I wish to acknowledge all that has been said so far in this conference and ask that I shall also have a portion of your faith and prayers in my behalf, as has been requested in the prayers of this conference.

I am sure there is no happier gathering than we have here today, for I don't think there are any happier people than those who are active, faithful members of the Church. Inasmuch as we have gathered here together to receive of more encouragement and help in performing our responsibilities in the work of the Lord, I am sure the Lord will answer that prayer for us.

I am happy in my testimony of the gospel, in the knowledge of the gospel with which the Lord has blessed me.

GOAL OF HAPPINESS

As has been said, happiness has been the goal of man since the beginning of time, for man is that he might have joy. When Moses reached the age of 120 and it was time for him to depart this life, he commanded that all the children of Israel be gathered together that he might speak to them. He said, "Come, therefore, let me suggest to you by what means you may be happy"

Moses had been an instrument in the hands of the Lord, to bring many blessings to the children of Israel. Through Moses they had been released from bondage and delivered from Egypt. He had traveled with them for forty years in the wilderness, teaching them the will of the Lord. He had gone through many trials and hardships with them and for them. Together they had suffered hunger, thirst, and had fled before their enemy. Now at the end of his life, when men are most serious, he called them together to give them instructions. Uppermost in his mind for the hosts of Israel was their happiness. He continued:

O children of Israel! There is but one source of happiness for all mankind, the favor of God; for he alone is able to give good things to those that deserve them, and to deprive those of them that sin against him; towards whom, if you behave yourselves according to his will, and according to what I, who well understand his mind, do exhort you to, you will both be esteemed blessed, and will be admired by all men; and will never come into misfortunes, nor cease to be happy. . . (Josephus, Book 4:8.)

OBEDIENCE INSURES HAPPINESS

After standing the test of thousands of years, it is still just as true today for all mankind; for true happiness and joy come from the favor of God. How can we obtain the favor of God in our everyday walks of life? The Lord has given us commandments, obedience to which will insure our happiness, if we will only heed them. First and foremost, ". . . love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might"  Deut. 6:5 If our hearts are filled with love for God, then they are also filled with love for our fellow men. We will be glad to lend a helping hand or give a cheering word to a neighbor. And right here let me say, that love, like charity, begins at home. If you are fortunate enough to have a home and a family, your chances for happiness are unlimited. But it takes love—plenty of love to make a home happy. The more we give in understanding, sympathy, and service to others, the happier we are. And love is kind it is ready to overlook failures and try again. If we could only keep our hearts filled with love, this earth would be a heaven of happiness. Do you remember the song in our hymn book—"Love at Home"? It is such a beautiful song. Next time you are tempted to let something other than love creep into your heart, sing it and see if it doesn't help. There is a sure method of keeping in the favor of the Lord. When we are in constant communication, we cannot go far astray. Each morning, throughout the day, and at night, we ask God to let his Spirit be with us to guide us in all that we do. It is like the beam that guides the pilot of an airplane. As long as he is on the beam, he knows that everything is all right, but he must not stray too far or he loses the beam, We have a conscience, each of us, that will tell us if we are not on the beam. There is no surer way to unhappiness than to carry a guilty conscience constantly for a companion. Don't do it. Get on the beam. There are many other things which contribute to our happiness, and God has given us instruction concerning these things. Our capacity for enjoying life is greater if our health is good. It is hard to be happy if we are always tired. The Lord told us how to keep from being weary and keep our minds invigorated. He said:

. . . retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated  D&C 88:124

With every blessing, however, the Lord has put a price or a law upon which each blessing is predicated. For keeping the Word of Wisdom he promises:

And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them  D&C 89:18-21

The nineteenth verse is to me most important. They "shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures"  D&C 89:19 Is there any greater happiness that can be given to man than the testimony of the divinity of this gospel and the plan of life and salvation? That knowledge comes only from the Holy Ghost. Again the Lord promises, ". . . prove me now herewith . . . . if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." For the price of this source of happiness, the Lord says:

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house . . .  Mal. 3:10

THE PRICE OF PROSPERITY

The Book of Mormon records the promises of prosperity to those who live in this the promised land. The price for prosperity is keeping the commandments of the Lord. There were many times when Israel of old was not in the favor of the Lord. Then the Lord withdrew his blessings, and they became humbled again, and the blessings of the Lord were again given to the people. We find the same repetition among the descendants of Lehi on this continent. What about us? Can we profit by their experience?

The Lord also promised, "All that my Father hath shall be given . . . "  D&C 84:38 To whom? And why?

And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord;

For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;

And he that receiveth my Father, receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him  D&C 84:35-38

The reward for keeping the commandments of the Lord is happiness.

Happiness certainly does not come from just idle goodness. The Savior said, "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant"  Matt. 23:11 He could have said, "He that is happiest among you shall be your servant." Active service to others is serving God. That missionary is happiest who is truly seeking to serve his fellow man by declaring to him the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Active members of the Church everywhere experience the same happiness. Nor does happiness stop with this life. For those who keep the commandments of the Lord to the full, and enter into the new and everlasting covenant, and are sealed together as husband and wife for time and all eternity, shall enjoy the greatest degree of happiness.

Thus, as Moses declared: "The source of happiness for all mankind," in this life and the life to come throughout all eternity, "is the favour of God."

May the Lord help us to obtain it, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.