How Can We Feel More Joy?
Short answer: We feel more joy when we lift up our heads, remember what God has already delivered us from, and recommit to faithful, selfless service—because joy is the natural fruit of living in covenant with Jesus Christ.
Alma 8:15 — A Pattern of Joy
“Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that delivered it unto you.”
This verse gives us a pattern of joy. It is not abstract. It is covenantal, practical, and repeatable for us.
1. Most Poignant Insight
Joy comes when we remember that God has already delivered us, and continues to deliver us, as we walk faithfully with Him.
This is why the angel tells Alma to lift up his head. Joy is not something we simply wait to feel. It is something we step into by remembering God’s past mercies and aligning our present life with His commandments.
2. Why These Scriptures Fit the Cross‑Reference “Delivered”
⚓︎ “And as I said unto you, as they were going about rebelling against God, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto them; and he descended as it were in a cloud; and he spake as it were with a voice of thunder, which caused the earth to shake upon which they stood;
And so great was their astonishment, that they fell to the earth, and understood not the words which he spake unto them.
Nevertheless he cried again, saying: Alma, arise and stand forth, for why persecutest thou the church of God? For the Lord hath said: This is my church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people.
And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith.
And now behold, can ye dispute the power of God? For behold, doth not my voice shake the earth? And can ye not also behold me before you? And I am sent from God.
Now I say unto thee: Go, and remember the captivity of thy fathers in the land of Helam, and in the land of Nephi; and remember how great things he has done for them; for they were in bondage, and he has delivered them. And now I say unto thee, Alma, go thy way, and seek to destroy the church no more, that their prayers may be answered, and this even if thou wilt of thyself be cast off.”
✦ Mosiah 27:11 — The Turning Point of Deliverance
This is the moment when an angel appears to Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah. It is a divine interruption, a rescue mission from heaven.
- Deliverance can be shaking: It shows that deliverance is not always gentle—sometimes God shakes us awake.
- Deliverance is love‑driven: It reveals that God intervenes because He loves us, not because we deserve it.
- Deliverance begins joy: It establishes that deliverance is the beginning of joy, not the end of the story.
✦ Mosiah 27:12–16 — Deliverance Leads to Transformation
These verses show that:
- Purpose of deliverance: God delivers us so we can become instruments in His hands.
- Inner change: Deliverance is meant to change our desires, not just our circumstances.
- Future service: Deliverance is always tied to future service, not just personal relief.
✦ Why This Matters for Alma 8:15
When the angel says, “I am he that delivered it unto you,” he is reminding Alma:
- You have already been rescued once.
- You have already been changed once.
- You have already been called once.
Therefore—lift up your head and rejoice.
Joy is remembering that God has already proven His love.
3. Principles for Our Celestial Spiritual Growth
Below are the core principles. Each one can be expanded into deeper teaching, reflection, and practice.
• Remembering Deliverance — Joy Grows When We Recall How God Has Rescued Us
We feel more joy when we:
- Remember our own “Mosiah 27 moments” — the times God interrupted our path to save us.
- Recognize God’s hand in our past — seeing patterns of mercy, not just random events.
- See that we are not alone in our present — the God who delivered us then is with us now.
This principle strengthens self‑development by grounding us in gratitude instead of shame or fear.
• Faithful Living — Joy Follows Obedience
Alma is told to rejoice because he has been faithful. Faithfulness brings:
- Clarity — we see God’s will more clearly.
- Peace — our conscience is at rest before Him.
- Confidence before God — we can lift up our heads without hiding.
This principle strengthens family core values by teaching consistency, integrity, and covenant loyalty in our homes.
• Lifted Perspective — Joy Requires Lifting Our Head
We cannot rejoice while staring at the ground. We lift our head when we:
- Look toward Christ — fixing our gaze on His grace, not our guilt.
- Look beyond our fears — trusting His promises more than our anxieties.
- Look past our failures — believing that His mercy is greater than our mistakes.
This principle strengthens community camaraderie by helping us see others with hope, not suspicion or cynicism.
• Selfless Service — Joy Increases When We Stop Focusing on Ourselves
Jesus Christ taught that joy is found in:
- Giving
- Serving
- Blessing
- Lifting
This principle strengthens our fellowship because service binds hearts together and reflects the character of Christ the Nazarene.
• Maximum Servitude — Our Objective Is to Bless Mankind
When our purpose shifts from “What do I need?” to “How can I bless?”:
- Joy expands
- Anxiety shrinks
- Purpose deepens
- Christlike love grows
This principle strengthens our celestial growth because exaltation is communal, not solitary. We rise together as we serve together.
4. Application for Us, Our Families, and Our Community
✦ For Our Personal Growth
We feel more joy when we:
- Recall how God has delivered us — rehearsing His mercies in our minds and prayers.
- Live faithfully in the present — choosing obedience today, not just remembering yesterday.
- Serve generously without expecting return — giving as Christ gives, freely and gladly.
✦ For Our Families
Joy grows in the home when we:
- Tell our deliverance stories — sharing how God has helped our family across generations.
- Practice covenant loyalty — keeping promises, forgiving quickly, and staying true.
- Serve each other quietly and consistently — doing small, unseen acts of love every day.
✦ For Our Community
Joy becomes a culture when we:
- Lift each other’s heads — speaking hope, not despair, into one another’s lives.
- Celebrate each other’s deliverance — rejoicing in every story of God’s rescue.
- Serve with no agenda but love — seeking no credit, only the good of our neighbors.
5. Principle Summary
Joy is the fruit of remembering God’s deliverance, living faithfully, and serving selflessly.
Alma rejoiced because he had been faithful and because God had already delivered him.
We rejoice for the same reasons.
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