Personal
Peace: The Reward of Righteousness
Of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Savior’s
Atonement and His grace, righteous living will be rewarded with personal peace.
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Recent experiences have caused me to reflect on the doctrine of
peace and especially the role of Jesus
Christ in helping each of us obtain lasting personal peace.
Two events in the past few months have touched me deeply. First,
I spoke at the funeral for Emilie Parker, a precious six-year-old who lost her
life along with 25 others, including 19 young children, in a tragic shooting in
Newtown, Connecticut. I mourned with her family
and recognized that many had been deprived of peace. I found strength and faith
in her parents, Robert and Alissa Parker.
Second, I met with thousands of faithful members of the Church
in the Ivory Coast city of Abidjan.1 This
French-speaking, West-African country has endured economic hardship, a military
coup, and two recent civil wars concluding in 2011. Yet I felt a special peace
in their presence.
Events often occur that rob us of peace and heighten our sense
of vulnerability.
Who can forget the evil attacks of September 11, 2001, on
various U.S. locations? Such events remind us how quickly our feelings of peace
and safety can be destroyed.
Our oldest son and his wife, who were expecting their first
child, lived three blocks from the World Trade Center in New York City when the
first plane crashed into the North Tower. They went to the roof of their
apartment building and were horrified as they watched what they thought was
some kind of terrible accident. Then they witnessed the second plane crash into
the South Tower. They immediately realized that this was no accident and
believed lower Manhattan was under attack. When the South Tower collapsed,
their apartment building was engulfed in the dust cloud that rained down over
lower Manhattan.
Confused about what they had witnessed and concerned about
further attacks, they made their way to a safer area and then to the Manhattan
stake Church building at Lincoln Center. When they arrived, they found that
dozens of other members in lower Manhattan had made the same decision to gather
at the stake center. They called to let us know where they were. I was relieved
that they were safe but not surprised at their location. Modern revelation
teaches that the stakes of Zion are a defense and “a refuge from the storm, and
from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth.”2
They could not return to their apartment for over a week and
were devastated by the loss of innocent lives, but they suffered no permanent
damage.
In contemplating these events, I have been impressed with the
doctrinal difference between universal or world peace and personal peace.3
At the birth of the Savior, a multitude of the heavenly host
praised God and proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
good will toward men.”4
However, it has been poignantly noted that even in this
eternally significant period following the birth of the Son of God, Herod the
king carried out the slaughter of innocent infants in Bethlehem.5
Agency is essential to the plan of happiness. It allows for the love,
sacrifice, personal growth, and experience necessary for our eternal
progression. This agency also allows for all the pain and suffering we
experience in mortality, even when caused by things we do not understand and
the devastating evil choices of others. The very War in Heaven was waged over
our moral agency and is essential to understanding the Savior’s earthly
ministry.
As recited in the 10th chapter of Matthew, the Savior instructed
the Twelve and acknowledged that His mission would not achieve universal peace
in this mortal life. The Apostles were told to leave peace upon the worthy
houses they visited but warned that they would be “in the midst of wolves …
[and] hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end
shall be saved.”6 A
significant pronouncement is made in verse 34: “Think not that I am come to
send peace on earth.”7 It is
clear that universal peace did not exist on the earth during Christ’s mortal ministry, and it does
not now.
In the Lord’s preface to the Doctrine
and Covenants, a number of very important principles are taught. With
respect to those who do not repent, His Spirit (the Spirit of Christ), which is
given to every person who comes into the world,8 “shall
not always strive with man.”9 Also,
“peace shall be taken from the earth.”10 Prophets
have declared that peace has indeed been taken from the earth.11 Lucifer
has not yet been bound and exercises power in this dominion.12
The heavenly aspiration of good people everywhere has and always
will be for peace in the world. We must never give up on achieving this goal.
But, President Joseph F. Smith taught, “There never can come to the world
that spirit of peace and love … until mankind will receive God’s truth and
God’s message … , and acknowledge his power and authority which is divine.”13
We earnestly hope and pray for universal peace, but it is as
individuals and families that we achieve the kind of peace that is the promised
reward of righteousness. This peace is a promised gift of the Savior’s mission
and atoning sacrifice.
This principle is succinctly captured in the Doctrine and
Covenants: “But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall
receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to
come.”14
The peace to which I am referring is not just a temporary
tranquility. It is an abiding deep happiness and spiritual contentment.16
President Heber J. Grant described the Savior’s peace this
way: “His peace will ease our suffering, bind up our broken hearts, blot out
our hates, engender in our breasts a love of fellow men that will suffuse our
souls with calm and happiness.”17 In my
meetings with Emilie Parker’s parents, I saw that the Savior’s peace has eased
their suffering and is helping to bind up their broken hearts. It is notable
that immediately after the shooting, Brother Parker expressed forgiveness
to the perpetrator. As President Grant said, the Savior’s peace can “blot out
our hates.” Judgment is the Lord’s.
The Ivory Coast Saints, during the period of civil war in their
country, found peace by focusing on living the gospel
of Jesus Christ, with particular emphasis on family history and temple work
for their ancestors.18
We all long for peace. Peace is not just safety or lack of war,
violence, conflict, and contention. Peace comes from knowing that the Savior
knows who we are and knows that we have faith in Him, love Him, and keep His
commandments, even and especially amid life’s devastating trials and tragedies.
The Lord’s answer to the Prophet Joseph
Smith in Liberty Jail brings solace to the heart:
“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine
afflictions shall be but a small moment;
Remember, “God is not the author of confusion, but [the author]
of peace.”20 For those
who reject God, there is no peace. We all participated in the councils of
heaven that provided for moral agency, knowing that there would be mortal pain
and even unspeakable tragedy because of the abuse of agency. We understood that
this could leave us angry, bewildered, defenseless, and vulnerable. But we also
knew that the Savior’s Atonement would overcome and compensate for all of the
unfairness of mortal life and bring us peace. Elder Marion D. Hanks had a
framed statement on his wall by Ugo Betti: “To believe in God is to know that
all the rules will be fair, and that there will be wonderful surprises.”21
What are the sources of peace? Many search for peace in
worldly ways, which never have and never will succeed. Peace is not found by
attaining great wealth, power, or prominence.22 Peace is
not found in the pursuit of pleasure, entertainment, or leisure. None of these
can, even when attained in abundance, create any lasting happiness or peace.
Emma Lou Thayne’s beloved hymn asks the
appropriate questions: “Where can I turn for peace? Where is my solace when
other sources cease to make me whole?”23 The
answer is the Savior, who is the source and author of peace. He is the “Prince
of Peace.”24
How do we stay close to the Savior? Humbling
ourselves before God, praying always, repenting of sins, entering the waters of
baptism with a
broken heart and contrite spirit, and becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ
are profound examples of the righteousness that is rewarded by abiding peace.25 After
King Benjamin delivered his stirring message concerning the Atonement of
Christ, the multitude fell to the earth. “The Spirit of the Lord came upon
them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins,
and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which
they had in Jesus Christ.”26
Repentance and living righteously allow for peace of conscience, which
is essential for contentment.27 When
there has been a major transgression, confession is required to bring peace.28 Perhaps
there is nothing to compare with the peace that comes from a sin-wracked soul
unloading his or her burdens on the Lord and claiming the blessings of the
Atonement. As another favorite Church hymn puts it, “I’ll drop my burden at his
feet and bear a song away.”29
My heart rejoices when I realize that in our day tens of
thousands of young men, young women, and senior missionaries have accepted the
call to be emissaries of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. They are taking the
restored gospel of peace to the world, one person and one family at a time—a
work of righteousness to bring this peace to Heavenly Father’s children.
The Church is a refuge where followers of Christ attain peace.
Some young people in the world say they are spiritual but not religious.
Feeling spiritual is a good first step. However, it is in the Church that we
are fellowshipped, taught, and nourished by the good word of God. More
importantly, it is priesthood authority in the Church that provides for sacred
ordinances and covenants that bind families together and qualify each of us to
return to God
the Father and Jesus Christ in the celestial kingdom. These ordinances
bring peace because they are covenants with the Lord.
Temples are where many of these sacred ordinances occur and are
also a source of peaceful refuge from the world. Those who visit temple grounds
or participate in temple open houses also feel this peace. One experience
preeminent in my mind is the Suva Fiji Temple open house and dedication. There
had been political upheaval resulting in rebels burning and looting downtown
Suva, occupying the houses of Parliament and holding legislators hostage. The
country was under martial law. The Fiji military gave the Church limited
permission to assemble people for the open house and a very small group for the
dedication. The members as a whole were uninvited due to concerns for their
safety. It was the only temple dedication since the original Nauvoo Temple that
was held under very difficult circumstances.
One person invited to the open house was a lovely Hindu woman of
Indian descent, a member of Parliament who was initially held hostage but was
released because she was female.
In the celestial room, free from the turmoil of the world, she
dissolved in tears as she expressed feelings of peace that overwhelmed her. She
felt the Holy
Ghost comforting and bearing witness of the sacred nature of the temple.
The Savior is the source of true peace. Even with
the trials of life, because of the Savior’s Atonement and His grace, righteous
living will be rewarded with personal peace. In the intimate setting of the
Passover chamber, the Savior promised His Apostles that they would be blessed
with the “Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost” and then uttered these important
words: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world
giveth, give I unto you.”30 Then just
before His Intercessory Prayer: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in
me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world.”31
Eliza R. Snow penned this concept beautifully:
Lift up your hearts in praise to God;
Let your rejoicings never cease.
Though tribulations rage abroad,
I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
“Gathering in the
Fields”
cji
5/1/13
Coming together in
fullest love
forgiving and
repenting wrongs
knowing of the who we
are here
of the what we might
become;
Knowing Father’s will
to be done
able in obedience to
find sheer
veils and entrances
in our songs
gathering in the
fields above!
Copyright © 2013 –
cji
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