One of the most misunderstood phrases of the human experience is the pursuit of happiness. What makes one person happy may not make all happy, and what we perceive as something that will bring us satisfaction or joy may prove in the end to be only a mirage if what we are pursuing are earthly pleasures.

We often envy those individuals who appear cheerful, even in times of stress, who enjoy an outlook on life that is happy and undaunting. Many of these individuals truly magnify the statement that happiness is infectious.But others, who have their hearts set on worldly goods and accomplishments, hope that when they have achieved some measure of success then happiness will follow. What they find at the end of their journey instead is a hollow victory, and they remain unsatisfied. They must then rush to find something else to pursue or suffer even more unhappiness.

President Spencer W. Kimball said, "We live in a corrupt world where most of the things we think we want can be purchased with money or obtained through political power, but we also live in a wonderfully good world where the things which really bring us unbounded joy may still be had in rich abundance if we are willing to pay the price, and that price is expressed not in money but in effort." (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 353.)

The Prophet Joseph Smith expressed it this way: "Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness and keeping all the commandments of God." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 255.)

The key to obtaining happiness is focusing on our relationship with our Father in Heaven. That does not mean we will be free from discouragement or disappointments, or even heartache. But when faced with those "stumbling blocks along life's path" we will be able to put them into perspective and recognize that "this too shall pass."

We can take comfort in the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith when he said the Lord delights in those who seek diligently to know His precepts, and abide by the law of His kingdom; for all things shall be made known unto them in the Lord's own due time, and in the end they shall have joy. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 257.)

President Ezra Taft Benson also reminded us: "The Lord wants us to be happy. He will do His part if we will do our part. The Christlike life is the life that brings true happiness. There is no true happiness without God. Sin brings sorrow, disappointment and heartaches. Only the good life brings a happy new year. It pays to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. It pays to accept the teachings of the Master, to apply them in our lives to be true to the standards of the Church, to be true to our covenants - to live the gospel. (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 339)

Here, then, is the gospel recipe for happy living - to turn ourselves over to God and let Him lead us, instruct us and refine us into the person we can best become.

President Benson continued, "Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life. (See Matt. 10:39.)" (Ibid, p. 361.)

These are not just idle promises. They remind us what true happiness is. President Kimball put it succinctly when he said: "When we are asked why we are such a happy people, our answer is: `Because we have everything - life with all its opportunities, death without fear, eternal life with endless growth and development.' " (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 159.)

We need not dwell unnecessarily on what we are today or what our circumstances or surroundings may be; we need only to keep focused on what we can become by turning ourselves over to the Lord. Such devotion can bring us happiness here and now. The scriptures tell us: "But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come." (D&C 59:23.)

We can learn more about ourselves by seeing evidence of the Master's goodness all around us and by emulating those qualities He showed throughout His ministry: service, loyalty, compassion, love and holiness. Only when we lose ourselves in His service, as the prophets have declared, do we find the true meaning of happiness in our lives.