Cleave unto the Covenants

"Continuing, the Lord said: “Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice, and 

cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made”

I believe He is saying to each of us, be happy. The gospel is a thing of joy. 

It provides us with a reason for gladness. Of course there are times of sorrow. 

Of course there are hours of concern and anxiety. We all worry. 

But the Lord has told us to lift our hearts and rejoice. 

I see so many people, including many women, who seem

never to see the sunshine, but who constantly walk with storms 

under cloudy skies. Cultivate an attitude of happiness. 

Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, 

in the goodness of those you love, in the 

testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine."

President Gordon B. Hinckley

1992 Ensign

This gospel is a gospel of happiness. If we keep the commandments and endure to the end we are promised that we will be able to return to live with our Father in Heaven. While our time on earth is just a short blip in our story, there is no reason we shouldn't be happy while we endure it. The Lord has made covenants with us that give us the promise that we will be happy when we abide by those covenants. The Lord instructs Emma to cleave unto her covenants. More importantly, before that he tells her to lift up her heart and rejoice. Amidst all of the trials that she was experiencing the Lord required her to be happy and have joy. If the Lord expects this from Emma I know that He most definitely expects me to be happy. There is nothing that can happen to me that will justify me being unhappy. The Lord is at my side, always, and that makes me happy. President Hinckley instructs us to walk in faith. We have to have faith that even when times are rough that the Lord will see us through. Knowing that just makes me happy. How could it not?