Happiness, said Coleen K. Menlove, is knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"It is knowing and feeling the pure love of Christ that brings exquisite joy into our souls," said Sister Menlove, general Primary president, during her first general conference address; she was sustained last October. "It is knowing that forgiveness for our mistakes is possible. It is through the Atonement of the Savior, who satisfied the demands of justice and offers us mercy, that hope and joy are possible. As we draw near to the Savior, we are free from doubt and confusion."

Speaking during the Saturday morning session, Sister Menlove likened the lives of Church members to a child's story that begins, "Once upon a time." As the characters in those stories, she continued, members want to live "happily ever after."

"The opportunity is here and now to obtain happiness that extends beyond our earth life; however, we need to know what it is and where to find it," she said.

Sister Menlove said happiness is the result of obedience. "When we disobey God's law, we suffer the punishments, but when we obey, we reap the happiness. Part of what creates happiness is the absence of regret, guilt and sin."

Sister Menlove continued that mortality is a time of testing and trial, which means there must be times when Church members feel pain and emotional discomfort.

"The story of our search for happiness is written in such a way that if we continue to trust in God and follow His commandments through the challenging times, even those times will bring us closer to the happiness we are seeking."

The Savior, Sister Menlove said, showed the way to happiness. "As we study the teachings of the Savior and thereby understand the purpose of our existence, we feel and express our happiness."

Happiness is not only simple, but it is here to be experienced each day, she said. "Happiness is all around us. It can be as immediate as now. . . . We need to remember that despite all of life's challenges, our time to be happy is now."

The gospel of Jesus Christ makes people happy, said Sister Menlove.

"Through the Savior we can find our way back to God. We can find peace and happiness in this life and eternal joy in the world to come. . . .

"As we come to understand the great plan of happiness, we will radiate, for all the world to see, a glad heart and a cheerful countenance. We will show that we know the gospel of Jesus Christ is a simple, ever-present source of true happiness today and ever after in eternity. It is living the gospel of Jesus Christ that is our guarantee of living 'happily ever after.' "