Come, Follow Me

2 Nephi 5

Am I Living “after the Manner of Happiness”?

By Eric D. Snider

Church Magazines

Here are some ideas for you to live the way Nephi said his people lived.

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Illustration by Alyssa Gonzalez

Shortly after separating from the Lamanites, Nephi said his people “lived after the manner of happiness” (2 Nephi 5:27). Considering that there was another group of people who wanted to kill them (see 2 Nephi 5:1–6, 14), that might be surprising. How could anyone be happy under such circumstances?

First of all, note that “we lived after the manner of happiness” does not mean “every single Nephite was happy 24/7.” It means they lived in the kind of way, and did the kinds of things, that generally lead to happiness. Overall, despite their challenges, it was a happy time.

So what is “the manner of happiness”? How can we duplicate it in our own lives, which also have challenges? Let’s look!

• Be obedient. “We did observe to keep … the commandments of the Lord” (2 Nephi 5:10).

  Living the gospel is Step 1. You might be temporarily happy in sin, but it won’t last. Deliberately disobeying God is not “the manner of happiness” (see Alma 41:10).

• Search the scriptures. “I, Nephi, had … brought the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass” (2 Nephi 5:12). “We … searched them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us” (1 Nephi 5:21) .

  Nephi’s people had the scriptures. And they didn’t just have them—they searched them.

• Listen to inspired leaders. “I, Nephi, did consecrate Jacob and Joseph, that they should be priests and teachers over … my people” (2 Nephi 5:26).

  These teachers used the scriptures as their guide (see 2 Nephi 4:15; 6:4).

• Go to the temple (and other holy places). “I, Nephi, did build a temple” (2 Nephi 5:16).

  It’s important to have holy places like meetinghouses and temples for disciples to gather and worship. (We can assume the Nephites didn’t just have a temple—they actually used it.) If you can’t attend a temple in person, you can always do family history work.

• Be productive. “I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work. … [I] did cause my people to be industrious, and to labor with their hands” (2 Nephi 5:15, 17).

  Part of “the manner of happiness” is having something to do! An assignment, a job, a responsibility—something that gives you focus and purpose (with appropriate time off to relax, of course). It’s hard to be happy if you’re bored all the time.

Would you say that you are currently living after the manner of happiness? If not, maybe Nephi’s example can give you some ideas of how to improve.