Being a Peace Maker.

One of the greatest messages given to man by Jesus Christ is known as the Sermon on the Mount.

all of the basic principles in man’s relationship with others are included in this great sermon.

this sermon is commonly referred to as the Beatitudes, and these begin with the word Blessed. These Beatitudes outline conditions which bring about peace and happiness. the Savior wants us all to be peacemakers as he said, 

“Blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” (3 Ne. 12:9.) matt 5:9

Way back in 1974

Elder Theodore M. Burton

Assistant to the Council of the Twelve

Gave a talk and said

It is impossible to pick up a newspaper or listen to a news broadcast without learning of some new quarrel among nations, some new argument among politicians, some new expression of prejudice against a race or a people, or some new outburst against a person or an idea. When I read or hear of these continuing disputes, I am aware of their negative nature. People nowadays seem to be continually against something or somebody. We appear to live in a negative era. What could have brought all this about?

The answer appears to me to be that each person today wants to “do his own thing,” to demonstrate his complete independence of everything and everyone. We forget that we are not, and cannot be, totally independent of one another either in thought or action. We are part of a total community. We are all members of one family, as Paul reminded the Greeks at Athens when he explained that God “hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth.” 

This is over 40 years old and yet reminds me of recent social media events seen on a daily basis, doing their best to separate race, lifestyle and even professions.

Today is no different than 40 years ago, in fact it is even worse. There is no easy way to regain the peace of a nation, and not one person can do it all to make the change. It would take an awakening of each community around the globe to start fixing and repairing the damage that has been done over the years. It would need to start with each individual having a change of heart and a true knowledge and understand that we are all part of the same plan. 

Brothers and Sisters I am not here today to talk about being a peacemaker in the community, although it is important to stand for what we believe and show love to all types of people regardless of where they live or how they live, where they work or the color of their skin, I am going to focus more on the home.

Being a peace maker in the home is the most important place to start.

Sometimes I see behavior towards siblings that would never be displayed on the best friend. I see disrespect to parents when the same child would never talk to his/her teacher that way.  Our families are essential to God’s plan so shouldn’t they be the most important place to start. The way we treat our family members and how we respond to them can make all the difference in the world between a happy home and a fighting home. And brothers and sisters it can get ugly sometimes.  It is often said that it easier to hurt the ones we love. I believe we take our families for granted and somehow think that no matter how we treat them they will always love us so therefore we can do and say whatever we want to them and it will never matter. However, that is not true.  You can destroy your future with your family by all the times you were cruel and thought you could get away with it. It takes forgiveness and change of heart even at home to make any change at all. Children are often better at being peacemakers than adults, but it seems to me that even children need to control their response to the sibling that is pushing their buttons.  When your brother or sister is doing something to annoy the other, screaming and yelling at them in response is certainly not going to bring peace. We may not be able to control the actions of others, but we can control our own, and if we choose not to respond just as negatively, and in some cases even worse, as the person pushing your buttons, then perhaps your response can gradually change the action of the initiator. 

You can choose not to hit someone back when they hit you; you can choose not to yell in response to be annoyed or being yelled at. You can choose not to call names when names are being called. So what can you do.

When your sibling hits you, walk away, if you have to tell your parents about it then let them do the punishing.  When your sibling is annoying you just for the sake of doing so, screaming shut up will only cause them to do it more. Ignore them or kindly ask them to stop. One of the biggest arguments in my home lately is : He is mimicking me…. It seems that no matter what I TELL MY CHILDREN in matter, ultimately it is up to them, I cannot make them be peace makers, the only thing I can do is try to be one myself. Which is also a challenge when you’re so tired of hearing the fighting over the smallest things. But each and every person must be accountable for their part in the home. They can choose to love their family members and treat them like their best friends or they can choose to test the waters and push them right out of their lives. I for one would love to see my children best friends for the rest of their lives, I would love to see them forgive each other and respond better to annoyances, to not be so quick to anger. Even being the best example you can be, will not change all reactions around you, but the better example you are and the longer it takes for you to react poorly, the better off the home will be.

 Children parents are not always perfect; we make mistakes too. Forgive them like you do your best friend and see what a difference it can make. The second greatest commandment is to do unto others…. If we all take the time and put ourselves in the others shoes, how would we want to be treated, responded too, talked too? If you want respect, give it. If you want families’ members to listen to you, listen to them. If you feel overwhelmed in a task at home and want help, then do so when you notice it with someone else.

Have you ever noticed that when you smile at a stranger, they often respond back? I love the concept of pay it forward, whenever you do something nice for someone in the neighborhood it often has a ripple effect. Showing one act of kindness can be spread like wild flowers. This can happen at home too. 

Let us not forget it is always easier to do the wrong thing than the right. Satan rejoices in this because like the ripple effect of kindness the act of one wrong doing can to ripple in a field of the most horrible weeds.  Sometimes is will take 5 times as many kind acts to get a positive re action verse one wrong doing to get a field of negative ones.

In a talk given by Elder Franklin D. Richards

Of the First Quorum of the Seventy

In November of 1983

He spoke of an interesting example

A very wise bishop called several young people into his office and said to them: “I would like you to help me in an experiment. I would like to prove the impact and influence of one member on the spirit of the family. For one month, I would like each of you to be the peacemaker in your home. Don’t say anything about this to your family, but be thoughtful, kind, and considerate. Be an example. Where there is quarreling or bickering among members of your family, do whatever you can to overcome these faults by creating an atmosphere of love, harmony, and helpfulness.

“When you are irritated—and irritations arise in almost every family—control yourself and help the others to control themselves. I would like to see every home in our ward be ‘a bit of heaven on earth.’ At the end of the month, I would like you to meet with me again and report.”

It was a challenge for these young people, and they met the challenge in a wonderful way.

When they reported back to the bishop, remarks such as these were made. One young fellow said: “I had no idea I would have so much influence in my home. It’s really been different this last month. I’ve been wondering if much of the turmoil and strife we used to have was caused by me and my attitudes.”

A young lady said: “I guess we were just the normal family with our selfishness causing little daily conflicts. But as I have worked with my brothers and sisters, a lot of this has been eliminated, and there has been a much sweeter spirit in our home. I believe you really have to work at it to have the spirit of peace in your home.”

Another young lady reported: “Yes, there has been a much sweeter and cooperative and unselfish spirit in our home since I began this experiment, but the biggest difference of all has been in me. I’ve tried hard to be a good example and a peacemaker, and I feel better about myself than I have ever felt. A wonderful feeling of peace has come over me.”

Brothers and sisters of all ages, I leave you with this challenge. What would happen if all of your family member took on the challenge? Perhaps even just one of you become the best peace maker you can be for the next month and see what changes occur.  Our own divine nature is at stake, as well as the happiness of our homes.