There is nothing more precious or powerful than the love of God. We seek to receive His love according to the pattern expressed by the Master: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Heavenly Father, as a just and merciful God, has made eternal life possible by offering His Only Begotten Son as a ransom for us. Love is the motive for all of His works. Motivated by love, the Lord completed the great and infinite sacrifice—the Atonement (see 2 Nephi 26:24). When we partake of His love—having the love of God dwell in our hearts and receiving the Atonement with gratitude into our very lives—we are born again. We go through the mighty change, and we become Saints of the Most High. We possess charity. We begin to take on the divine nature and act as He would act (see 3 Nephi 12:48; 27:27; Moroni 7:48)—and we are happy. Remember that the fruit of the tree of life, which is desirable above all other things to make one happy, is the love of God (see 1 Nephi 8:10). The only way we can get to the tree of life is by holding to the iron rod, the word of God. We must live by every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God (see D&C 84:43–46).
Our happiness is totally dependent upon partaking of the fruit of the tree of life—the love of God. Our Heavenly Father has given us His Son as a gift of grace that we might repent and be forgiven, thus being enabled to return to His presence (see John 3:16). When we receive the love of God, we receive Christ. When we receive Christ and accept His atoning sacrifice through obedience to the principles and ordinances of the gospel in our lives, we are happy. Our Christlike attitudes and desires will be reflected in our behavior. Righteousness is happiness (see Mosiah 2:41).
There is nothing more precious than to receive and partake of the love of God in our lives. As we hold to the word of God (see Helaman 3:29), we will be protected and able to overcome temptation (see 1 Nephi 15:24). Eventually, through obedience and enduring to the end, we will return home to the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Only Begotten Son, who dwell in everlasting glory (see D&C 109:77). Meanwhile, during our mortal quest, the love of God is the source of our happiness and the sustaining power for our righteous way of life. Do we have the love of God in our hearts?