Blessedness: Blessedness is defined as being higher than happiness. ‘Happiness comes
from without and is dependent on circumstances; blessedness is an inward
fountain of joy in the soul itself, which no outward circumstances can
seriously affect.’ (Dummelow's Commentary)
Three of my favorite beatitudes that have affected me throughout my life, and that I hope will continue to affect me are:
1. “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
I love
what President Lee said about this beatitude: “To mourn, as the Master’s lesson
here would teach, one must show that ‘godly sorrow that worketh repentance’ and
wins for the penitent a forgiveness of sins
and forbids a return to the deeds of which he mourns.” I know that in the past
as I have mourned, or truly been sorry for thing things that I have done I have
felt peace. The Savior wants us to change. He wants us to improve. And one step
for that to happen is to repent and mourn for those things we have done and
seek for forgiveness. This will bring a change of heart and courage to do
better. This has brought me so much happiness and comfort throughout my life.
Often as I look back at the weeks and months I feel silly about the mistakes I
made, or I regret decisions I made. And every time I have felt those feelings,
I have also felt comfort from the Spirit to know that I can do better this
week. I can start now to do better!
2. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness for they shall be filled.”
I love
this! I love learning about the truths of the gospel. I know that the times in
my life that I have been more focused on seeking after truth and light I have
been filled and I have been happy! I love my scriptures! I know that they lead me to do good things. I know that they are true. I am grateful for all the experiences I have had in my scriptures and the experiences that have come because I studied them, and I am
grateful that I have recorded the feelings that I have felt during that time so
that when I am struggling I can look back and remember how wonderful it felt to
truly hunger and thirst after righteousness. I so want to do good deeds, I want
to be good, and I want to be filled with light and truth. I know that as I
search for those good things to do, and as I continue to search for truth I
will continue to be filled!
3. “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’
sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
I hope
that I can have the strength to endure all that comes. I hope that I will have
the strength to stand strong to what I know is true. I hope that within the
walls of my own home I will be able to withstand the persecutions and the
influences of the adversary. I know that he wants to come into my home and
destroy it spiritually, and I pray that I will have the strength to withstand
all that will try to make its way into my home. I hope that I can keep my home
as a safety and a refuge from the world. I want to keep the influences of the
adversary away. I know that as I strive to do this as I am raising my children
with my husband, that I will be blessed. I know that happiness will come
because I am striving to do what my Heavenly Father wants me to do!
I love the words and the teachings of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I have a testimony that as we follow them we can stay on the road that will lead us back to Him. And that is where we want to be with our family for eternity! I never thought about the Beatitudes as a constitution for our perfection, but it totally fits. I hope that I can understand them more fully and then be able to apply them more fully to my life!
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