Not long ago, I became curious and studied a large collection of artists’ paintings of the Savior. I noticed that in nearly every painting, He was portrayed with a sober and serious expression. Is this really what He’s like? I got to wondering. Is the Savior a cheerful and happy person? – someone I would love to be around. Or is He stern and austere? – someone that would scare me, or make me tense being around him. Well, call me simple-minded if you will, but it was important for me to figure this out. I’ve settled the issue, at least in my mind. Let me tell you how.

First: Frequently in the scriptures, the Savior commanded His Apostles to “… be of good cheer …” (Matthew 9:2) (John 16:33) (Acts 23:11) – I say ‘commanded them.’ And He told them that, even in the most trying of circumstances. Now He would not command them to be something that He Himself was not. He can’t do that.

Second: I know that He’s a happy and cheerful person by nature, because whenever I feel His spirit, I’m happy and cheerful; I love life.

Third: I searched through the scriptures and found only three references to the Lord smiling at someone – again, only three, but that was proof enough for me. But then I noticed something that deeply affected me. In all three of those references where I found The Savior smiling at someone, that person was in the act of obeying His commandments. Furthermore, in two of the three references, the people upon whom the Divine smile shone were praying.

Have a good Sabbath.