That They Might Have Joy

“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” -2 Nephi 2:25

I love this verse. This whole chapter really gives great insight into the plan of salvation, namely the purpose of opposition in this life and Satan’s role and why we have agency. It also gives good insight into the Atonement. 

I just love it :)

I want to focus on “men are, that they might have joy.” If Adam had not fallen, we wouldn’t be. If he had not partaken of the fruit, things would have remained as they were. Because of the fall, we are here. And we are here to experience joy. I want to put that in the perspective of what we are going through in our trials and putting trust in God. I’ve had times where I’m not sure if I want to put my trust in Him because I have felt like He has failed me. There has been too much opposition: too much anger, sadness, anxiety, depression. Too much. 

BUT when I have put my trust in God, He has been able to reach into that darkness and help me feel joy. And the deeper my pain, the more great my joy when I find it. We need opposition because it helps the other parts of life work, and opposition is what allows us to actually choose and use our agency. I have felt like I have had much opposition in my life, and it truly is hard to rise above. But when we can look beyond the blackness and reach for the light, then we can have a fullness of joy. And it takes time. It doesn’t come right away. We have to work at it and keep using our agency to make the best of bad situations. But, we are here to be perfected and find joy through our experiences—even the ones with lots of opposition. 

“Men are, that they might have joy.” That is why we are here. We are here to experience joy. We can if we rely on the Savior. If we turn ourselves over to Him, He will help us find joy. We are free to choose liberty and eternal life through the Savior, or we can choose captivity and death by the power of the devil (verse 27). If we turn ourselves over to Christ, even a little bit at a time, He will help us gain liberty and eternal life. 

I have found joy in my life. It comes and goes, but the more I rely on my Savior and turn my life over to Him, the more I find and experience joy, not just in general, but in the times heavy with opposition.