder Perry said."We won't have joy and happiness without a foundation," Elder Perry said.He cited Alma, when he gave up being chief judge and went city to city to call people to repentance. In Ammonihah, the people there spit on him and cast him out of the city when an angel told him to go back.Those in the city who listened, were blessed. Those who didn't, were destroyed, Elder Perry said."You have a choice to make," Elder Perry said. "Everything here (in the scriptures) will bring us joy, success and prosperity.""Or if you turn to secular things, you will find in time that it will be destroyed," he said.