When I read that verse, I immediately thought of this quote from Will Durant:
"We frolic in our emancipation from theology but have we developed a natural ethic - a moral code independent of religion - strong enough to keep our instincts of acquisition, pugnacity, and sex from debasing our civilization into a mire of greed, crime and promiscuity? Have we really outgrown intolerance, or merely transferred it from religious to national, ideological and racial hostilities?"
Durant implies we just naturally follow our instincts. Samuel the Lamanite suggests we are looking for happiness in the wrong places. I like how Samuel doesn't give us a list of do's and don'ts but leads us to the source - God himself - if we want to know what happiness really is. It is in understanding the true nature of God the Father and of His Son Jesus Christ that we discover character traits worthy of emulation and promised to bring lasting joy.
We know that addicts are often trying to fill a spiritual void with their addiction. Life can drain us and leave us empty. But neither power, money, sex nor drugs will fill the emptiness.
I believe it was Sheri Dew who said "You will never know you are truly loved until you know God loves you."
Knowing God's love fills voids and heals wounded hearts. It is more than a set of rules to follow. It is finding a love so constant and true that you follow the source of that Love.
"And he who created man for Love, by the same love wanted to restore man to the same blessedness and even more. . . . Our creator wished us to be like Jesus Christ our Savior in heaven forever . . . . And God revealed this almost blessedly, as though to say: See, I am God. See, I do all things. See, I never remove my hands from my works, nor ever shall without end. See, I guide all things to the end that I ordained them for, before time began, with the same power and wisdom and love with which I made them; how should anything be amiss?". Julian of Norwich
This is God's irresistible pull that draws us to him. This is the love that overcomes our searching for happiness in the wrong places. This is the love that overcomes our natural instincts. This is the God whose love for us is so strong he will continue to pull, tug, beckon, and invite because that is who He is. And He will never stop until we finally open ourselves to the joy and peace He offers.
These beautiful words from hymn #220 in the LDS hymnbook describe that love:
1. Our Savior’s love
Shines like the sun with perfect light,
As from above
It breaks thru clouds of strife.
Lighting our way,
It leads us back into his sight,
Where we may stay
To share eternal life.
2. The Spirit, voice
Of goodness, whispers to our hearts
A better choice
Than evil’s anguished cries.
Loud may the sound
Of hope ring till all doubt departs,
And we are bound
To him by loving ties.
3. Our Father, God
Of all creation, hear us pray
In rev’rence, awed
By thy Son’s sacrifice.
Praises we sing.
We love thy law; we will obey.
Our heav’nly King,
In thee our hearts rejoice
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