Dec 23: Jesus Was a Peacemaker and You Can Be One Too

Jesus said,  27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)  He also said,  9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Matthew 5)  
President Franklin D. Richards suggested some things we can do about being a peace maker, especially in our homes.  He suggests love and good will and praying together.  (Ensign November 1983)
May we be peace makers during this time we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace.

Light the World: Be a Peacemaker

The exit card from the Palo Alto Creche exhibit has ideas for being a peacemaker this Christmas season.  This includes a list of ideas for things to do.  I mention a few:  Listen to someone with a different point of view; Go caroling to people who may be alone this Christmas; Forgive one person in your life; Listen to calming music; Apologize for something you shouldn't have done; Read John 14:27, 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid; Give a smile.

These are all good ideas, and there are more.  The quote included by Howard W. Hunter gives more ideas:

“This Christmas, ‘Mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.’ (Adapted from an unknown author.)” (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, ed. Clyde J. Williams [1997], 270–71).

You may share the things you choose to do, #paloaltocreche or #lighttheworld.  Check at these websites for more ideas, Mormon.org/Christmas  christmascreche.org

Coming Unto Christ

A few years ago, while taking a course on "Preach My Gospel,  Sister Ure was called upon to answer the question, “What is the gospel of Jesus Christ?”  She had talked about this question with her family, and provided an answer she had gotten from her daughter, Caroline.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is to “Come unto Jesus.”

Perhaps we hear the invitation of the Savior, “Come unto me, all you who are heavy laden, and I will give thee rest; Take of my fruit and you will be blessed.”

And so we ask ourselves, what are the blessings of coming unto Christ.  Page 1 of the Preach My Gospel Manuel refers to the people in our day.  "They want 'peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come' (D&C 59:23), but they are 'kept from the truth because they know not where to find it' (D&C 123:12)."  (PMG p 1)

The Savior defined His gospel to include some very vital and basic doctrines. He came into the world to do His Father’s will, and His Father sent Him into the world to be lifted up on the cross. By His Atonement and Resurrection, all men will be lifted up to stand before Christ to be judged of their works, whether they be good or evil. Those who exercise faith in Christ, repent of their sins, and are baptized in Christ’s name can be sanctified by the Holy Ghost. If they endure to the end, they will stand spotless before Christ at the last day and will enter into the rest of the Lord. (Preach My Gospel pg 5)

 

Through the atonement we can find peace.  However we can also find peace in our family units, eternally.  "The message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ makes it possible for families to be united now and in eternity. By living the principles of the gospel, families can experience peace, joy, and a sense of belonging and identity in this life. Through the light of the gospel, families can resolve misunderstandings, contentions, and challenges. Families torn by discord can be healed through repentance, forgiveness, and faith in the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 'Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities' (Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102)."(PMG p 3)

"Obedience to Jesus Christ is a lifelong commitment. Through exercising faith, repenting, being baptized and committing to serve Christ, and then receiving the Holy Ghost, we can experience healing, forgiveness of sins, and complete conversion to the Savior and His gospel. (PMG pg 6)"

Where Can I Turn for Peace

I was thinking of what might be a nice hymn to sing a'capella, and this hymn came to mine.  I like the message, and it is a relatively newer hymn, being added with the last edition of the hymn book.
Hymn 129 "Where Can I Turn For Peace."

Where Can I turn for peace,
Where is my solace when other sources cease to make me whole.
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,
I draw myself apart, searching my soul

Where, when my aching grows,
Where when I languish,
Where, in my need to know, where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?
Who, who can understand
He, only One.

He answers privately,
Reaches my reaching,
In my Gethsemane,
Savior and Friend
Gentle the peace he finds
for my beseeching.
Constant he is and kind
Love without end.

When we struggle, when we are down, He can calm our soul and give us peace.  I like the scripture in the Book of Mormon, "Peace be unto you, Because of your faith Peace be unto you."  May we find him as we struggle.  He answers privately, Gentle the peace He finds, love without end.

For a Blog describing the history of this hymn:
http://happinessajourney.blogspot.com/2007/11/where-can-i-turn-for-peace.html