Sabbath Devotional :: Blessed are the Peacemakers

I have been thinking of the Savior’s assurance in John 14:27: “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.” This is a remarkable promise that we will always have and be able to feel peace, as we draw near to the Savior and His teachings. In the verse prior, the Lord speaks about the Holy Ghost and its influence and this is another way we can experience the Savior’s peace.

As I pondered on this verse, I considered what it means for the Savior to give versus for the world to give. “The world” can mean so many different things and could be read in many different contexts in this verse, however the reading that makes the most sense to me is the fallen and imperfect human world we inhabit. Peace is possible in this world, but for it to occur there is a much higher bar than that of God’s peace which is accessible to us always if we choose it. In the world, peace is subject to any number of players, each of whom must choose and work towards making and retaining peace. The peace that “the world giveth” is often a tenuous and temporary one, with no guarantees attached and no promises assured. It requires trust, faith, and work to enact and to uphold. It requires that we work together with those who might oppose us or our vision for the world, and it often requires that we put aside our total control of a situation with the hope that something better might come of it.

I also thought about another of the Savior’s teachings regarding peacemaking, in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” This is another beautiful promise that as we work to make peace around us, we are following our Savior and drawing nearer to God in the process. As I was rereading this verse, I did a quick search for other conference talks related to the topic of peace. We have had so many wonderful ones in the last several years, but I was curious what older talks I could revisit. I found a really wonderful talk given by President (then-Elder) Russell M. Nelson in 2002, titled “Blessed are the Peacemakers.” His counsel is evergreen and I loved his thoughts on how we can bring peace in the different facets of our lives.

President Nelson said: “The commandments to love God and neighbor are interrelated. We cannot fully love God without loving our neighbor. We cannot fully love our neighbor without loving God. Men really are brothers because God really is our Father.” He goes on to say that in spite of sometimes troubling circumstances in the world, that peace is possible. He also teaches that “descendants of Abraham — entrusted with great promises of infinite influence — are in a pivotal position to emerge as peacemakers. Chosen by the Almighty, they can direct their powerful potential toward peace.” I love this perspective that peace is our birthright and something we can be empowered to pursue.

Spring is always a very hopeful time and for me it is a fitting time to revisit what I hope for our world to be a more beautiful and peaceful place. I have found some renewed encouragement from spending some time this weekend pondering peace and hope this leaves you, too, feeling what is possible as we try to be peacemakers.