We hear about the Beatitudes so often. The LDS Institute Manual, "The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles," says that the Beatitudes have been referred to by Bible commentators as, "the preparation necessary for entrance into the kingdom of heaven." Clearly they are something important as well as something we should be paying to. I had never really studied them much and I really enjoyed this experience. The first thing I was supposed to do as part of my assignment was to make a definition of the word "blessed" or "blessedness" after reading some footnotes and a section for the institute manual commentary. I concluded that it's a state of internal happiness and joy that comes from heaven.
Since the Beatitudes essentially hold characteristics of Christ of what we should be in order to become perfect, I chose three of my favorites and want to talk about how living them can increase your happiness and improve your life.
1. "Blessed are the poor in spirit."
I was enlightened as I read the commentary for this verse. To be poor in spirit doesn't necessarily mean to be down-trodden and depressed or to have a lack of faith. Being poor in spirit means you rely on the Lord in all things. You look to him for the things you need. This also makes you grateful for every single thing you do receive. We need to be humble in our everyday lives and constantly rely on the Lord. I know that when Christ is the center of our lives we are happier and he is all the more willing to bless us. If we are focused on Christ we lose our desire to sin and have a desire to always to good.
2. "Blessed are the meek."
This goes right along with being poor in spirit. What I like about the characteristic of meekness is that it's basically a quiet strength. The institute commentary had this to say about meekness; "A meek man is defined as one who in not easily provoked or irritated and forbearing under injury or annoyance. Meekness is not synonymous with weakness. The meek man is the strong, the mighty, the man of complete self-mastery. He is the one who has the courage of his moral convictions, despite the pressure of the gang or the club." We are commanded to endure to the end and I think being meek is a quality that goes with that teaching hand-in-hand. The meek are not easily provoked or irritated but are calm and collected. Attitude is everything when it comes to happiness and I think meekness is a big step toward it.
3. "Blessed are they which are persecuted."
Although I haven't had much persecution in my own life to draw experience from, I love this concept. To quote Winston Churchill, "You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." What better to be persecuted for than the church and righteousness? Something my mom has always taught me is that the reason this church is so persecuted is because it's true. Satan is trying everything he possibly can to prevent the works of the Lord from progressing. I know of churches that take time teaching it's members how to hate and confound LDS members instead of the scriptures and things that a church should have. I love in Matthew 5:12 that it says, "for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." How amazing would it feel to be put along side the prophets as someone who stood up for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know I have been blessed by living the gospel no matter what others have thought of me. It can be a powerful missionary tool and as I bear my testimony of what I believe it grows even more and is strengthened.
I encourage each one of you that reads this post, which probably isn't very many, to study more in depth the Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount and how you can apply the teachings to your own life. I know that you will blessed and if you live them you will receive that internal and eternal happiness that the world can't diminish. These things are true and I know it. I hope that you will gain that same testimony for yourself.
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