One of my favorite apostles is Elder Jeffery R. Holland. I can't tell you exactly what I like about Elder Holland, but every time I hear him speak, I feel like I take so much away from his talk. When I heard that he was coming out with a new book I got super excited! And well, the book addict in me had to have it or at least read it.
I finished reading To My Friends yesterday. To My Friends is a collection of talks given by Elder Holland over the years and it addresses a wide variety of topics. This book was such a wonderful read. There were times when I was reading that I felt like the Lord was speaking to me personally.
As I was reading two paragraphs jumped out at me. I shared those paragraphs with Andy and he really liked them. I'd like to share them with you too!
In speaking on happiness Elder Holland says:
"In anticipation of addressing this topic, I sat in my study for a long time trying to think if I had ever know a happy person who was unkind or unpleasant to be with. And guess what? I couldn't think of one- not a single, solitary one. So learn this great truth: You can never, worlds without end, build your happiness on someone else's unhappiness. Sometimes, maybe when we are young and insecure and trying to make our way up in the world, we think if we can tear someone else down a little, it will somehow miraculously lift us up. That is what bullying is. That is what catty remarks are. That is what arrogance and superficiality and exclusiveness are. Perhaps we think if we are negative enough, or cynical enough, or just plain mean enough, then expectations won't be too high; we can keep everyone down to a flaw-filled level and therefore our flaws won't be so glaring
Happy people aren't negative or cynical or mean, so don't plan on that being part of the "manner" of happiness. If my life has taught me anything, it is that kindness and pleasantness and faith-based optimism are characteristics of happy people."
Wasn't that great?
There are enough crabs in the world, lets be kinder, gentler, and caring on our path to happiness.
