Two stories from general conference and an experience of my own need to be gathered together into one place.  These stories illustrate our tendency to look beyond the mark, or to think that happiness and fulfillment are only to be obtained in some distant place or time.  All of us tend to subscribe to the philosophy that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, that other people have better lives and opportunities than we do, that things will be better when some milestone such as graduation or marriage is reached, or that other places and friends would be more exciting.

The epistle to the Hebrews counsels us to “be content with such things as ye have.”  (Heb. 13:5).  That is good counsel.  We can find happiness and fulfillment in the people, places, things, and circumstances that are near at hand.

The first story is told by Bishop Gérald Caussé in the April 2015 general conference:

“My wife and I had the great joy of rearing our five children near the magnificent city of Paris.  During those years we wanted to offer them rich opportunities to discover the marvelous things of this world.  Each summer, our family took long trips to visit the most significant monuments, historic sites, and natural wonders of Europe.  Finally, after spending 22 years in the Paris area, we were getting ready to move.  I still remember the day when my children came to me and said, ‘Dad, it’s absolutely shameful!  We’ve lived here all our lives, and we have never been to the Eiffel Tower!’”

The second story is told by Elder Steven E. Snow in the October 2001 conference:

“Growing up in southern Utah, some of us sought employment at the many gasoline service stations that lined old Highway 91 as it made its way through downtown St. George.  My younger brother, Paul, then 18, worked at Tom’s Service, a station located about three blocks from our home.

“One summer day, a car with New York license plates pulled in the station and asked for a fill-up...While Paul was washing the windshield, the driver asked him how far it was to the Grand Canyon.  Paul replied that it was 170 miles.

“‘I’ve waited all my life to see the Grand Canyon,’ the man exclaimed.  ‘What’s it like out there?’

“‘I don’t know,’ Paul answered.  ‘I’ve never been there.’

“‘You mean to tell me,’ the man responded, ‘that you live two and a half hours from one of the seven wonders of the world and you’ve never been there!’

“‘That’s right,’ Paul said.

“After a moment, the man replied, ‘Well, I guess I can understand that.  My wife and I have lived in Manhattan for over 20 years, and we’ve never visited the Statue of Liberty.’

“‘I’ve been there,’ Paul said.

“Isn’t it ironic,” Elder Snow says, “...that we will often travel many miles to see the wonders of nature or the creations of man, but yet ignore the beauty in our own backyard?”

Ironic, indeed.  I’ve lived my entire life perhaps an hour and a half’s drive from Hell’s Canyon, the deepest gorge in America, and never went there until I was in my 40s.  It’s a deep canyon, all right, and worth visiting, but there are prettier canyons and equally spectacular scenery practically in my own backyard.

Let us be grateful for what we have, for where we are, and with whom we can share it.  We need not look beyond the mark thinking that happiness is to be found elsewhere.