Friday, October 23, 2015

D&C 105:37-40 -- On the Power of Peace

"And inasmuch as they follow the counsel which they receive, they shall have power after many days to accomplish all things pertaining to Zion.
And again I say unto you, sue for peace, not only to the people that have smitten you, but also to all people;
And lift up an ensign of peace, and make a proclamation of peace unto the ends of the earth;
And make proposals for peace unto those who have smitten you, according to the voice of the Spirit which is in you, and all things shall work together for your good."
Doctrine and Covenants 105:37-40


The first verse is cool... if we follow God's counsel, then we'll have the power to accomplish what we need to as we work to establish Zion.  What I really liked though was the verses after, because we read power, and we think POWER!! We can take over and make everything right... or that God is going to throw some lightning bolts and get everyone in line for us, or that we'll suddenly just be that good, or that charismatic and everyone will *want* to do things our way. :)  But I think that these other three verses clarify that God isn't offering us power in the way that we usually think about power.  Instead, we will have power to accomplish things peacefully.
Sometimes the peaceful way is the hard way, or it seems like the boring way, but if we take a step back from our drama-filled society and really look, I think that we will all see that our histrionics usually get us into trouble.  Drama and anxiety and looking for the next thrill turns us more and more away from looking at eternity and into only worrying about the moment.  There has to be a better way, right?
God is willing to grant us the power of peace.  And if we follow his counsel and seek peace with that power he gives us, he further promises that "all things" shall work together for our good.  That's huge. ALL things?  Wow.  That's actually more amazing than power. :)  It's like having like 9 extra helpings of luck, because when we do things God's way, everything wants to help us. :)
Today, let's listen to God's advice, and follow it.  And let's do what it takes to be so in harmony with God and the world that *everything* works with us and not against us.  What a great concept.  Let's make it happen, not through force, but through peace.

2 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for your insight into these verses of scripture! They were an extended answer to my prayer of how I could continue to live with a husband who has PTSD, anger and depression, Social Anxiety and is bipolar, all exaggerated due to three years, a year at a time, in Vietnam in Air Rescue. I do get weary in well doing. However I am grateful for answered prayers that strengthen me to forgive 'seventy times seven' and deal with it all. I can continue in faith now. Thank you again.

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