Heavenly Father’s plan is Happiness
When I was in 9th grade I started going to Seminary, I talked about 9th grade seminary in a previous post here: http://www.adamorgill.com/swipe-and-liken/ . In this same class and with this same teacher we had a lesson that has stuck with me all these years, interestingly enough it was an object lesson about a candy bar I still haven’t eaten to this day… an Almond Joy. I really don’t like them, I don’t like almonds nor coconut, but I do like the chocolate.
Two weeks before a lesson was given about 2 Nephi chapter 2, my Seminary teacher painted a large tree on butcher paper and hung it in the classroom, on the the branches he had taped fun size Almond Joy candy bars. He gave us a challenge that is some one could figure out what scripture the tree and bars represented then he’d give them all the bars. I took on the challenge but didn’t come up with anything. Some of my classmates thought they had figured it out, but we all tried in vain. Bro Christensen had stumped us.
The day came for the lesson where he would reveal how candy was related to scripture. He had us open the Book of Mormon to 2 Nephi chapter 2. We read and reviewed the events from the lives of Adam and Eve, our first parents, and the choices that they made that ultimately paved the way for us all to come to earth and be born of mortal parents. We arrived at the 25th verse that reads the following:
Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
2 Nephi 2:25
“So… do you understand what the tree and the candy bars mean?” our teacher asked us. I think we were all a little lost, but hey, were young and most of us just wanted to eat the candy. He clued us in on his little play on words, and as he did my understanding was opened, not only regarding Adam and Eve but Heavenly Father’s plan and what this life is all about. The Almond Joy, he said, represents the joy of this life, Almond Joy stands for All – Men – Joy, meaning in this life Heavenly Fathers intends for us all to have joy.
As my wife and I talked about the life of Adam and Eve and the choices that they made, our kids started asking us questions. This hasn’t happened yet in our Come Follow Me study over the last 2 years so I was happy to hear their questions and see them thinking. Their questions were like, “How did eating the fruit give them knowledge?” “Did Adam and Eve have clothes?” “How did Heavenly Father teach Adam and Eve?” These are all questions I have also asked myself, not the exact wording, but in the same context.
When my teacher explained that we are here to have joy he also explained that we are to experience sadness, happiness, pains, success and also set backs. I gained a better understand of the purpose of life that day. A few years ago in a Sunday School class when we were studying the teachings of President Heber J. Grant a good friend of mine was teaching the class and said that life is all about “Experiences.” Heber’s, Jesus’ and even my life have sure been full of them, good and bad, sad and happy. Life experiences, be it rewarding or painful, are for our good and learning, to not repeat the past and to also to be able to see the better days as we emerge from rough experiences and find that Joy that our Father intends for us.
And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.
Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and call things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.
And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;
2 Nephi 2 26-28
I am grateful to have a Heavenly Father that has given us our agency to choose for ourselves, and loves us enough to see us fall. I know He is there to lift us up when we do and has given use many tools to help us succeed in knowing and keeping the commandments. As we do we will find that joy, not the type made out of almonds, coconut, and chocolate, but the joy we feel as we follow our Savior’s example and make the choices the provide lasting happiness.