After a career that spans three decades and includes film direction, theatrical productions, book releases and more than 30 albums, Michael McLean is learning to be happy.

He’s learning not only through the big and fantastic, he said, but in small ways.

“I thought happiness would come someday ‘after,’” the popular LDS songwriter told the Times-News — “after a really good song was released, or if I made movies for years or, in a cosmic sense, if maybe I lived a righteous life, maybe I’d go to the next life and get some kind of reward. Then I’d be happy.

“But I was missing it. Life is about how I can be happy today.”

McLean — who has written such songs as “You’re Not Alone,” “Together Forever,” “If Only You Believe in Yourself” and “Hold on, The Light WillCome” — recently released his newest project, a book/CD combo called “Mission To Be Happy.”

Its mission: to help readers and listeners find happiness in daily life.

In a candid phone interview Tuesday, McLean, who has ties to Magic Valley but lives in Heber, Utah, said: “I’m probably the perfect guy to write ‘Mission To Be Happy,’ because I’ve struggled with finding happiness ... I’m a middle-aged, clinically depressed, Type-2 diabetic. I’ve known dark times.”

That might come as a surprise to fans of the 57-year-old McLean, who during the 1980s emerged as one of the most popular songwriters in the LDS church. His fame, which stretches beyond Mormon circles, grew in the 1990s when he introduced his holiday musical “The Forgotten Carols.” His resume also includes directing a number of inspirational films such as “Nora’s Christmas,” starring Celeste Holm, “Our Heavenly Father’s Plan” and “The Prodigal Son”; he wrote the latter two, among others. He also produced “Mr. Kruger’s Christmas,” which starred movie legend Jimmy Stewart.

His accomplishments came without a college degree.

He abandoned school after his wife was seriously injured in a car accident; and his stints at Brigham Young University and the University of Utah were eye openers, when professors told him he didn’t have much musical talent. He pursued the music inside himself anyway and broke into the LDSspotlight in 1983 with his song “You’re Not Alone.”

“A half-million women in the church connected with this song, which gave me the chance to release an album and share my views of the world,” he said, noting that each of his songs have a personal connection. He believes many of them have been heaven-inspired.

“I love the writing most of all, that’s the best part of my job,” he said. “I never believe that songwriters own their songs. I just think they’ve heard them first.”

Later albums, released through Salt Lake City-based Deseret Book Co., included “Celebrating the Light,” “Distant Serenade” and “The Forgotten Carols,” the latter two also released as book/music combos.

“Mission To Be Happy” is different. It’s an upbeat, motivational project with music that includes an anthem and even a rap sequence.

“Yeah, that’s my mastery of an old white guy rapping,” he said, laughing.”But it cracks me up, so that’s OK.”

If anything, “Mission To Be Happy” is fun.

McLean, who is witty and quick to acknowledge the good in others, doesn’t consider himself a singer as much as a songwriter, but he shares his voice on the new CD. And he’s not afraid to share his experiences with depression, hoping that others will be inspired. Citing “The Chosen” author Chaim Potok, McLean said: “From the most personal experiences come the most universal appeal.”

It seems to be working. Visitors to his blog, where he records the things that make him happy daily, have written to tell him how much they appreciate how he’s tackled the depression/happiness topic.

“Life is hard. There’s difficult economic challenges and all kinds of things that are real,” he said.

“What makes ‘Mission To Be Happy’ interesting is it doesn’t have a deeply emotional ballad to get (its message) through,” he said. He encourages listeners to “crank it up” and let the music do its thing.

Richard Crowley, owner of Crowley’s—The Quad in Magic Valley Mall, said his store has sold several copies of “Mission To Be Happy.” He saw McLean perform some of the songs last August during the LDS Booksellers Association conference in Salt Lake City.

“He played the guitar,” Crowley said. “That was kind of different, because people usually see him play the piano. ... He’s saying, everyone deserves to be happy, because life is too short to be miserable.”

Crowley said McLean creates “thoughtful scenes” with his music and has a loyal following.

“He’s also one of our guys, a semi-local,” Crowley said.

McLean and his wife, Lynne, have three children. The couple recently returned to Heber, Utah, after living in Malibu, Calif., for several years. But he also has a Magic Valley connection. His parents moved around a lot when he was a child, and the family wound up in Twin Falls for a couple of years.

“I went to Lincoln (Elementary School),” McLean said. “I was baptized inTwinFalls.”

Andrew Weeks may be reached at 208-735-3233 or aweeks@magicvalley.com.