Smiles :)

 

Surprisingly, in the scriptures, there are just 4 references to smiling; 3 are in The Book of Mormon, and 1 is in the Pearl of Great Price.  Considering that smiling is a universal language that is emotionally understood in much the same way by almost everyone on the planet, I find this perplexing. Maybe the Patriarchs lived in a more austere and somber age. Perhaps they simply used different words to communicate the expression of the human emotion that we describe as a “smile.” Certainly, in the Gospel there is a lot to smile about, and one would think that the prophets would openly address its emotional appeal.

 

Gordon B. Hinckley was one who did. On more than one occasion, he urged us to light up the world with our smiles, and not to be pickle suckers. He begged students at B.Y.U: “I come this morning with a plea that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that we “accentuate the positive.” I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort. I am not asking that all criticism be silenced. Growth comes of correction. Strength comes of repentance. Wise is the man who can acknowledge mistakes pointed out by others and change his course. I am not suggesting that our conversation be all honey and blossoms. Clever expression that is sincere and honest is a skill to be sought and cultivated. What I am suggesting and asking is that we turn from the negativism that so permeates our society and look for the remarkable good in the land and times in which we live, that we speak of one another’s virtues more than we speak of one another’s faults, that optimism replace pessimism, that our faith exceed our fears.” (11/29/1974).

 

Our smiles lie at the pinnacle of our discipleship: “All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their smiles that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church. (D&C 20:37).

 

The scriptures abound with allusions to our smiles that can be grammatical constructions, curves that set everything straight. Even though it may be raining, the scriptures teach that if we keep smiling, the sun will soon show its face and smile right back at us. Smiles in the scriptures are often concealed as honest emotions, but they cannot be hidden for long. As these smiles peak out at us from behind familiar passages, we can almost hear the Spirit challenging us to smile in return, to smile so widely that we could eat a banana sideways.

 

When we feel happy, we smile with all our heart, and when we’re down, we smile with all our might. When we mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, if we do nothing else, we can be the smile on their face. A smile is a daily exercise that we can do without ever breaking a sweat. The smile we wear on the outside tells others what’s happening on the inside. Sometimes our joy is the source of our smile, but sometimes our smile may be the genesis of our joy. As we smile with a conscious effort to fight our way through brimming tears, the corners of our mouths point toward heaven.

 

Even as the world sends us insistent messages that it is beauty that can give us an advantage, we know that our smiles are the guarantee. When we get up in the morning, we are only half-dressed until we put on our smile. We realize that, when it comes to smiling, one size fits all. Our smile is an accessory that never goes out of style. No matter what obstacles may be thrown before us throughout the day, smiling in the face of our challenges somehow makes the tasks that lie ahead seem easier. Somehow, our trials are no match for a confident smile. Others are less likely to notice our imperfections, our shortcomings, or our old clothes, when we are wearing a smile. As frugal shoppers, we know that a smile is an inexpensive way to change our look. Every smile makes us a day younger. Our smile is like an instant face-lift. Stubborn frowns bring out wrinkles, but those with dimples are doubly-blessed, and have been given a special role in the universe to smile.

 

As we embrace life, we will recognize that vibrant color is nature’s way of smiling at us. After every storm, we will look forward to the dappled rays of sunlight that smile down upon us. Among all the mighty works of man, we will realize that a smile is civilization’s finest adornment. Among all the creations of God, we will acknowledge that a beautiful smile that is flashed for no apparent reason separates us from all other creatures. As a matter of evolution, we have no original facial expressions. We have inherited our smiles from our parents, we borrow them from our friend, and we receive them as gifts from complete strangers. We are drawn to those who make a difference in our lives, to those who make us smile.

 

With our smiles we sign our personal autographs. They may be the most powerful forces in nature, whose effects may last for eternity. It only takes a split second to smile, and then we may forget about it, and yet, to the one who needed it at that exact moment in time, its positive influence might last a lifetime. When we receive a prompting to smile at a stranger, we might never know that we have changed a life. When we are blessed to see the smiles on the faces of innocent children, we are given a glimpse of the divine that is in each of us.

 

Smiling can be intensely gratifying. It can warm our heart when others smile, but most of us especially like it when we make them smile. When we carry a smile, one of the many faces of love will knock at our door. Smiles will fill our hearts with the joy of life. When we smile, we will find that, all along, happiness was right under our nose.

 

Smiling is inexpensive therapy for wounded souls. Sometimes we smile to keep from crying. When we feel that there is no reason to smile, we try to find one, because we have learned from sad experience that nothing can shake a smiling heart. If we have to, we will be the smile on someone else’s downcast face, to melt away their fears. Our smile can replace their despondency with cheerfulness. If need be, we will be able to face the gallows, give a jest to the crowd, a coin to the hangman, and make the drop with a smile on our lips. Short of that, we pray for opportunities to replace the tears on every cheek with little smiley faces that point the way to the windows of our souls.

 

We are ever on the lookout for those who could really use a smile as therapy for their lonely heart. When we see someone who needs a smile, we give him one of ours. We keep apples in our fruit basket, but we know by experience that a smile a day keeps the pain away. Smiles are spotlights that shine on our hearts. The simplest gift we can give is our smile. We try to so live that we can be someone else’s reason to smile. We recognize the incredible power of our smiles to change the world, and so we guard ourselves that the world might never change our smiles. We smile at everyone because it might be the last chance we have to do so, because they may not be here tomorrow.

 

We smile if for no other reason than that the world seems to be so full of frowns. Our smile makes a positive statement that squarely addresses the pessimism of a dark world. In fact, the most potent force in the world could be our smile. We smile because we accept hatred with love. Our smiles, the light of our souls, can conquer even the coldest hearts, because it is a light that dances. We smile as if unborn poems are stirring within us. Our smiles are the bouquet of our joy, the expression of our ecstasy with life, and a God-given manifestation of love, that drive out darkness,, which is why, so often, a genuine smile is the best form of communication.

If we need to recharge our batteries, with conscious effort we take a few steps into the darkness, buoyed up by the sustaining influence of our smile, which is our spiritual strong searchlight. If we have lost our smile, we know in which direction we must move to find it again. If we are really desperate, can cannot find a reason to smile, we may go out and buy a puppy. When we are still, and are seeking quiet spiritual confirmations, the surplus of our heart will overflow in a smile. When technology threatens our inner peace, we replace the cell phones in our hands with a smile on our faces. Every once in a while, we smile even if life tastes like bitter bile. When thunderstorms roll in, we make a choice to either succumb with tears to the gloomy downpour, or smile and look for rainbows.

Our smile releases an awesome power within us. We have heard the compliments of others, who say: “Your smile becomes you.” But perhaps you become you when you smile. Those who smile while they are alone used to be called insane, until we invented smartphones and social media. A smile is the light in our window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside. In the morning, we drink a glass of sunshine to brighten our hearts and lift our spirits. We smile to spread the light of life. As we pleasantly smile, we own the moment.

Sometimes, when we wish to make particularly significant contributions, we offer our silence with a smile. We smile at others with such intensity that they feel that they have won a prize. Our cheerful conversation tickles our throats and forces our lips into smiles. We only really know the value of a smile when we own the face behind it. But precisely because our smiles are really just the expression of the divine center within us, they are easier to give away.

Even simple smiles are rewarded in heaven. Our smiles are the unfathomable gifts of the gods. With a smiling face, we hope to be sent to heaven. When we die, we would love to die smiling, because we have been inspired to see smiles on the faces of those who are about to pass through the veil. However, should we forget this in the excitement of the moment, we hope to have someone there who will be inspired to gently smile, and prompt us to remember to do the same. When all is said and done, we hope to die with smiles on our faces. We cried at birth and hope to be able to smile at our death. In the interim, the biggest reward of our lives will be to have finished each day with smiles on our faces. Someday, we are going to be able to look back on every shared smile, and quietly smile one more time.