Let there be peace

"As a popular song teaches, let there be peace, and let it begin with me.  When we take the proper action inside ourselves first and then promote peace in others, we can have peace in our lives, regardless of our circumstances or what is happening in the world around us."

Christmas was yesterday, so yes, it’s technically over.  But reflecting on my experience this year leaves me wanting something of the essence of Christmas to linger and continue into the coming year.

This past Sunday my bishop shared a few remarks at the end of the ward Christmas program.  He recognized some in the congregation were friends of other faiths, and he spoke for a moment specifically to them.  He acknowledged some recent changes in the Church, particularly the new meeting schedule starting next year.  And then he promised that those who would faithfully attend our worship services each Sunday would find peace for at least that one hour.

In reflecting upon his words, I realize what many of us really want in our lives is peace.  We want to get away from the fighting that fills our communities.  We want to escape the turbulence troubled times give to us and those we love most.  We want to remove the frustrating circumstances life can provide.  We all want peace.

As a popular song teaches, let there be peace, and let it begin with me.  When we take the proper action inside ourselves first and then promote peace in others, we can have peace in our lives, regardless of our circumstances or what is happening in the world around us.

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Follow after peace

I’ve long spoken both on this program and in the blog about how singles can feel peace in a family-centered culture while not having the marker of belonging in that culture.  Your focus determines your reality, so when you change your focus, you change your realty.  When you change the way you think, you change your life.

That principle applies to everyone, not just singles.  All of us can create a reality of peace in our lives when we focus on what brings peace.  And the ultimate source of peace is the Prince of Peace.  He suffered our pains and troubles so that He would know how to be compassionate in our hour of need.  He died so that we could live.

That life Christ gives isn’t just eternal life in the realm beyond the veil.  He gives life here and now in mortality.  He can lighten our load and light the way before us.  He can lift us when we are low.  He can give hope amidst despair.

The Christmas spirit of peace can continue on in us when we increase our discipleship to the Prince of Peace.  It’s when we ignore His teachings or forget our covenants that we bring ourselves the opposite of peace.  Aligning ourselves with His teachings and our covenants with Him brings a harmony with truth that makes a natural home for peace.

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Share peace

Once we have peace within ourselves, we can then spread peace to others around us.  Our continued walk after the Prince of Peace can inspire others to follow His enlightened example.  Once they align themselves with truth, others can have the same peace in their lives.

But deep, lasting peace comes from more than just keeping the standards.  Just as true happiness comes from giving yourself to all the right things for you, deep, lasting peace comes when you align yourself with all the right things for you.  By all means, strive to keep the commandments and your covenants.  Those things are right for everyone.  But beyond the standards reside what’s right for each of us individually — goodness related to your personal ministry and the contribution only you can make in the lives of others.

When you give yourself to those right things that only you can do, you promote peace.  You become a city shining on a hill giving goodness, light, and love to an increasingly darkened world desperately in need.  And that peace you bring to others can come to you as well.

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Promote peace

It all starts where the song says it starts.  Let there be peace.  And let it begin with me.

Let each of us align ourselves with truth.  Let each of us keep the commandments.  Let each of us be true to our covenants.  Let each of us embrace our own personal ministry and contribute what only we can give.  Let each of us feel the peace that comes from following more completely the Prince of Peace.

Then let us all go forward and share that peace with others.  Let us light their lives.  Let us give them hope.  Let us lighten their load.  Let there be peace.  And let it begin with me and you.  We will find a peace we have never before known if we promote peace within our own hearts and the hearts of others like we have never before done.  And when we do that, we’ll have more joy in our journey.

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You can listen to the monologue from today's episode of Joy In The Journey Radio here.  Please also feel free to continue the conversation by leaving a comment below.  Want to hear more?  Listen to the whole show by going to the show page for this episode!