One of the greatest blessings of our day, particularly in the United States, is our freedom. I will forever be grateful for all who have worked for, defended and sacrificed much to win and preserve our freedom of speech, freedom of religion and our all-around freedom to live unoppressed in a peaceful land.
There are certainly conflicting opinions everywhere we turn. Through social media and news casts we view harsh words exchanged between politicians, athletes, religious leaders, neighbors, coworkers, commuters and so on. What’s great about you being you and me being me is we can choose not to be offended by each other’s differences.
We can simply agree to disagree on various points and focus positively on the points that we do agree on.
A wise relative of mine once taught me a simple principle of being a peacemaker. She said, “You can say just about anything to anyone if you speak truth, with a smile on your face and kindness in your voice.” I found this principle to be true and very useful advice in my correspondence with people in every facet of my life.
Choosing not to be offended is sometimes easier said than done and we often need help from higher Source to avoid contention and to be a peacemaker in every situation. When my neighbors’ roosters wake me up at 2am, I pray to God, asking for an opportunity to speak kindly to my neighbor and to not have hate in my heart.
This prayer calms my soul and brings peace into my heart. Being a peacemaker is not easy. It is helpful to have a relationship with God and to feel the inner peace that comes to those who humble themselves and worship with faith that He is listening, He hears our prayers and answers them.
Reading scriptures and learning God’s ways helps bring the Holy Spirit into my life and gives me clarity in understanding my purpose in this world and hope for a better world to come.
The words we speak and our tone of voice really make a difference in our relationships. Quoting President Russel M. Nelson, the 17th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, “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. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy that we can say about another person—whether to his face or behind her back—that should be our standard of communication.”
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God,” and “Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” And He challenged each of us to, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”
When Jesus says, “love your enemies,” I believe He may be referring to charity. When we are filled with charity, we put aside our differences and view everyone as equals and extend peace through gracious words, kindness and sincere friendship. Charity never fails and will give us power to “turn to him the [left] cheek also” or say, “forgive them Father for they know not what they do” and become the ultimate peacemakers.
Loren B. Dickson is the Morgan Hill Stake President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and a member of the Interfaith Clergy Alliance of South County. He can be reached at Lo***********@***il.com.
