Joy was the topic discussed by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the church, at the most recent general conference held earlier this month. As is the case with so many of his talks at general conference, Elder Uchtdorf referenced a certain subject that brings him joy. He spoke of aviation, specifically, the Wright brothers.

“It’s hard to believe it was only 120 years ago when Wilbur and Orville Wright first lifted off and flew over the sands of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina,” he said. “Four short flights on that December day changed the world and opened the door to one of the greatest inventions in the world’s history.

“Flying was risky in those early days. The brothers knew this. And so did their father, Milton. In fact, he was so terrified of losing both of his sons in a flying accident that they promised him they would never fly together.

“And they never did — with one exception. Seven years after that historic day at Kitty Hawk, Milton Wright finally gave his consent and watched as Wilbur and Orville flew together for the first time. After landing, Orville convinced his father to take his first and only flight and to see for himself what it was like.

Ryan Comer, Standard-Examiner

“As the plane lifted from the ground, the 82-year-old Milton got so caught up in the exhilaration of flight that all fear left him. Orville rejoiced as his father shouted with delight, ‘Higher, Orville, higher!’

“This was a man after my own heart!”

It was the perfect historical anecdote for Elder Uchtdorf to use to launch into the central theme of his talk, which was understanding higher joy — “where it comes from, how it enters our hearts and how we can experience it in greater measure.”

Joy can be elusive. Everyone wants it, and sometimes people find it, but it can often prove fleeting, if it’s found at all. Sadness invariably comes to all, no matter how hard we try, and can be difficult to overcome. Sometimes, sorrow can be downright debilitating.

In order for someone to understand how to obtain joy — lasting joy — one must first understand where it comes from. Elder Uchtdorf explained that it comes from “following the savior and walking in his way.”

“The peace he gives us is not like what the world gives. It’s better. It’s higher and holier,” Elder Uchtdorf explained. “Jesus said, ‘I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’

“The gospel of Jesus Christ is truly the ‘good news of great joy’! It is a message of matchless hope! A message of yoke bearing and burden lifting. Of light gathering. Of heavenly favor, higher understanding, holier covenants, eternal security and everlasting glory!”

I know this joy because I have felt it. Importantly, I know that I’m not special in being able to feel it. I’m not some person who was selected to be capable of feeling it while others aren’t. All can have it. Continued Elder Uchtdorf:

“Joy is the very purpose of God’s plan for his children. It’s what you were created for — ‘that (you) might have joy’! You were built for this!

“Our Father in heaven has not hidden the path to happiness. It is not a secret. It is available to all!

“It is promised to those who walk the path of discipleship, follow the teachings and example of the savior, keep his commandments and honor covenants they make with God. What a remarkable promise!”

I’ve noticed over the years that whenever I speak of the joy that I feel and that I know others can feel when they follow the Lord and keep his commandments, there’s a common response. It usually goes something like, “I don’t need God to feel happy. I am perfectly happy enough right now.” This may be true. Elder Uchtdorf referenced this kind of sentiment and responded:

“I acknowledge and respect these feelings. Our beloved Father in heaven wants all his children to have as much happiness as possible, so he has filled this world with beautiful, wholesome pleasures and delights, ‘both to please the eye and … gladden the heart.’ For me, flying brought great happiness. Others find it in music, in art, in hobbies or in nature.

“By inviting everyone and sharing the savior’s good news of great joy, we do not discount any of these sources of joy. We’re simply saying that God has something more to give. A higher and more profound joy — a joy that transcends anything this world offers. It is a joy that endures heartbreak, penetrates sorrow and diminishes loneliness.

“Worldly happiness, by contrast, does not last. It cannot. It is the nature of all earthly things to grow old, decay, wear out or become stale. But godly joy is eternal, because God is eternal. Jesus Christ came to lift us out of the temporal and replace corruption with incorruption. Only he has that power, and only his joy is perpetual.

“If you feel there could be more of this kind of joy in your life, I invite you to embark on the journey of following Jesus Christ and his way. It is a journey of a lifetime — and beyond.”

As human beings, we naturally want more of something we think is good. Sometimes, that can be a negative as it leads to greed. But when it comes to joy, why would anyone want to settle for a lesser amount? If “joy is the very purpose of God’s plan for his children” and is “what you were created for,” as Elder Uchtdorf said, then we should want as much of it as possible.

Perhaps it’s the work that is required that compels people to settle for what they have. I understand this concept well. When I returned from my Latter-day Saint mission, I planned on transferring to Brigham Young University from a community college I had obtained a degree from prior to my mission. Unfortunately, my GPA was not high enough to be accepted to BYU. In reviewing my community college transcript, I noticed that there were three classes that I had taken that I had received a relatively low grade in. I could have retaken all three classes, but there was one in particular that I had no interest in retaking. It was my least favorite class and I was highly unenthusiastic about the work that I knew I would have to put into it. I determined that if I could raise my grade enough in the other two classes, I could qualify for admission into BYU. So, that’s what I did. I retook the two classes I preferred and got sufficiently higher grades in both classes to be accepted into BYU. I settled for a better grade in just two of the three classes, and thankfully it worked out.

In determining whether or not a certain amount of work is necessary, two simple questions must be answered: 1) What exactly are you getting out of the work that you do put in, and 2) What are you missing out on by not putting in even more work?

What are you getting out of the work you put in to have joy? Perhaps it’s a lot. Perhaps you believe it’s sufficient. But is it? How much thought have you honestly put into how much joy you’re leaving on the table? Put another way, if you could feel even more joy, would you look at the current amount of joy you feel as sufficient?

I have seen the difference between the world’s joy and the type of joy that only comes from following Jesus Christ, and it’s no contest. I may feel the world’s joy when I engage in a certain worldly activity, but that joy is always temporary. It always gives way to disappointment and frustration. The worldly joy that I feel doesn’t give me eternal perspective. It doesn’t teach me that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and that there is a reason for my trials. I may not understand completely those reasons, but I know that the trials are meant to help perfect me. That knowledge brings comfort. Eventually, I know that the joy I feel from whatever worldly activity I’m engaged in will end and all my problems, with the accompanying anxiety, will resurface. The joy that I feel from following Jesus Christ truly is transcendent. It stays with me as long as I want it to, as long as I continue in my commitment to him. It’s not like my problems just magically disappear. I just feel shielded from the despair that can so easily be brought about by those problems.

If I had never felt the joy that comes from following Jesus Christ, I might think that worldly joy was sufficient. But I have felt that kind of joy, and I know that I would be devastated if I had to suddenly somehow figure out a way through life without it.

There are many things that one could think of to obtain the higher joy Elder Uchtdorf spoke of. He provided three suggestions in general.

1. Draw near to God

After referencing the New Testament story of the woman who touched the clothes of Jesus and was subsequently healed of a blood issue that had plagued her for 12 years, Elder Uchtdorf said:

“There may be many reasons why we hesitate to draw near to the savior. We may face ridicule or condemnation by others. In our pride, we may dismiss the possibility of something so simple being of so much value. We may think that our condition somehow disqualifies us from his healing — that the distance is too great or our sins too many.

“Like this woman, I have learned that if we draw near to God and reach out to touch him, we can indeed find healing, peace and joy.”

If you find yourself asking what you specifically need to do in order to draw closer to God, I suggest starting with prayer. I am certain Heavenly Father is willing to tell you if you ask.

2. Look for it

It sounds simple, but if you want to find something, looking for it is an important step. We may sometimes accidentally stumble into finding something that we aren’t looking for, but that is not a reliable method. Said Elder Uchtdorf:

“Jesus taught, ‘Seek, and ye shall find.’

“I believe this simple phrase is not only a spiritual promise; it is a statement of fact.

“If we seek reasons to be angry, to doubt, to be bitter or alone, we will find them too.

“However, if we seek joy — if we look for reasons to rejoice and to happily follow the savior, we will find them.

“We rarely find something we are not looking for.

“Are you looking for joy?

“Seek, and ye shall find.”

3. Bear one another’s burdens

It’s a fact that helping others brings joy. I know this because I have felt joy when I have helped others. Sometimes, helping others has required me to sacrifice something important to me, like time or money. Sometimes, it has felt like my efforts have not been appreciated a whole lot. But none of that changes the feelings of satisfaction and joy that I have felt. We should all take advantage of the opportunities we have to help others, and we should not be afraid to let others help us. Sometimes, our pride gets in the way and we don’t want to ask for or accept help. But if helping others truly does bring joy, then we shouldn’t withhold that joy from others who want to help us. On the subject of helping others, Elder Uchtdorf said:

“Jesus taught, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

“Can it be that in our search for joy, the best way to find it is to bring joy to others?

“Brothers and sisters, you know and I know this is true! Joy is like a barrel of flour or a jar of oil that will never run out. True joy multiplies when it is shared.

“It doesn’t require something grand or complicated.

“We can do simple things.

“Like praying for someone with all our heart.

“Giving a sincere compliment.

“Helping someone feel welcome, respected, valued and loved.

“Sharing a favorite scripture and what it means to us.

“Or even just by listening.

“‘When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God,’ and God will repay your kindness generously. The joy you give to others will return to you in ‘good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.'”

Just like my son felt inspired to increase his faith upon listening to the words of President Nelson, I have felt inspired to do more to increase the amount of joy in my life since listening to Elder Uchtdorf’s talk. I know there is much more I can and should do.

Contact Ryan Comer at rcomer@standard.net. Follow him on Twitter at @rbcomer8388 and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rbcomer8388.