"HAPPINESS IS THE LORD"
Ira F. Stanphill was born in Belview, New Mexico, in 1914. He has written more than 550 songs, the most popular of which are "Mansion over the Hilltop," "Room at the Cross," and, of course, "Happiness Is the Lord."
On any number of occasions the Lord has given a song to a songwriter when he or she least expected it. Such was the case of Ira Stanphill one afternoon in 1974 after he left the church office where he was pastor in Fort Worth, Texas.
The car radio was on, and as he rode along he listened to some commercial programs. Some were sponsored by establishments that advertised their "happy hour" and their alcoholic beverages. He also heard cigarettes being advertised in terms of how they bring happiness.
The word happiness was used several times in the ads. Ira related to me that he thought at the time that "happiness does not come with these things, but with knowing Christ." He continued, "As this thought really took over my mind I began to sing. I sang a new song, composing words and melody as I drove along. I sang it almost as it is published today."
Happiness is to know the Savior,
Living a life within His favor,
Having a change in my behavior
Happiness is the Lord.
— Lindsay Terry — (Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations)