Instruments of the Lord’s Peace

A friend recently referred to this article by Elder Robert S. Wood, a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I thought it would be helpful to review it in light of the many polarized political views many of us have been sharing with each other.

I'll share some of it below, however, for a complete transcript go here.

"Alma at the waters of Mormon invited those who would enter into a covenant relationship with God to stand as witnesses of God and to bear one another's burdens. As those who have indeed entered into a sacred covenant, we must remain true to the way, the truth, and the life, who is Jesus Christ.
"Have we who have taken upon us the name of Christ slipped unknowingly into patterns of slander, evil speaking, and bitter stereotyping? Have personal or partisan or business or religious differences been translated into a kind of demonizing of those of different views? Do we pause to understand the seemingly different positions of others and seek, where possible, common ground?"

"President George Albert Smith observed, 'There is nothing in the world more deleterious or harmful to the human family than hatred, prejudice, suspicion, and the attitude that some people have toward their fellows, of unkindness.' In matters of politics, he warned, 'Whenever your politics cause you to speak unkindly of your brethren, know this, that you are upon dangerous ground.' Speaking of the great mission of the latter-day kingdom, he counseled: 'This is not a militant church to which we belong. This is a church that holds out peace to the world. It is not our duty to go into the world and find fault with others, neither to criticize men because they do not understand. But it is our privilege, in kindness and love, to go among them and divide with them the truth that the Lord has revealed in this latter day.' "

Finally, he finishes with this, my favorite point:

"In a world beset by wrath, the prophet of our day, President Gordon B. Hinckley, has counseled: 'Now, there is much that we can and must do in these perilous times. We can give our opinions on the merit of the situation as we see it, but never let us become a party to words or works of evil concerning our brothers and sisters in various nations on one side or the other. Political differences never justify hatred or ill will. I hope that the Lord's people may be at peace one with another during times of trouble, regardless of what loyalties they may have to different governments or parties.' "

My hope is that as we look forward to the future, we can each put our trust in the Lord, find peace and ultimately be instruments in sharing this peace with our brothers and sisters.