Wickedness never did, never does, never will bring us happiness.

“Wickedness never did, never does, never will bring us happiness.” These words, spoken by Ezra Taft Benson, stand like a mountain against the shifting sands of time. They are not merely a warning, but an eternal truth — a law as fixed as the stars. Through every age, men and women have sought joy in paths of deceit, greed, and indulgence, believing that they could outwit the conscience or silence the soul. But the ancient wisdom holds firm: evil promises delight, yet delivers despair; it offers gold, but leaves dust in the hands. For wickedness is a counterfeit fire — bright for a moment, then cold and dark forever.

The ancients knew this law well. The Greeks spoke of Nemesis, the goddess who follows the arrogant and unjust, ensuring that no wrong goes unbalanced. The Scriptures echo the same truth: “The wages of sin is death.” And not death of the body alone, but the death of peace, of honor, of joy. For happiness, that most sacred treasure, is not found in the shadows; it is born in the light. It cannot dwell in a heart that feeds upon deceit, nor in a soul that tramples the innocent for gain. The man who steals, the woman who betrays, the ruler who oppresses — all find in the end that they have bartered peace for torment, truth for illusion.

Consider the tale of Macbeth, the noble warrior who, lured by ambition, raised his hand against his king. In that single act of wickedness, he won a crown but lost his soul. He ruled, yes — but ruled in sleepless horror, haunted by ghosts of his own making. The joy he sought in power became ashes in his mouth. So it is with all who walk that path: what begins as triumph ends in terror. Wickedness may thrill the senses, but it poisons the heart.

And yet, men forget. They see the wicked flourish for a time and think, “Perhaps it is worth the price.” But they do not see the emptiness behind the smile, the unrest that stalks the guilty mind. For wickedness deceives — it cloaks itself in beauty, whispers sweetly of freedom and pleasure, then leaves its followers chained in misery. True happiness cannot be purchased with betrayal; it is earned through virtue, through patience, through harmony with the divine law written upon the heart.

Even in our own age, where the noise of the world grows loud and temptation takes many forms, the truth remains unchanged. Look to those who have lived with integrity — men and women of faith, honor, and compassion. Their faces may bear the lines of struggle, but their eyes shine with peace. And look, too, upon those who have built their fortunes upon cruelty or deceit — they stand surrounded by abundance, yet hollow within. No empire of wickedness has ever stood unshaken, for what is corrupt cannot endure the weight of eternity.

Therefore, my children, choose the good, though it be the harder road. When temptation whispers that sin will bring pleasure, remember: it never did, never does, never will. Let your happiness be built upon the rock of righteousness, not upon the shifting sands of desire. For only in goodness lies true freedom — the freedom of a conscience untroubled, of a heart unbroken by guilt.

Seek joy not in indulgence, but in service; not in taking, but in giving. Be honest when dishonesty seems easier; be kind when cruelty feels satisfying; be pure when corruption surrounds you. These are the seeds of lasting happiness, the kind that cannot be stolen by time or fate.

For in the end, wickedness is its own punishment, and goodness its own reward. The path of virtue may be steep and stony, but at its summit shines a peace that the world cannot give nor take away. Remember this, and teach it to your children: Only the righteous heart finds true joy, and only the pure soul walks in light.