"Blessed are..."

This one comes from the Sermon On The Mount in Matthew 5-7, more focused on Ch. 5. In this passage we have an incredible teaching from the Savior, He uses the phrase "Blessed are..." quite often. In the footnotes we learn that the latin beatus is the basis of the English 'beatitude,' meaning 'to be fortunate,' 'to be happy,' or 'to be blessed'. We have a different perspective if we read those passages with those new phrases. The Savior is teaching us how to be happy. I picked 3 from the scriptures that I will expound on. I encourage you to read them and find out how you can apply them, who doesn't want to be happy?

Blessed Are the Pure in Heart

“If you would see God, you must be pure. There is in Jewish writings the story of a man who saw an object in the distance, an object that he thought was a beast. As it drew nearer he could perceive it was a man and as it came still closer he saw it was his friend. You can see only that which you have eyes to see. Some of the associates of Jesus saw him only as a son of Joseph the carpenter. Others thought him to be a wine-bibber or a drunkard because of his words. Still others thought he was possessed of devils. Only the righteous saw him as the Son of God. Only if you are the pure in heart will you see God, and also in a lesser degree will you be able to see the ‘God’ or good in man and love him because of the goodness you see in him. Mark well that person who criticizes and maligns the man of God or the Lord’s anointed leaders in his Church. Such a one speaks from an impure heart.”

I feel that this has to do with our personal righteousness and our goals. The more we come to understand the atonement, the more we will want to repent and be obedient to the Lord. As a parent wants the best for their child, our Heavenly Father wants the best for us. This is why we are given commandments. A perfect Heavenly Parent gave them to us in wisdom, because they will make us happy. We can show our love to Him in word and in action. It is more difficult to show love through our decisions and actions, but it shows our respect to the One who gives us all we have.

Blessed Are the Merciful

“Our salvation rests upon the mercy we show to others. Unkind and cruel words, or wanton acts of cruelty toward man or beast, even though in seeming retaliation, disqualify the perpetrator in his claims for mercy when he has need of mercy in the day of judgment before earthly or heavenly tribunals. Is there one who has never been wounded by the slander of another whom he thought to be his friend? Do you remember the struggle you had to refrain from retribution? Blessed are all you who are merciful for you shall obtain mercy!”

All of us have felt what it is like to be wrongfully accused or blamed. Many of us have been in the position when we were at the mercy of someone else. We know that Christ suffered all so that he may know how to succor (nurture) us, because he has suffered it also. Christ was wrongfully blamed, accused for many things He never did. A perfect Son of God never deserved the cruel judgments upon Him, yet He suffered it and conquered. Since He knows how to be at peace with this, we can turn to Him when we feel distorted from happiness and come at rest. The atonement makes everything that is unfair become fair, we just need to turn to the Lord.

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

“Peacemakers shall be called the children of God. The troublemaker, the striker against law and order, the leader of the mob, the law-breaker are prompted by motives of evil and unless they desist will be known as the children of Satan rather than God. Withhold yourselves from him who would cause disquieting doubts by making light of sacred things for he seeks not for peace but to spread confusion. That one who is quarrelsome or contentious, and whose arguments are for other purposes than to resolve the truth, is violating a fundamental principle laid down by the Master as an essential in the building of a full rich life. ‘Peace and goodwill to men on earth’ was the angel song that heralded the birth of the Prince of Peace.”

Contentions arise in the world, if you are thrown into a pile of mud and are asked to stay clean, it will be difficult to avoid the things in your environment. This is why we stand in holy places, however, sometimes we will not be able to avoid such an ordeal. The next agent that alters what you do is how you react. Reacting in a harsh way allows you to be joined with the world. Peacemakers are of God, and although the world is a dark place, you will full of light. The Savior is a peacemaker, the giver of peace. If we chose to follow Him in moments when our reaction to contention could be wrong, and we chose Him. "Happy" are we and our reward will be priceless compared to a wild and angry explosion that doesn't solve anything.

Conclusion: I love these passages. These scriptures outline a guide to happiness and perfection. May we apply the scriptures taught, they make us happy. Joy is hard to find sometimes, but God knows all and will help us find it.