Faith and Fulfillment Lead to Happiness, Brother Wilcox Says in Idaho

Speaking to a packed auditorium in Blackfoot, Idaho, on Sunday, May 5, 2024, Brother Bradley R. Wilcox, First Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency, shared a message on the importance of happiness and the power organized religion can have in our personal lives and in the world at large.

He was joined on stage at the Blackfoot Performing Arts Center by President Todd Becker and Sister Amber Becker, mission leaders of the Idaho Idaho Falls Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

On the topic of happiness, Brother Wilcox taught four pillars from Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks that make all the difference:

1. Family
2. Friends
3. Fulfillment
4. Faith

Brother Wilcox defined fulfillment as “a feeling you get when you dedicate yourself to something bigger than you.” Great fulfillment can be found through participation in organized religion.

Brother Wilcox related personal experiences from his recent ministry to the Church’s Asia North Area, where he taught Latter-day Saints and visited sites where the Church is providing humanitarian aid.

“People look around and think, ‘Someone should do something about this! Who is going to do something about this?’” said Brother Wilcox. “We are! You should be proud to be part of an organized religion that is making a difference. We are followers of Jesus Christ. We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ.”

He also discussed the importance of learning how to receive personal revelation. “There is an incredible joy that comes when you know God has spoken to your heart,” he said.

Prior to delivering his message, Brother Wilcox met with a small group of youth from the Blackfoot South Stake Youth Council. He instructed them on how to use the "For the Strength of Youth" guidebook, encouraged them to find and attend an FSY Conference, and testified of Jesus Christ.

He reminded the youth that we are “happily being perfected,” and in this refining process we can be tempted to look down in shame. “We can look sideways for excuses, or we can look up for help.”

Echoing the message he shared with youth in Mongolia and Korea, Brother Wilcox empowered the youth to make a difference in the world, which often requires them to be different from the world.

“Don’t you dare let the world change you,” he said, “when you were born to change the world.”