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Showing posts from August, 2022

On Agency and Joy

I wonder if to some it feels counterintuitive that you can find long-lasting joy and exaltation by just “doing what you’re told” and keeping the commandments.  It sometimes seems like you could potentially be happier by just living “your truth” or doing whatever makes you happy in the moment. We aren’t forced to do anything. We are only invited. We make covenants of our own free will and choice. We can keep them and see if it makes us happier. I wonder if some people keep them (or at least say they are keeping them) and don’t ever feel that true joy. If so, how can that be? Why is that? Perhaps we aren’t even promised joy. Maybe we just THINK we are promised joy. Reviewing our covenants might be informative there. I know that Elder Chrisofferson has said that keeping covenants brings joy in this life. Maybe there’s a difference between joy and happiness. Can't we find joy doing other things that aren't necessarily in line with the commandments of God? Like couldn't I find j