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
