"Rejoice" is used many times in the scriptures, and this is one of my favorite references. Alma is burdened down with sorrow because he has been rejected for the first time in Ammonihah. But an angel stops him as he's leaving the city and tells him to "lift up [his] head and rejoice". The angel continues, saying, "for thou hast great cause to rejoice . . .", and praising Alma for his faithfulness since the same angel appeared to him and the sons of Mosiah.
It would seem to me that Alma had cause to be depressed. After all, his teachings had been rejected. But apparently, the Lord sees things differently. Alma had been faithful and had kept his covenants, and had been preaching the Gospel.
It feels to me like the Lord is saying that we are blessed with joy for obedience and for preaching the Gospel, and that we shouldn't lose that joy if people choose not to accept the truth. Choosing not to rejoice, regardless of circumstances, is like rejecting a gift the Lord has given us.
Being happy and rejoicing is a choice. It doesn't depend on what's happening in our lives so much as how we look at things. Counting our blessings is a large part of that. Surrounding ourselves with beauty, or finding the beauty in whatever our surroundings, listening to and really hearing the chirping of birds as well as beautiful music, appreciating and treasuring our loved ones, joying in the truths of the Gospel - all these things and more can give us cause to rejoice.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
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