Nephi does not say that his people were happy. Rather, he says that they “lived after the manner of happiness,” which would mean following the gospel. Nephi’s use of “happiness” reflects Lehi’s understanding of the concept: “[The] punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement” (2 Ne. 2:10). Lehi considered happiness to be one of the eternal results affixed to eternal law. Obeying the law results in happiness. This is surely Nephi’s meaning when he says that they lived after the manner of happiness. They lived the law that led to happiness.