The Power That Comes From joy

In the movie Monsters Inc, the monsters harness the pain and fear of children's screams to generate power. Later on, they discover that laughter is a hundred times more powerful than fear. This life is a time of trial and probation. The pain and fear brought on by our adversities often compels us to be humble and seek with a sincere heart for the power of the Atonement to deliver us from our suffering. But while it is necessary for us to learn invaluable lessons from painful teachers, it will not always be so. "The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude." Like the monsters of Monsters Inc, there will come a time when we discover that the power that comes from Joy and laughter and love is a hundred times more potent than that which we obtain through pain and fear and loss. I know that the prospect of future happiness may seem like small comfort when we are neck deep in pain and grief, but as huge as that grief looms over our flickering hope that we might ever feel happy again, there will come a time when the tables are reversed, and our infinite, engulfing happiness will loom just as huge over the fading memory of our grief and pain.