A Moral Obligation

Do you and I have a moral obligation to be happy?

"Thou shalt not kill" is pretty obvious and imperative, and I've been exposed to that one since kindergarten Sunday School. It has taken me a little longer to understand a few of our other moral obligations. "Thou shalt not covet" always threw me for a loop because I couldn't figure out what was wrong with wanting something--at least not until I wanted that promotion so much it had become a sin. But some moral obligations are a little more subtle than commandments of God brought down from Sinai by the prophet Moses.

There are also civic moral obligations. It is a moral obligation to assist people in an accident, to vote responsibly, to report criminal activity, to serve on juries, and sometimes to serve in time of war (or by some folk's faith NOT to serve in time of war).

There are also good neighbor moral obligations, and moral obligations to those we love in our families. Fairness, tolerance, being supportive, even thoughtfulness are aspects of moral obligations to those with whom we associate.

But happiness!? Give me a break! It never crossed my mind that happiness could be considered a moral obligation until recently. Maybe it is because I thought of it as a state of being that I overlooked this one. One can be wet or dry, tall or short, sad or happy. It is just the way a person is--a state of being.

And yet, once I thought about it, I realized my happiness has an influence on my wife, my children, my parents, my co-workers and most of the people I meet. For their sake, if not my own sake, it is better to be happy than sad. Also, I can partially control my own happiness. Indirectly I can influence my own happiness by making godly choices that will sit well with my conscience, and also are likely to result in conditions that support happiness. But more directly, to a large extent, happiness is a decision. Abraham Lincoln taught that a man is as happy as he makes up his mind to be. Happiness is more of a decision than a state of being. By making that choice, even if many conditions are unfavorable, a determined person can find something about which to be happy. If we have control over that decision: and it is better to be happy than it is to be sad: and our decision influences others: then, I believe it is our moral obligation to choose to be happy.

I don't for a moment think this means it is possible to always at every second of life to be happy. And it seems appropriate to occasionally express sadness or grief to a friend or loved one. But on reflection, I do believe that for the long run, at most times, even in trying circumstances, we are morally obligated to make the choice to be happy, or to at least act happy.

I am grateful to Dennis Prager, radio talk show host, for pointing this out to me. I encourage you to visit his "Prager University" and listen to his excellent 5-minute lecture on this topic, Prager University: Happiness is a moral obligation.

The scriptures also seem to support the idea that a measure of happiness is an obligation in a variety of situations:

• . . . but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

• . . . rejoice before the Lord. Lev. 23:40
• . . . rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto . . . Deut. 12:7
• . . . rejoice in every good thing . . . Deut. 26:11
• Rejoice, O ye nations, with this people. Deut. 32:43
  
• . . . let all those who put their trust in thee, rejoice. Ps. 5:11
• Serve the Lord with gladness. Ps. 100:2
• . . . a merry heart doeth good like a medicine. Prov. 15:13
• . . . Every man . . ., to rejoice in his labor. Eccl. 5:19
• . . . live joyful with the wife whom thou lovest. Eccl. 9:9
  
• (if men revile you) . . . Rejoice and be exceeding glad . . . Matt. 5:12
• . . . be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee. Matt. 9:2
• . . . be of good cheer, it is I. Matt. 14:27
• Be of good cheer, Paul . . . Acts 23:11
• . . . be of good cheer, for I believe God. Acts 27:25
• . . . sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Rom. 12:8
• . . . Kingdom of God is . . ., joy in the Holy Ghost. Rom. 14:17
  
• . . . fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace . . . Gal. 5:22
  
• Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, rejoice. Philip 2:16
  
• God loveth a cheerful giver. 2 Cor. 9:7
• Rejoice evermore. 1 Thes. 5:16
• . . . count it all joy when ye fall in diverse temptations . . . James 1:2
  

• . . . men are that they might have joy. 2 Ne. 2:25
  
• . . . cheer up your hearts. 2 Ne. 10:23
• Lift up your head and be of good cheer. 3 Ne. 1:13

• . . . be of good cheer, little children. D&C 61:36
• . . . be of good cheer, and do not fear. D&C 68:6
• . . . be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. D&C 78:18
• Let thy heart be of good cheer before my face. D&C 112:4
• . . . rejoicing and lifting up thy heart for gladness. D&C 19:39
• . . . do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts. D&C 59:15
• . . . let us cheerfully do all things. D&C 123:17
  

• . . . come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy. Moses 7:53