I want to speak to you about finding joy.

The scripture says "Men are that they might have joy."  Mankind's joy is the whole purpose of the plan of salvation.  Bringing His children to where they experience joy is God's whole thrust.  Appropriately the plan of salvation is also known as God's plan of happiness, and joy is the stratospheric level above happiness.

Like Alma I was once in the darkest abyss.  (Mosiah 27:29).  Like Alma when my mind caught hold of the thought that Jesus could save me, "I could remember my pains no more yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

"And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain.

"Yea, I say unto you ... that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains.  Yea ... I say unto you ... that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy."  (Alma 36:19-21).

Alma was in this "darkest abyss" where he wished "that (he) could be banished and become extinct both soul and body."  (Alma 36:15).  People contemplating suicide have those exact thoughts.  That great liar, Satan, is right there saying, "Do it.  There is no God.  You'll become extinct and be out of pain."

What a horrible, nefarious lie!  Suicide only enhances the darkness as the person steps to the other side and realizes that there is a God, that life continues, and that he has just blown his best opportunity to escape the darkness.

Alma suddenly went from the darkest abyss to exquisite joy.  He was like Mary Magdalene in that regard.  Three days earlier Mary had witnessed the crucifixion of her Savior and best friend.  All of her hopes and happiness died then, too.  We can't imagine the dark abyss she experienced in the next three days.

Then very early in the morning of the first day of the week, before the rising of the sun, she went to the sepulcher.  I'm sure it had been a sleepless night of grieving and tears.  Her pains were only heightened when she found the tomb empty.  Someone had taken the body.  She encountered a man whom she thought was the gardener, and asked him where the body was.

The man simply said, "Mary."

She knew that voice!  Can you imagine the surge of happy emotions that went through her as she recognized Jesus?  There can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as what she felt at that moment.  She was the first mortal person to behold the resurrected Christ.  She was the first witness.

On one hand you have pain and anguish.  On the other hand you have happiness and joy.  Jesus Christ is the pivot point between the two.