Bishop Caussé: Happiness more about choices than circumstances

Young adults find their seats prior to listening to Gald Jean Causs First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, at a CES devotional for young adults ages 18 through 30, both married and single in the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY Individuals are the architects of their own happiness, said Bishop Grald Causs, first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, during a Church Educational System devotional for young adults held in the Tabernacle on Sunday night.

Thousands of young adults filled the Tabernacle in addition to the many people throughout the world who watched via satellite and online.

"Your happiness depends a lot more on the principles that you choose to follow than the external circumstances of your life," said Bishop Causs.

Life is full of uncertainty with surprises along the path, he said. It is through spiritual vision and basing one's life on proper principles that individuals can be happy, regardless of unexpected challenges.

"The uncertainty of life creates in some a lack of confidence, a fear of the future that manifests itself in different ways. My message for you today is that there is a different path than ones of fear and doubt or self-indulgence a path that brings peace, confidence and serenity in life. You can't control all of the circumstances of your life. Things, both good and challenging, will happen to you that you never expected. However, I declare that you have control of your own happiness. You are the architects of it."

Bishop Causs shared three essential principles of happiness for individuals to follow:

First, recognizing personal worth.

"The universe is immense and infinite, yet, at the same time, each of us has unique worth, glorious and infinite in the eyes of our Creator," he said. "My physical presence is infinitesimal, yet my personal worth is of immeasurable importance to my Heavenly Father."

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Bishop Caussé: Happiness more about choices than circumstances