Happiness is a Choice

Yesterday, I spoke as if Happiness is an eventual reward for living a good life, and it's true that righteous living leads to a reward of joy, but it's also true that we can have happiness while we're here on Earth. We sometimes hear that happiness is a choice, that we can choose to be happy, not matter what's happening, and I'm not sure how true that is. Let's consult the experts.

Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God.
-Joseph Smith

Our happiness is diminished by at least two things: sin and adversity. Of the two, sin is the most tragic. Sin is the most persistent cause of human suffering and of the two brings the deepest remorse.
-Elder Jack H. Goslind, General Conference, April 1986

Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness. 

And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.
-Alma 41: 10-11

And it came to pass that when I, Mormon, saw their lamentation and their mourning and their sorrow before the Lord, my heart did begin to rejoice within me, knowing the mercies and the long-suffering of the Lord, therefore supposing that he would be merciful unto them that they would again become a righteous people. 

But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin.
-Mormon 2: 12-13

The suffering that results from sin is most tragic because through our own choices we can choose to avoid it. We have that power. We also have the capacity to repent of our sins and to experience the sweet joy of forgiveness. If we are unhappy, let us examine ourselves to see where we need to repent. If we have questions about what we need to do, or not do, we need only listen to our conscience and follow the promptings of the Spirit.
-Elder Jack H. Goaslind, General Conference, April 1986

The other thing that may diminish our happiness is adversity. Adversity is also part of our mortal probation, experienced by everyone. It is different, however, from sin. While we can choose to avoid sin, we usually cannot choose whether we experience adversity. I am convinced if we are to have happiness in our hearts, we must learn how to preserve it, in our hearts, in the midst of trouble and trial. We can control our attitude toward adversity. Some people are defeated and embittered by it, while others triumph over it and cultivate godlike attributes in the midst of it.
-Elder Jack H. Goaslind, General Conference, April 1986

We can choose to have a positive attitude. We can’t direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. In other words, we can choose to be happy and positive, regardless of what comes our way.
-Attributed to President Thomas S. Monson (I couldn't find where he actually said it.)

So, yes, happiness is a choice. We can choose to keep the commandments and avoid sin, and we can choose to be happy, even during trials. Though choosing to be happy while sinning is less doable, we can choose to avoid the sin that cause unhappiness, and though we can't always choose to avoid adversity, we can choose to be happy in spite of it. That way, no matter what, yes, we can choose to be happy.