Sunday Happenings

Lesson: 11 Ways to Be Miserable
Instructor: Sister Stott

Ezra Taft Benson said: “Daily, constantly, we choose by our desires, our thoughts, and our actions whether we want to be blessed or cursed, happy or miserable.” (Ensign, May 1988)

1. Do Not Enjoy Anything

• Never Do Anything For Yourself
• Don't Get to Know the Sisters in our Ward, that would include doing your Visiting Teaching

2. Worry, Worry, Worry

• Gas prices are probably going to raise to $4.00 this year
• Worry about things you see on the news each night, things you have no control over. Soak in those sad, depressed, & glum feelings that accompany these worries.
• Happy people do the exact opposite: Scripture #1: D&C 123:17

3. Be Rude

• Belittle people, make them feel worthless
• No church activity is fun enough…make sure you let the committee know

4. Focus on Your Problems

• Think about all of the things you don’t like about yourself; your height, your weight, hair, car, clothes, nose, grades...etc...

5. Blame, Blame, Blame

• Never forgive- it is always someone else's fault, never yours

6. Postpone Being Happy

• Put deadlines on your happiness... fill in the blank... as soon as I ____, then I'll be happy.
• Jesus taught- Scripture #2: Luke 12:15

7. Postpone Prayer

• Keep your distance from deity- never let him know what is happening in your life
• Quote #4: President Wilford Woodruff- “WE should call upon the lord in Might prayer, and make all our wants know unto him. For if he does not protect and deliver us and save us, no power will” (Millennial Star, 48:806)

8. Avoid Scripture Study

• Never make time to learn about the plan our Father in Heaven has for us.
• Quote #6: Elder M. Russell Ballard- "As I think about your schedules and the pressures you face at this time in your lives, I can understand why scripture study can so easily be neglected. You have many demands pulling at you. In some cases, just maintaining your social life is a full-time occupation. But I plead with you to make time for immersing yourselves in the scriptures. Couple scripture study with your prayers. Half an hour each morning privately studying, pondering, and communicating with your Heavenly Father can make an amazing difference in your lives. It will give increased success in your daily activities. It will bring increased alertness to your minds. It will give you comfort and rock-steady assurance when the storms of life descend upon you.""Be Strong in the Lord, and in the Power of His Might" (CES fireside for young adults, March 3, 2002), 3–4

9. Always See the Negative

• Trials are there to make you miserable, enjoy them! Nothing will ever change in your life!

10. Never Set Goals

• No school goals, personal goals, spiritual goals, family goals
• Quote #8 John Bytheway- “If you start achieving goals, you might start to feel a sense of excitement, then you might want to set another goal, and then your miserable mornings are through. To maintain your misery, the idea of crossing off your goals should never cross your mind”. (How to Be Totally Miserable- A Self-Hinder Book)

11. Never Show Gratitude

• Never say thank-you

So you have your choice, you now have 11 ways to help you be miserable if you choose. Or, you can choose to be lights in the darkness. I encourage you to find one thing in your life each day that will help you to make your light brighter and happier. Matt. 5: 14-16

This lesson came from John Bytheway's book: How to be Totally Miserable: A Self-Hinder Book). I had some people ask for the lesson. Go here, to get a copy of the lesson. It could be used for Family Home Evening.