I would like to share my realization which I had after reading an article titled, Finding Joy, on a newspaper.
Fifty members of a certain organization attended a seminar. During the seminar, the MC suddenly gave each one a balloon and told them to blow the balloons up and write their names with a marker. The MC gathered those balloons and moved them to the next room, and asked them to find the balloon with their names.
The participants jostled, bumped against each other, and rushed to look for the balloons with their names. The place soon got in chaos. But no one could find the balloon with his name on it within five minutes.
Right away, the MC suggested another way that whichever balloon they picked, they should deliver the balloon according to the name on it. That way, everyone found their balloons within a minute. Seeing that, the MC said:
“It is the same with our life. All of us are wandering around, not knowing where we can find the true joy. We only try to find our own joy. But in fact, others’ joy becomes our joy. Please bring joy to others. Then you’ll be joyful, too. This is the principle of life.”
The moment I read this article, Zion came across my mind. It is difficult to live with joy all the time on the earth, a city of refuge for the sinners from heaven. But Zion is different. In Zion, it seems all sorts of worries and tiredness disappear, and we receive rest and peace physically and spiritually. I used to think, ‘Why is that I’m always happy in Zion?’ but I found the answer. The reason we, Zion members, are always happy is that we think of others’ joy before our own joy, as the article said.
“I’m sorry. I bumped against you.”
“No, I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
“Thank you for helping me.”
“You’re welcome. I’ve received blessings for helping you. So I thank you.”
You often hear such considerate conversations in Zion. Individualism and egoism prevail these days, and people usually think of their own happiness only. But in Zion, we think of others first and try to bring joy to them. All these are the results of practicing the Teachings of Heavenly Mother who has set the examples of love and sacrifice. I give eternal thanks and glory to Heavenly Mother for allowing me to realize the true meaning of joy through Her teachings that are more precious than jewels.