Where Can I Turn For Peace?
The following was a talk I gave in church in April, 2018
Have you ever asked “Where can I turn for peace?”
We have a hymn in our church called Master the Tempest is Raging. It begins with the lyrics: “Master, the tempest is raging! The billows are tossing high! No shelter or help is nigh.” The message in the chorus is: “Peace, be still.”
This time last year our family was going through a very trying time, which left many asking this exact question. We had just buried my mother, who was quite well known in the area and truly loved by many. In a few short days, we would be laying my sweet dad to rest at her side.
Having previously lost my other two siblings, I would become the last of my core family I was born into, which thrust me into becoming the elder and the family patriarch for not only my children and grandchild, but also for my nieces and nephews and their children and families.
Being the youngest, this was never my role, nor did I think it would ever become my role. In a period of two weeks, I had to plan two funerals, two talks for those funerals, and was forced to assume the responsibility for finances, property, wills, trusts, and the sundry of other things that go along with the loss of parents, as well as providing a listening ear, a soft heart, and the strength needed to uplift and encourage our family and friends that were mourning the loss of my mom and dad.
All of this while at the same time celebrating a daughter preparing to graduate from a rural middle school – which is a big celebration as she would be transitioning from Grand View to Tahlequah High School – and talking another daughter who would be entering her senior year of college and who was a fairly new mother after undergoing a rough and scary pregnancy off the cliff when her husband lost his job and was searching for a new one to support their little family. Yeah, it was a really rough two weeks.
At my parents funerals, I can remember not only speaking but standing with Terry in the receiving line at the end of each service, personally speaking with and thanking each and person that came by. I remember some of my friends and family being upset, and it was as if the tables were turned and I had to be strong for them. I still remember the faces and looks of some in attendance who didn’t really say anything to me at all, but just stared at me as they approached, not really knowing what to say.
During that time period and in the ensuing weeks after, I often had family and friends ask me “How are you doing?” and “Are you holding up okay?” I really was grateful for those showing concern, and my answer usually went along the lines of “Yes, thank you for asking.” I would often add in “I should be falling completely apart, but I’m not. I’m at peace.”
I am certain this answer shocked my family and long term friends. It probably should have, because actually it shocked me. It was never a secret at how close our family is and always has been. We all went to great effort to show love and support to each other, even during the trying times.
An example of this effort is this: my mom always wished I played the guitar, but I don’t – I’m a drummer. The guitar I don’t understand. As much as I would like to play it my brain is not wired that way. With sticks in hand I can play notes and fills without looking at music. But with guitar I cannot get my fingers to work the strings right.
However, with the help of Brother Will Grovenberg, I was able to learn the hymn How Great Thou Art. Brother Grovenberg patiently worked with me for over two months to teach me that song – and because of his help, I was able to play it for my mom a few short days before she passed away. One of the last things she said to me on earth happened the next day, after I had played the song for her. She said “God sent me an angel to play the guitar for me last night, and my angel was wearing a white cap (I was wearing a white ball cap at the time).
With this last act of service, I had done pretty much everything she wanted, and we had shared all of the words we needed to share on earth. Now, she even got to hear me play something on guitar. Brother Govenberg served as a true ministering angel to me during that time and helped me offer my mom that one final special treat. Peace, be still.
There are many stories such as that one in our family. With my parents, my brothers, my grandparents, and even with my high school sweetheart who I was married to first, there was nothing left unsaid – no unfinished business that was failed to be done – before they left this mortal life. Each of them left with us each having complete love and support for one another; each of us had true peace and love for one another prior to the separation brought by death. Peace, be still.
I cannot express enough how much that peace brings.
We also have a hymn which asks the question “Where Can I Turn For Peace?” Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles put it this way:
“Correct knowledge of and faith in the Lord empower us to hush our fears because Jesus Christ is the only source of enduring peace.”
We’ve probably all seen the phrase or the little memes on social media “Keep Calm and Carry On” or “Keep Calm and _____.” Even as a history buff, I just recently learned where that phrase was from. This was an article in the Church News just a couple of weeks ago:
In the spring of 1939 in preparation for World War II, the Ministry of Information in the British government created an ad campaign that included posters—meant to boost morale—that would be displayed throughout the British Isles during the testing times of war.
Meant to serve as visual reminders of safety during times of trial, the “home publicity posters” were to be distributed and displayed in public places—in shop windows, on notice boards, and in public transport areas—in the event of a wartime disaster, such as an attack or mass bombing of a major city.
With three separate designs the posters included these phrases: First, “Freedom is in peril, defend it with all your might,” Second “Your courage, your cheerfulness, your resolution will bring us victory,” and finally Third “Keep Calm and Carry On.” Each of the posters was designed in the same font and included the symbolic crown of King George VI at the top of the message.
At different times the first two posters were distributed in some public areas. The third poster, the “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster, was held in storage on reserve to be used after a serious air raid. However, when a serious air raid never occurred during the campaign, copies of the poster were never distributed.
Years later in 2000, owners of a bookstore in Northumberland, England, were sorting through a box of used books they had purchased at auction. Among the treasures was an original “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster. Liking the look and the message, the store owner framed it and hung it up in the store.
Although the poster was not used for its original purpose during a time of war, the message “Keep Calm and Carry On” has proven to resonate well with people who have visited the shop. Since that time, the message—meant to bring comfort in a time of war and turmoil—has gained popularity and has been repurposed in many different products.
The simple five-word message has become a guide for many to follow. Basically, the message could also have said “Peace, be still.”
Anyone who has watched the news, or looked at Facebook or Twitter knows that we live in a pretty tumultuous world right now. Wars of many kinds are being fought both here at home and abroad. Not all wars are fought with planes, ships and military might. War of words, thoughts, ideas and philosophies are rampant everywhere – yes even here in our own little community and yes, sadly, even within the church itself.
The heavenly aspiration of good people everywhere has and always will be for peace in the world. Wendy and I speak often of this subject. I continually remind her that we must never give up on reaching utopia, but we will only get there if we are led by the Savior.
President Joseph F. Smith taught, “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”
We earnestly hope and pray for universal peace, but it is as individuals and families that we achieve the kind of peace that is the promised reward of righteousness. This peace is a promised gift of the Savior’s mission and atoning sacrifice.
Real 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 amid life’s devastating trials and tragedies.
In the April 2011 General Conference, President Russell M Nelson said “we do not need to let our fears displace our faith. We can combat those fears by strengthening our faith.”
Times of turmoil are not new. If you think about it, the things we are combating in our own society and in the world now are many of the exact same things we combated in the pre-existence. Many of these same issues being faced by our society have been faced by people and governments for many centuries and even for millennia. No worries – peace, be still.
President Nelson continued by saying:
My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives,”
“We can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of the Savior. He is the source of all joy”
That joy helps a person “keep calm and carry on” and comes through focusing on the Savior and on God’s plan of salvation.
The Savior said ‘Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.” Peace, be still.
There are many things that can bring peace to our lives. By focusing on the gospel, studying our scriptures, attending our sacrament and other church meetings, attending the temple as often as possible, ministering to others, showing true appreciation of and taking full advantage of our Savior’s atonement brings peace to our lives.
Another very important thing that can help bring peace is forgiveness – forgiveness of others and forgiveness of ourselves.
In this past General Conference, Elder Larry Echo Hawk of the Seventy gave a very touching and inspiring talk on the power of forgiveness. In it, he stated we can all receive unspeakable peace and partnering with our Savior as we learn to freely forgive those who have trespassed against us.
Through the miracle of the sacred Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can also receive the gift of forgiveness of our sins and misdeeds, if we accept the opportunity and responsibility of repentance. By receiving necessary ordinances, keeping covenants, and obeying commandments, we can gain eternal life and exaltation.
He told the story of a December night many years ago when he received a call that his brother and sister-in-law had been killed in an automobile accident where the driver of the other car was a 20-year old drunk driver. He spoke of his heartache, and as time passed and the driver went to court and was sentenced, he watched as his parents led the way by showing forgiveness, and showing concern to the weeping parents of the driver. That act by his parents caused his own heart to soften and opened a pathway to healing.
He asked: “brothers and sisters, are there people in our lives who have hurt us? Do we harbor what seem like fully justified feelings of resentment and anger? Are we letting pride keep us from forgiving and letting go? I invite all of us to forgive completely and let healing occur from within. And even if forgiveness doesn’t come today, know that as we desire it and work for it, it will come.”
Remember that an essential element of forgiveness includes forgiving ourselves. “He who has repented of his sins,” the Lord said, “the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.”
None of us have been perfect. We all make mistakes; we all have fallen short. I hear people often say “I wish I could be baptized again.” I heard one faithful sister who felt like she had gone too far and could never be forgiven say she wished she could be excommunicated so that she could leave then come back and be re-baptized and maybe start new. When we worthily partake of the sacrament each week, it is like being baptized all over again; and we get that chance each week.
I encourage you that if you have something troubling you, talk to the bishop. He has the keys and authority to help guide you on the path to seek that peace. The Lord is waiting. He already knows any misdeeds you have done. He is waiting for you to come and talk, and by doing so, He can make everything well again.
Where can we turn for peace? Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. Why look anywhere else but to Him? There, and only there, will you find true peace and happiness.
Our Savior lives. He lives. He lives…..and I LOVE Him. I am grateful for the peace and love He brings me. I am grateful that through His atonement, all things can be healed. Follow Him, and you will find peace.
In His sacred name, amen. RDG
