“Ye Have Sought for Happiness in Doing Iniquity”

Bryan Richards

See Commentary for Alma 41:10.

Neal A. Maxwell

“Henry Fairlie has written perceptively in his book The Seven Deadly Sins Today concerning how ‘the lustful person will usually be found to have a terrible hollowness at the center of his life’ and about ’the desert he has made of himself and his life.”’ (Washington, D.C.: New Republic Books, 1978, p. 187.) ’Lust,’ wrote Fairlie, ’is not interested in its partners, but only in the gratification of its own craving. … Lust dies at the next dawn, and when it returns in the evening, to search where it may, it is with its own past erased.’ (Ibid., p. 175.)
"Those so drained by sensuality do, in fact, seek to compensate for their loneliness by sensations. However, in the arithmetic of appetite, anything multiplied by zero still totals zero! But the senseless search goes on, just as Samuel the Lamanite bemoaned, ’for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain … for happiness in doing iniquity.’ (Hel. 13:38; see also Alma 41:10; Morm. 2:13.)
"So it is that sexual immorality finally causes the isolation of the individual from God, from others, and, yes, even from oneself!
“So it is that the laughter of the world is merely loneliness pathetically trying to reassure itself. Immorality is not the verification of one’s existence; instead, it is the shrinking of one’s significance!” (Ensign, Feb. 1986, p. 19)

Ezra Taft Benson

"Do not be misled by Satan’s lies. There is no lasting happiness in immorality. There is no joy to be found in breaking the law of chastity. Just the opposite is true. There may be momentary pleasure. For a time it may seem like everything is wonderful. But quickly the relationship will sour. Guilt and shame set in. We become fearful that our sins will be discovered. We must sneak and hide, lie and cheat. Love begins to die. Bitterness, jealousy, anger, and even hate begin to grow. All of these are the natural results of sin and transgression.
“On the other hand, when we obey the law of chastity and keep ourselves morally clean, we will experience the blessings of increased love and peace, greater trust and respect for our marital partners, deeper commitment to each other, and therefore a deep and significant sense of joy and happiness.” (Morality, p. 86)

GospelDoctrine.Com

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