Valentines Day

Many of us seem to agree that being single, or "forever alone", is not the happiest a person can be. We think that it is only when we are together with someone that we can truly touch and taste heaven. I agree with this in certain degrees but not all. Especially as members of the Church we slowly begin to trap ourselves in the process of thinking that "because I am not with somebody or married, I am not truly happy". Does this sound like the kind of man or woman God wants to make of us? People cannot make us happy no matter how much they inspire us, uplift us, and love us. We are broken and flawed creatures with the innate capacity to hurt, disappoint, and fail one another. If a couple were to look to love one another even with the most sincere intentions, their love would eventually wane like the phasing moon. The light from the moon does not come from the moon itself but reflects it from the sun. Likewise love does not come from inside our human souls, it comes from the Son, even the Light and Savior of the world. We CHOOSE to let that light enter into our souls and enLIGHTEN our whole being. We can even choose to let that light shine into the souls of those who open up to us and embrace us (Matthew 5:16). But I don't believe you can make someone happy no matter how hard you try. Happiness is a choice we ALL make individually. With the light of Christ in us we can learn to inspire, uplift, and love people even unconditionally, but their happiness as well as our own depends centrally upon the Master and God of Love. So this Valentines Day and for the rest of this life dwell not upon how unhappy "I am" because of a lack of somebody else's absence in "my" life or because of their mistakes and shortcomings; let us rather pray that our souls be worthy to contain the magnitude and sheer power of God's love within that we may thence shine outward and inspire those who so stand in need. Then will they be given a clearer choice and opportunity to turn their hearts to the Master, Source, and true God of Love that they, like we, be happy in Him. 

I know that happiness is not so much a state of feeling as it is a choice of living. I also know that we would be foolish to not yet realize that no matter how much we or other people try, we cannot be happy by or through someone else. Remember the parable of the Ten Virgins, how the five who were unprepared had not oil in their lamps (note that they were single/unmarried). This oil can represent the individually accumulated choices that brought about the personal happiness of each virgin. Don't you think that in order to even perceive and be with the Master, Source, and God of Happiness they needed to BE happy themselves regardless of their relationship status? Thus in order to be prepared we too must make choices every day of our time on earth that will bring us closer towards happiness. Choosing to date, court, and marry someone is important and a vital step towards fulfilling the Plan that our Heavenly Father has for us, but we would be missing it all if we continued to make the mistake of focusing our being happy only through wanting or trying to get what we don't have.  It's what we DO have! President Kimball stated that "we (as Latter-Day Saints) should be the happiest people on Earth because of how richly blessed we are". So I propose that if you are tempted to even joke about what you don't have, such as having a boyfriend or a girlfriend or a spouse, try to find that tiny hole within yourself and make a choice that will fill it with the love of Christ. He has taught us to "labour not for the meat that perisheth (people, riches, power, prestige, recognition, boyfriends/girlfriends, degrees, etc.), but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which [He] shall give unto you (...)". (John 6:27) He has also taught us that He is "the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread he shall LIVE forever: and the bread that [He] shall give is [His] flesh, which [He] will give for the life of the world." (John 6:54) So let us labour to lay down our sins and personal desires and choose to fill the gaps and holes in our souls by partaking of this bread. I know that the ingredients for this bread are all of the teachings and commandments of Jesus Christ. Let Valentines day be a day for us to personally remember that we don't need someone else to make us be happy, we need Him! Let it be a day to remember that our happiness stems from the labor of bringing others towards the God of Love and Happiness, "for behold, this is [His] work and [His] glory (His happiness)—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life (and happiness) of man" (Moses 1:39, emphasis added). So whether we be single, in complicated situations, dating, married, or hoping for any of that to happen, Happy Valentines Day my friends and be happy! :)