Peacemakers Needed

President Nelson's talk from this past General Conference entitled, "Peacemakers Needed" was the talk our lesson was based on in Relief Society.  It was also the topic du jour of Instagram posts recently.

So I decided to reread it. I pulled some of the quotes from that talk that stood out to me the most to post here for you. It's always good to be reminded of the most recent words of our current Prophet.

"One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is how compassionately that person treats other people."

"The Savior’s message is clear: His true disciples build, lift, encourage, persuade, and inspire—no matter how difficult the situation. True disciples of Jesus Christ are peacemakers."

"The Savior’s Atonement made it possible for us to overcome all evil—including contention. Make no mistake about it: contention is evil! Jesus Christ declared that those who have “the spirit of contention” are not of Him but are “of the devil, who is the father of contention, and [the devil] stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.”

"My dear brothers and sisters, how we treat each other really matters! How we speak to and about others at home, at church, at work, and online really matters. Today, I am asking us to interact with others in a higher, holier way."

"Charity is the antidote to contention. Charity is the spiritual gift that helps us to cast off the natural man, who is selfish, defensive, prideful, and jealous. Charity is the principal characteristic of a true follower of Jesus Christ. Charity defines a peacemaker."

"Brothers and sisters, the pure love of Christ is the answer to the contention that ails us today." 

"Let us as a people become a true light on the hill—a light that “cannot be hid.”"

"My dear brothers and sisters, the best is yet to come for those who spend their lives building up others."

My two favorite quotes from this talk are the first and last that I posted.  A true disciple of Jesus Christ treats others compassionately.  And the best is yet to come for those who spend their lives building others up.

It's such an easy thing to do to treat others compassionately – the way you would like to be treated.  The golden rule.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (Luke 6:31) Yet, there's so much contention and discord in this world.

But for those who strive to live the second great commandment to love our neighbors, the best is yet to come!

That's my two cents.