Finding Joy

Today I had the opportunity to teach our Young Women. The topic for the day was finding joy. It was a combination of lessons five and six since we had a combined lesson with the Young Men last week. It was a great topic to think about, but one with too much to present in only 20 minutes. I worry about our Young Women who seem to be unhappy so much of the time. Supposedly it is a teenage thing, but it just doesn't have to be! Our Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and joyful. He has given us so many blessings to be joyful about: our families, our talents, the beauty of the earth, our friends, the peaceful feelings of the Holy Ghost and so much more!

I've walked through the halls of the schools where our Young Women attend every day and it can be very depressing, especially considering how many of the adults that they must spend so much time with really don't like to be bothered, let alone want to help or care about them. Those in ninth through twelfth grade at least have the opportunity to attend Seminary, a place where they can find refuge from the depressing classrooms where they must be every day. How could school become a place where our children would want to be? I wonder if I could help facilitate these changes?

One of the resources that was part of the lesson was the talk given by President Hinckley at the 2007 General Young Womens Meeting. I was able to download it and play it in his voice for them. He promised them if they would (1) Pray (2) Study (3) Pay a full tithing (4) Attend church meetings (especially Sacrament meeting) they would have a fulfilling life full of joy and happiness. I'm not sure if they understood the full intensity of what they heard, that a prophet of God promised them a fulfilling life of happiness if they did just these four things.

It was difficult for me to keep from crying at the sound of President Hinckley's voice. He always encouraged us to try a little harder. It seemed a little easier knowing that he was always praying for us.

How grateful I am that we had President Gordon B. Hinckley as a prophet for so many years. I am very grateful to know that even though he is no longer with us that we still have the guidance of a prophet on earth, specifically President Thomas S. Monsen. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me. How I hope and pray that our Young Women will also know this truth.