Men are that they might have joy

Even as I proceed into the latter chapters 2nd Nephi my mind reflects back on chapter 2. In particular I've been pondering verse 25: "Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have joy." Joseph Smith echoed that thought when he said, "Happiness is the object and design of our existence." If the whole reason we exist is to be happy, why is it that we aren't always happy? How do we reconcile this notion of joy with the trials and challenges we sometimes have that Jeffrey wrote about. As I was thinking about this, my eye went up to verse 23 where it says had Adam and Eve not partaken of the forbidden fruit they would have remained in innocence "having no joy, for they knew no misery." There's the answer! We wouldn't know how good the good times are without having experienced some bad times for comparison. And it's a win-win situation, because when times are good, we're happy and when the trials come along, they refine us and make us appreciate the good times more. So whether our lives are rosey or not, it's all a blessing as long as we know we're doing what we should.

One other verse that impressed me was in verse 26 where it says men are free to "act on themselves and not to be acted upon." It struck me that that means we can set our own course. We can be "creators" of our circumstances and not "creatures" of circumstance. We can chose our own actions and attitude, no matter what is going on around us.

Finally, all the blog comments praising Lehi have been an eye-opener to me. I had always seen Nephi as the hero of 1st and 2nd Nephi - and felt a tad bit critical of Lehi because of the one time it mentions that he murmured. But many of you have pointed out how remarkable Lehi was too. And now that I notice Lehi is one speaking in chapter 2 - one of the greatest chapters of the Book of Mormon - I see him in a new light.