Sunday, April 28, 2013

Relief Society Lesson --Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness

Personal Peace: The Reward of  Righteousness
Elder Quentin L. Cook
Of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles
April 2013 General Conference
Agency is essential to the plan of happiness.
1.allows for the love, sacrifice, personal growth, and experience necessary for our eternal progression.
2. allows for all the pain and suffering we experience in mortality, even when caused by things we do not understand and the devastating evil choices of others.
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth.”-Matthew 10:34
It is clear that universal peace did not exist on the earth during Christ’s mortal ministry, and it does not now.
The Spirit of the Lord “shall not always strive with man.” and “peace shall be taken from the earth.”
--Doctrine and Covenants 1:33,35
Prophets have declared that peace has indeed been taken from the earth. Lucifer has not yet been bound and exercises power in this dominion.
There never can come to the world that spirit of peace and love … until mankind will receive God’s truth and God’s message … , and acknowledge his power and authority which is divine.” – Pres. Joseph F. Smith
“…he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.”-Doctrine and Covenants 59:23
President Heber J. Grant described the Savior’s peace this way:
“His peace will ease our suffering, bind up our broken hearts, blot out our hates, engender in our breasts a love of fellow men that will suffuse our souls with calm and happiness.”
Peace is not just safety or lack of war, violence, conflict, and contention.
 
Peace comes from knowing that the Savior knows who we are and knows that we have faith in Him, love Him, and keep His commandments, even and especially amid life’s devastating trials and tragedies.
For those who reject God, there is no peace. We all participated in the councils of heaven that provided for moral agency, knowing that there would be mortal pain and even unspeakable tragedy because of the abuse of agency. We understood that this could leave us angry, bewildered, defenseless, and vulnerable. But we also knew that the Savior’s Atonement would overcome and compensate for all of the unfairness of mortal life and bring us peace.
What are the sources of peace?
Many search for peace in worldly ways, which never have and never will succeed.
Peace is not found:
By attaining great wealth, power, or prominence.  Or in the pursuit of pleasure, entertainment, or leisure.
None of these can, even when attained in abundance, create any lasting happiness or peace.
How do we stay close to the Savior? Humbling ourselves before God, praying always, repenting of sins, entering the waters of baptism with a broken heart and contrite spirit, and becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ are profound examples of the righteousness that is rewarded by abiding peace.
The Church is a refuge where followers of Christ attain peace.
Some young people in the world say they are spiritual but not religious.
… it is priesthood authority in the Church that provides for sacred ordinances and covenants that bind families together and qualify each of us to return to God the Father and Jesus Christ in the celestial kingdom. These ordinances bring peace because they are covenants with the Lord.
The Savior is the source of true peace.
Even with the trials of life, because of the Savior’s Atonement and His grace, righteous living will be rewarded with personal peace.
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33

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