As the time of the Savior’s betrayal and crucifixion was drawing near, Jesus made every effort to comfort and assure His chosen few. He assured them that He would not leave them comfortless-He would come to them.[1] He also assured them that the Father would send the Comforter, even the Holy Ghost, who would teach them all things, and bring all things to their remembrance.[2] He then gave them His ultimate reassurance in words recorded in John 14:27 which have served as the theme for this Education Week. The Savior said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you”. There is a marvelous and reassuring sense of comfort which comes with this divine expression and promise of His peace as only He can give it. His promise of peace comes with the assurance that it would not be in the form of some worldly charade which so often offers a false sense of peace and well-being. This is all very reassuring. There is, however, another sentence in the verse of scripture from which your theme is drawn that is not included in your theme. It is this sentence on which I would like to focus. It defines the effect and the results that the Savior intended for His peace to have upon us. It reads: “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”[3]
For what greater comfort could we ask than His peace in our lives? What more do we need than His assurance that our hearts have no reason to be troubled or to be afraid? I have known personally the fear that comes from a medically troubled heart. I have counseled those with morally troubled hearts and consoled those with heavy and broken hearts. There are those with frightened hearts, dealing with anxieties over issues often beyond their control. The Savior’s reassurances of His peace were of a nature which can bring comfort to any troubled and fearful heart. His peace is that inner peace, comfort, and joy which accompany the well-ordered life, but it is also that inner peace, comfort, and joy that come to all of us as we come to believe in Him and believe Him. His peace would most assuredly allay the fears of spiritually troubled hearts. The spiritually troubled are typically the unfaithful, the unworthy, and the unrepentant. The troubled and fearful heart is usually found in the disobedient, the disrespectful, and the disbelieving. Peace comes to these as they bring the Savior into their lives-as they accept the beneficial blessings of His great atoning sacrifice. His peace comes to those who prepare themselves with repentance, resolution, righteousness.
Using the descriptive metaphor of the armor used in battles of ancient eras, the Apostle Paul gave us an enlightening sense of how we might ensure the inner peace of our own lives. He wrote to the Ephesians challenging them to put on the whole armour of God, with the hope and purpose that they would be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, that they would be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. He wrote:
"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit..."[4]
Every principle behind each piece of armor Paul describes is important to our sense of inner peace. Truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, the word of God, and prayer all combine to provide a marvelous sense of spiritual security and strength. The foundation for this security and strength comes with Paul’s inferred suggestion that our feet must be firmly planted and immovable. He said, “Stand therefore, having...your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” I believe that this should suggest to all of us that our understanding, our testimony, and our valiance in the gospel of Jesus Christ prepares us to receive His peace. Surely: “Preparation Brings Peace.”
The Lord declared in this dispensation, “... but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.”[5] In the stake conferences of the Church in year 2003, we talked and thought much of self reliance. All of this has been with the view in mind of temporal and spiritual preparation. It has been with a view of eliminating unnecessary fear from our lives through preparation. You have come here to participate in this Education Week to prepare yourselves both temporally and spiritually to cope in an increasingly difficult and challenging world. When this week is over, you will have acquired knowledge that is both enlightening and inspiring. You will have received impressions of both mind and spirit that will strengthen you in the years ahead. You will have taken unto yourselves some of God’s armor that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. To stand, in President Hinckley’s words, for something. To stand for the truth. To stand for righteousness. To stand firmly and forever with your preparation of the gospel of peace. Preparation-both temporal and spiritual-does bring peace. It brings peace to the troubled and fearful heart.
Elder Marvin J. Ashton described peace as the opposite of fear. He said,
"Peace is a blessing that comes to those who trust in God. It is established through individual righteousness. True personal peace comes about through eternal vigilance and constant righteous efforts. No man can be at peace who is untrue to his better self. No man can have lasting peace who is living a lie. Peace can never come to the (unrepentant) transgressor of the law. Commitment to God’s laws is the basis for peace. Peace is something we earn. It is not a gift. Rather, it is a possession earned by those who love God and work to achieve the blessings of peace. It is not a written document. It is something that must come from within. Never will peace and hatred be able to abide in the same soul. Feelings of enmity and malice can never be compatible with feelings of peace. Wickedness, no matter how it is labeled or camouflaged, will eventually bring grief and heartache and wipe out inner peace. A testimony of the truthfulness of the teachings of our Savior gives personal peace in times of adversity. Peace is not a purchase away. Peace is not when the final installment is paid. Peace is not when marriage comes (nor even when an unhappy marriage ends) nor when all the children are enrolled in school. True peace must not be dependent upon conditions or happenings. Peace must stem from an inward contentment built upon trust, faith, and good will toward God, fellowmen, and self. Inner peace is the prized possession of God’s valiant."[6]
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said,
The search for peace is one of the ultimate quests of the human soul. We all have highs and lows, but such times come and they usually always go. Kind neighbors assist. Beautiful sunshine brings encouragement. A good night’s sleep usually works wonders. But there are times in all our lives when deep sorrow or suffering or fear or loneliness makes us cry out for the peace which only God Himself can bring. Christ and His angels and His prophets forever labor to buoy up our spirits, steady our nerves, calm our hearts, send us forth with renewed strength and resolute hope. In that spirit we declare to all the world that for real and abiding peace to come, we must strive to be more like that exemplary Son of God.”[7]
The peace the Savior brings to our lives is not just that peace that comes from His atoning sacrifice. It is also the peace we enjoy as we come to know, accept, and live His gospel-even the “gospel of peace.” The peaceful paths we walk in life can be warm, welcome, and without fear, so long as we prepare ourselves for our journey by embracing the gospel with all our hearts.
Ponder with me some lines from one of our hymns which speaks to the sweetness of the peace the gospel brings.[8]
Sweet is the peace the gospel brings, to seeking minds and true.
With light refulgent on its wings, it clears the human view.
Its laws and precepts are divine, and show a Father’s care.
Transcendent love and mercy shine, in each injunction there.
May we who know the sacred Name, From every sin depart.
Then with the Spirit’s constant flame, Preserve us pure in heart.
Ere long the tempter’s power will cease, And sin no more annoy.
No wrangling sects disturb our peace, or mar our heartfelt joy.
Alma, the great Book of Mormon prophet, taught the people of Gideon the certainty of the anticipated birth and sacred mission of Christ and challenged them to embrace the gospel. He perceived that they were in the paths of righteousness-in the path which leads to the kingdom of God. He admonished them to be humble, submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things they stood in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things they did receive.[9] That same admonition applies equally to us in this day and age. He expressed the joy he felt because of the “exceeding diligence and heed” which these people had given to those truths which he had taught and to which he had so fervently testified. Then, because of their goodness, he pronounced a marvelous and reassuring blessing upon them. He Said, “And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and forever.”[10]
Alma pronounced these profound blessings of peace-the peace of God-upon them and by inference upon us. His profound expression specified the condition and promise associated with the blessings. The condition-According to our faith and good works. The promise-From this time forth and forever.
May we now place ourselves in their position and ask if we are prepared to comply with those conditions of “faith and good works” required of us to receive the same promised peace of God in our lives “from this time forth and forever”. Thinking of Alma’s blessing, “May the peace of God rest upon you.” This may be viewed as both a declaration and a question. Let us look at it for a moment as a question. “May the peace of God rest upon you?” Are you spiritually prepared and worthy of the blessings of His peace to be upon you? Upon you personally? Upon your houses and lands? That is, upon your homes and properties. Upon your flocks and herds? For those not involved in farming and ranching, this can apply to your professions, occupations, daily work and responsibility. Upon all that you possess? Upon your women and children? That is, upon your marriages and families?
As we consider Alma’s marvelous blessing of the “peace of God” resting upon us in our lives, let us reflect again upon the Savior’s gift of peace: “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.”
In our recent April General Conference, President Hinckley and others of the Brethren spoke of the perilous times in which we live. We only have to listen to the nightly news or read the newspapers to sense the severity and the peril of our times. Surely, there is ample justification in our being a little frightened by it all. No one would question our strength and resolve if they were to learn that our hearts were even a little troubled by the tragedies and violence we see occurring about us every day. Wars, abductions, drought, disease, and a wide range of personal challenge and tragedy seem to dominate the news and all too often impact our own lives. Some of you have loved-ones serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, or other troubled places in the world. We all long for some semblance of peace to come to the world, to our neighborhoods, and even in some cases to our own families and our own lives. President Hinckley has assured us that peril is not a new condition for the human family, and he gave ample reason to be comforted and confident in the future. He said, “Notwithstanding the great evil of these times, what a glorious season it has been and now is. A new day has come in the work of the Almighty. That work has grown and strengthened and moved across the earth. It has now touched for good the lives of millions, and this is only the beginning.” President Hinckley asked,
"Do we really comprehend, do we understand the tremendous significance of that which we have? This is the summation of the generations of man, the concluding chapter in the entire panorama of the human experience. We must do all that is required in moving forward the work of the Lord in building His kingdom in the earth. We of this generation are the end harvest of all that has gone before. It is not enough to simply be known as a member of this Church. A solemn obligation rests upon us. Let us face it and work at it. We must live as true followers of the Christ, with charity toward all, returning good for evil, teaching by example the ways of the Lord, and accomplishing the vast service he has outlined for us. May we live worthy of the glorious endowment of light and understanding and eternal truth which has come to us through all the perils of the past. Somehow, among all who have walked the earth, we have been brought forth in this unique and remarkable season. Be grateful, and above all be faithful."[11]
A knowledge of who we are and what we are and who and what we must become can be unsettling, but it can also be a great source of peace in our lives. Our thoughts of the Saviors’ peace naturally leads us to reflect on the prophecies of His Second Coming. Elder Dallin H. Oaks addressed the importance of our preparation for His Millennial return. He said, “While we are powerless to alter the fact of the Second Coming and unable to know its exact time, we can accelerate our own preparation and try to influence the preparation of those around us.”[12]
This was a stirring address by Elder Oaks-one that should cause each of us to consider far more seriously the state of our preparation. Think with me of another prophet-leader who many generations ago made similar appeals to his people to prepare for the coming of Christ. In this case it was to prepare for His “First Coming,” rather than His “Second.” We have recorded in the pages of the Book of Mormon the marvelous address of King Benjamin delivered approximately 124 years before the birth of Christ. He taught in very specific terms of the birth, life, and mission of the Savior. He taught the “gospel of peace” to his people and challenged them to live it. He beautifully projected the thoughts of his people toward the meaning and significance of the atoning sacrifice Jesus would offer for all mankind, and he challenged them to live and believe and rejoice “even as though he had already come among them.”[13] Picture the scene - King Benjamin standing on the tower that had been erected for him that his people might hear the words which he would speak to them. He begins by telling them of the importance of what he has to say to them. He gains their attention by saying,
"I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view.”[14]
Now, I invite all within the sound of my voice to open your ears that you may hear, and open your hearts that you may understand, and open your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view. Hear, feel, and sense the significance of King Benjamin’s words as he projected the vision of his people forward to the coming of Christ. As you do this—hear, feel, and sense his words as if he were speaking to us today.
"And the Lord God hath sent his holy prophets among all the children of men, to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue, that thereby whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy even as though he had already come among them."[15]
Even as though He had already come among them!
I would ask you these Key Questions:
- Is it possible for us to look to the Savior’s Second Coming even as King Benjamin urged his people to look to the birth of Jesus Christ?
- Can the promise of remission of sins and “rejoicing with exceedingly great joy” be transferred to our day, even as though He had already come among us?
- Can we live with faith and good works sufficient to have the peace of God rest with us from this time forth and forever—even as though He had already come among us?
The Second Coming of Our Lord is certain. This glorious event will most certainly announce the commencement of the Millennium. The timing is uncertain, but the signs of His coming are unfolding around us daily as so many prophecies are being fulfilled. There should be no panic, because there are many scriptural events which must yet occur, but neither should we be complacent in our preparations. Can we feel and demonstrate a sense of urgency, without it manifesting itself as panic? I believe we can. The conditions that will exist after His Second Coming have been scripturally and prophetically described. Most notably, He will reign under conditions of righteousness and peace. The Lord said:
"For the hour is nigh, and that which was spoken by mine apostles must be fulfilled; for as they spoke so shall it come to pass; For I will reveal myself from heaven with power and great glory, with all the hosts thereof, and dwell in righteousness with men on earth a thousand years, and the wicked shall not stand."[16]
Isaiah described the Millennial condition, saying, “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”[17]
Do you see the linkage between righteousness and peace? As the Savior taught the Nephites, He described the last days and further provides that linkage for us. Quoting Isaiah He said, “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression for thou shalt not fear, and from terror for it shall not come near thee.”[18] Being far from oppression, fear, and terror is a very timely promise of peace in today’s world. But, note the condition-established in righteousness!
If we are to enjoy the peace that Jesus promised, freeing us of our troubled and fearful hearts, and if the “peace of God” is to rest with us in our personal lives, in our work, with all that we possess, and with our families; then it will be upon the conditions of righteousness. Peace of mind, peace of conscience, peace of soul, the peace that Jesus gives is a gift that is bestowed upon us—a gift that is made available to us. But it must be earned and received by our faithfulness. The Savior said, “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.”[19]
Could I suggest again that receiving the gift of peace in our lives requires individual preparation. “Peace can only come as we prepare ourselves with righteousness.” Remember - “Preparation Brings Peace!” There is that temporal preparation that comes with learning, living within our means, paying off our debts, saving, and storing. Spiritually speaking, that everlasting peace Jesus promises is an inner peace, established in prayer, born of faith, anchored by testimony, shown by forgiveness of others’ trespasses against us, expressed through love, and earned through repentance and righteous living.
I pray that every one of us here assembled and any others who may have reason to consider these thoughts will begin today to more actively and aggressively prepare to be worthy of the peace Jesus gives, to merit having the peace of God to rest with us, and to do so by living as we would “even as though He had already come among us. May we know of the truth of the Savior words when He said, “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.”[20] If we have prepared ourselves to truly know and experience inner peace, there is no need for fear during the storms of our lives or in the perilous times of the world.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie captured the full meaning of what I have been trying to say when he wrote:
"Be it known that it is the privilege of the saints today to separate themselves from the world and to receive millennial blessings in their lives. And any person who today abides the laws that will be kept during the Millennium will receive, here and now, the spirit and blessings of the Millennium in his life." [21]
I bear witness-even especial witness-of the divinity of His mission, of the reality of His resurrection, of the certainty of His Second Coming, and of the power of His peace. May we prepare to live in His peace “Even As Though He had already come!” (Second Coming)
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Notes
[1] John 14:18
[2] John 14:26
[3] John 14:27
[4] Ephesians 6:14-17
[5] Doctrine and Covenants 38:30
[6] Ensign, Nov. 1985, 69
[7] Ensign, Nov. 1996, 82
[8] Sweet is the Peace the Gospel Brings, #14
[9] Alma 7:19-23
[10] Alma 7:27; see verses 16-26
[11] Ensign, May 2004, 81
[12] Ensign, May 2004, 7
[13] Mosiah 3:13
[14] Mosiah 2:9
[15] Mosiah 3:13
[16] Doctrine and Covenants 29:10-11
[17] Isaiah 32:17-18
[18] 3 Nephi 22:13-14
[19] Doctrine and Covenants 88:33
[20] Doctrine and Covenants 59:23
[21] Millennial Messiah, 682, emphasis added