1/20/25 Monday, Hello Brandon, I walked through the north golf course after our Jensen trip to the Virgin River Sunday afternoon. I walked through Lloyd Simpson’s yard to get back to the street. He saw me and came out to visit. His wife Joy is all bruised up from falling on Friday & Saturday. So he missed church. @ He answered that Joy was the one who was having all the remodeling done in her house. Zach, son, gave me a hug in his paint clothes a couple of weeks before Christmas when I dropped off the loaf of pepperjack cheese. @ Tanner, grandson, goes up and down as far as church goes. He went into the visitors center and said, I guess I should get active. The missionaries were receptive and excited. We serve in your stake, they told him. @ He attended with Lloyd for a couple of months. @ I subbed for Lloyd on Thursday when Zach had his day in court. The Old Guard, 10 of us, do three days in a row of building security at 11 am. @ Lloyd wanted to report to me how it went on his other two days and what he noticed. He is careful and thorough as is his nature! He follows all the steps outlined by Darren Brinkerhoff. @ He was disappointed that Tanner was sentenced to 60 days in jail instead of 21. @ Tanner was angry at the judge and all Mormon Utahn’s. He only had to notarize the letter to get his name removed from the church records. If this is justice I want out! @ Lloyd responded by saying: You did something wrong. Maybe your jail sentence will help you learn something. Your membership is your choice. By the next morning Tanner was ready to remain a Mormon. @ Lloyd had to deliver him to the jail today. :( @@ Our first guest speaker in sacrament meeting dared to mention how grateful he was for therapy about halfway through his talk. I thanked him for his tears as I shook his hand afterwards. stake SS counselor. @ Our second speaker has been through the wringer for the last 15 years and recently served as a bishop in Layton. He was a handsome big tall man. I was surprised at his size when I shook his hand. @ I gave him my email and asked for a copy of his talk. It was outstanding. He was quite startled at my request. But he sent it to me. I forwarded it to Lloyd. We are both excited that the last T&FH HC is no longer assigned and that this Nathan Miller is. He had to speed through the last half of his talk. Time was running out. Joyfully Living the Gospel
Welcome....
Oscar Wilde, the poet and playwright, once said, "To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people
exist, that is all." How many of us simply exist, just going through the motions of life? And, how many of
us are living, truly living, with all the joy and purpose that our Heavenly Father intends for us? I wonder if
many of us, like Elder Uchtdorf's thoughts in conference a few years back, are living well beneath our
privilege. Said he... “We live beneath our privileges when we fail to partake of the feast of happiness,
peace, and joy that God grants so bountifully to faithful servants.”
The gospel of Jesus Christ is not just a set of rules or guidelines—it’s a pathway to something much deeper. As the prophet Nephi taught in the book of 2 Nephi, “Men are, that they might have joy.” (2 Nephi 2:25) This is the purpose of our existence! We are here to find joy—not the fleeting kind, but the
deep, lasting joy that comes through Jesus Christ. He is the source of that joy. He is the one who enables
us to experience a joy that transcends this world, a joy that will last through every trial and tribulation. But how do we access this joy? The answer lies in living the gospel fully. When we embrace and live the teachings of Jesus Christ—when we make His love and His truth the foundation of our lives—that is
when the joy He promises becomes real for us. It’s not about perfection, but about progress. It’s about
striving, daily, to align our lives more closely with the Savior’s example.
I want to share with you some principles (though there are many more that apply that I won’t share), scriptures and a story or two that illustrate how we can joyfully live the gospel and experience the fullness of the joy that Jesus offers. Let me start with a note about my life… Back in 2010, my late wife, Tiffany, was diagnosed with a rare cancer, and was initially expected to live for about 18 months. Thanks to good doctors, a bone marrow transplant, along with prayers, fasting, and great hope, Tiffany was able to witness significant milestones in our children's lives before being diagnosed with a new cancer, and passed away in 2021. During her 11 year battle with multiple cancers, we faced many challenges and difficult trials. Yet, despite the struggles, we pressed forward with faith, knowing that while life was not as we expected, it was still our path to walk. After her passing, I found myself at a wall. An impenetrable wall. The life I had envisioned—growing old with her, traveling, and sharing dreams— were all on the other side of that wall – and there was no way to get to them. In short, this is grief. But in those moments of grief, I turned to the gospel and began to see a new path unfolding before me. During this time, we had a Come, Follow Me lesson that recalled the story of Lot’s wife and how she longed to return to what was familiar to her. The Lord was asking her
to move forward in faith, and not to long for that which we cannot have. Elder Holland taught in a talk about Lot’s wife, that Christ is an High Priest of good things to come. That the past, as amazing as it might have been, is the past... and with Christ, the best is yet to come. This inspired me to look ahead,
not backward, and to trust in God’s plan for me. As I aligned my will with His, new opportunities began to emerge. I met a fellow widow through an LDS Facebook group from Southern Utah. Shortly after an online introduction I had a coincidental spring break trip planned with my kids to the Grand Canyon where we were stopping in St. George for a
weekend on the way down. After a couple of short dates, we developed a relationship that led us to traveling back and forth from Northern Utah to Southern Utah until we decided to quit that craziness and I married the former Taryn Christine Day in the summer of 2022. Long story short, I gained 4 new
amazing kids, 8 in total, found a new job that allowed me to move to the hot desert, and began a new chapter of life I hadn’t expected and have since added two Daughter-in-laws, a grandbaby, and many more to come. This new path, though unfamiliar, has brought me joy, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose.
It was an unexpected blessing, but one that came through faith, openness, and trusting in God’s timing.
President Holland's words came to mind: "The best is yet to come." Through my journey, I realized that while the past may bring sorrow, the future holds countless possibilities. As I embraced the gospel and aligned my will with God's, I found that the pain of loss was replaced with hope and excitement for the future. God’s plan, though different from mine, was filled with opportunities for growth and joy.
The gospel teaches us that joy comes not from holding onto the past but from embracing the future with faith. As we seek Christ, trust in His timing, and open our hearts to new possibilities, we find that the best is always ahead of us. The path may be unexpected, but with Christ, it is always filled with hope.
A. Faith in Jesus Christ
The first principle I want to share in how to find joy is the first principle of the gospel - faith. Alma teaches us that “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6). Often, it’s not the grand moments but small acts of faith that bring about lasting change. When we trust in Christ, even in small ways, His strengthening power fills us. As we face trials—because we all do – or wait long
enough, and you will—we can find joy, not by escaping our struggles but by trusting that Jesus Christ will sustain us through them. His grace is sufficient, and in Him, we find peace and joy, even in the most
difficult of circumstances.
B. Repentance
The second principle is repentance. Isaiah offers a beautiful invitation: “Though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). Through repentance, we are cleansed and renewed by Christ’s Atonement. It’s more than removing guilt; it’s about starting fresh and feeling the joy that comes from being forgiven. Repentance opens the door to joy because it brings us closer to the Savior and allows us to feel of His love and forgiveness. There is no greater joy than that!
C. Service
Another principle that brings great joy is Service. Mosiah teaches, “When ye are in the service of your
fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17). Serving others brings lasting joy because it brings us closer to Christ as it helps us develop empathy, patience, and gratitude. As a young deacon, I remember my dad telling me to turn off my favorite TV show to fulfill my priesthood responsibility of running the fast offering route. I recall tears of frustration filled my eyes as the route
covered homes spread out over many miles as we lived in a geographically large ward and took 2 to 3 hours to complete. I dreaded it but got dressed in my church clothes and headed to the car where my dad waited. At the end of those three hours, I felt a surprising joy as I dropped off the receipts to the
bishop and drove with dad home. What started as despair turned into peace, and I was taken aback by the happiness I felt from serving my fellow beings.
D. Gratitude
Gratitude, another principle of joy, transforms our perspective. The Lord teaches, “He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious” (D&C 78:19). Gratitude opens our hearts to joy, allowing us to recognize God's blessings. It’s not just a fleeting feeling but a daily practice. When we focus on what we have rather than what we lack, we invite joy into our lives.
E. Enduring with Hope
Finally, enduring with hope brings joy. Moroni teaches, “Ye must hope...for the remission of your sins and
eternal life” (Moroni 7:41). Hope is not wishful thinking—it’s the confident expectation that Christ will keep His promises. No matter our trials, hope in Christ helps us endure with the assurance that joy is waiting for us in the end.
This past summer, Taryn and I decided to take our blended family of 11 on a cruise departing from Miami. After landing in Los Angeles on our first leg of the flight, we received word that our connecting flight to Miami had been canceled due to a hurricane passing through the city. Flights were being
canceled left and right to the East Coast, and we felt the pressure to figure out some way to get there.
We were incredibly fortunate when Shelby, one of my daughters-in-law, found a flight that hadn’t been
canceled, with room for all of us, leaving later that night from a different airport in Los Angeles. We scrambled to find our checked bags, packed into two Ubers, drove an hour to the other airport, and
waited for the flight.
Then, about three hours before takeoff, we got word that the flight was delayed until the next day, meaning we’d miss the cruise ship departing the following afternoon. It’s hard to convey the sense of despair we all felt in just a few words. We’d been planning this trip since Christmas, and everyone had taken time off work to spend a week together. We couldn’t find any other flights to Miami or Fort Lauderdale, and there we were, sitting outside the terminal, dumbfounded by our bad luck.
After Taryn suggested we offer a prayer, mostly for our hearts to be softened, Porter, my 16-year-old son,
kept saying, “Just have hope, Dad. We can figure this out.” After a day of despair and trying every option we could think of, I was starting to lose hope. I didn’t want to tell him there was no way, but deep down, I knew we were out of options. We started considering other possibilities—stay in California, explore San Diego, go to Coronado Island—but none of those gave us the excitement we had for the cruise.
Everyone, except Porter, started to look for the next best thing. But Porter still had hope when the rest of us had lost it.
Then, out of the blue, he said, “There’s a flight to Tampa that has enough seats for all of us. Can we take that one?” I checked, and sure enough, he was right. But it was a red-eye, flying out of the same airport we had just come from, and we only had an hour and a half before takeoff. It would take a miracle to
make it, let alone the fact we’d still need to rent vans in Tampa and drive to Miami having had no sleep for 36 hours. With no time to waste, we jumped into two Ubers, and the drivers understood the
assignment and got us back to LAX in record time. We checked our bags just as the system was about to close, and the agent told us she hoped they (the bags) would make it. We got in the last group to board, and we flew into Tampa, with the remnants of Hurricane Debby still bearing down on it. We were told
we were the last flight to land before they started turning flights away.
Somehow, our bags arrived, and we rented two cars, driving through the hurricane-affected Tampa, finally reaching the clear skies of Miami after a five hour drive just in time to board the ship. Through all the setbacks, the miracle was that we didn’t give up, at least not all of us. Porter’s unwavering hope carried us when the rest of us had none.
This story reflects how we can joyfully live the gospel of Jesus Christ by illustrating the power of hope, faith, and perseverance in the face of challenges. Throughout the ordeal, we faced numerous setbacks and moments of despair, but we kept moving forward, driven by the hope that somehow, things would work out.
Porter’s unwavering belief that there was still a way forward, despite the obstacles, mirrors the gospel
principle of enduring with hope. Even when things seem impossible if we have faith that God has a plan for us, joy can still be found, even when the path is unclear. Faith in the face of adversity exemplifies faith in Jesus Christ—knowing that through Him, all things are possible.
Our willingness to adapt, work together, and take action when things seemed hopeless reflects principles of service and gratitude in the gospel. We didn’t just give up, at least not all of us; we took practical steps to make the trip happen, which speaks to the joy that comes from actively living the gospel—putting our faith into action and seeking solutions with God’s guidance.
In the end, what we learned wasn’t just about some fun trip or catching the cruise—we learned about
trusting in God’s timing, finding joy in the process, and recognizing His hand guiding us through the storm. This experience shows me that, even in moments of trial, the gospel leads us to joy when we live with faith, hope, and a willingness to trust in God’s plan.
As I conclude, may I make this observation.
While my late wife was going through countless doctor and hospital visits, stays, and many procedures, I
was often asked, “how do you stay so happy despite the trials surrounding you?” My first thought was
almost always – “well – at least I don’t have your troubles...”, but if pressed, the gospel was always the answer – that and a recognition that it’s not only muscles that grow when stressed.
Recognize that life has trials but they are opportunities for growth. Hardships CAN refine us, they CAN
deepen our faith, and CAN draw us closer to God. Through challenges, we CAN develop greater empathy,
patience, and reliance on the Savior, ultimately finding joy in the lessons learned and the strength gained. But – to do so we must live the gospel with purpose....
o We can Pray: which Strengthens our connection with God.
o We can read Scriptures: which Provide peace and guidance.
o We can Worship in the Temple: Which offers eternal perspective and joy.
o We can listen to uplifting music: Which can inspire the soul and foster hope.
o We can seek professional counseling: which can provide tools and support to navigate life's challenges.
o We can create healthy physical habits: Exercise, nutrition, and rest enhance resilience and joy.
o We can foster strong relationships: Building meaningful connections with family and friends allow us to share heavy burdens and happy joys.
o We can engage in wholesome recreation activities which help uplift and rejuvenate the spirit.
o We can pull out and dust off that journal.. allowing us to process life and respond to trials with better mental acuity.
Living the gospel brings us joy through several key principles. First, faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation, allowing us to trust in Him and His plan, even through challenges. Repentance offers
us the opportunity to be cleansed and renewed, bringing peace and joy as we draw closer to the Savior. Service brings lasting joy by helping others and following Christ’s example of love and
selflessness. Gratitude transforms our perspective, helping us to see God’s hand in our lives and filling our hearts with joy. Finally, hope anchors us, giving us the confidence that, no matter the
trials, joy is promised through Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Together, these principles guide us to live joyfully in the gospel.
I invite each of you to take a moment and reflect on one way you can more fully live a gospel principle in your life—whether it’s through deepening your faith, embracing repentance, serving others, practicing gratitude, or holding on to hope – or a myriad of other principles. Consider how you might apply this principle with greater intention and commitment. As you do, you will invite greater joy into your life, and you will feel the peace and fulfillment that come from living the gospel more fully. For the best.... is yet to come.
• Testimony: Bear testimony of the joy I have found in Jesus Christ and His gospel. tyhf&tynm @@@ Sandra’85 is family history minded and wants our memories. “I have another Christmas present for you Dad. You will receive some prompts each week that will help you record your memories.” Ha! That doesn’t sound like a Christmas present to me. That sounds like work. Here are the two questions I responded to tonight:
What were you told or what do you know about the day you were born and your mom’s pregnancy with you? a. I was born one month after Myrna's 20th birthday on a hot July afternoon, in SLC, Utah. She was born in London, England. I was named after my father: Louis Vern Jensen Jr. They tried to get Myrna US citizenship but never succeeded. They were married in the Alberta, Canada temple. My dad often told the story of them sleeping on a mattress on the floor of some relatives in Alberta and waking up chewing on the shell of a cockroach. Where was the rest? ha
What is a fond experience you’ve had involving snow (any age)? We lived in Schoharie, New York from December '68-December '69. It was so so cold and the snow plows piled the snow up to 10 feet high at the sides of our dirt road in the depths of winter. We rented a farm and had two cows: Molly and Duely. Duely liked to duel. I was 14 and so I got to battle Duely every milking. I can't tell you how many times I got kicked in the side of the head with a manure slimed back right hoof. But dad was a travelling salesman and Brent was only 12, so I had to complete her milking. Brent's cow was Molly and wonderfully docile and cooperative. They were Canadian Holstein's and gave 5 gallons/milking. They had to tie a rope around Duely's calf at birth to get him out. Brent & I would each take hold of our side of the heavy milk can and crunch through the deep new snow and sometimes the super cutting icy wind to finally reach the house about 50 yards away. We were lucky we had a milking machine. The dairy had just been downsized. I only had to milk by hand to prime and to strip each udder. I have known that I was tough and could do almost anything after meeting that early morning and evening challenge every day.
