Inner peace, born in faith
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Peace — real peace, whole-souled to the very core of one's being — comes only in and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, said Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve.
"When that precious truth is discovered, and gospel principles are understood and applied, great peace can distill in the hearts and souls of our Heavenly Father's children."
During the Sunday afternoon session, Elder Ballard spoke of "the peaceable things of the kingdom."
In turbulent and sometimes frightening times, the Savior's promise of infinite and eternal peace resonates with special power, just as His ability to calm the crashing waves must have profoundly affected those who were with Him on the Sea of Galilee during the stormy night so long ago when He rebuked the wind.
"Like those who were alive at the time of His mortal ministry, there are some among us who look for physical peace and prosperity as signs of the Savior's wondrous power," said Elder Ballard. "We sometimes fail to understand that the everlasting peace Jesus promises is an inner peace, born in faith, anchored by testimony, nurtured with love, and expressed through continual obedience and repentance. It is a peace of spirit that echoes through the heart and the soul. If one truly knows and experiences the inner peace, there is no fear from worldly disharmony and discord."
Elder Ballard said there is no peace in sin.
"There may be ease, popularity, fame, and even prosperity; but there is no peace. 'Wickedness never was happiness.' (Alma 41:10.) One cannot be at peace if one is living a life out of harmony with revealed truth. There is no peace in being mean-spirited or contentious. There is no peace in vulgarity, promiscuity or permissiveness. There is no peace in addiction to drugs, alcohol or pornography. There is no peace in being abusive to others in any way, whether it be emotionally, physically or sexually, for those who are abusive will remain in mental and spiritual turmoil until they come to Christ in all humility and seek forgiveness through complete repentance."
In the home, neighborhood and community, one ought to strive for peace, and never be a party to stirring up contention or division, he said.
"On more than one occasion, the Lord urged His followers to be 'peacemakers," promising that such would 'be called the children of God.' " (Matthew 5:9.)
Scriptural instructions indicate that God's peace is not to be hoarded. "Rather, it is to be shared liberally with our families, our friends, and our communities. It is to be shared with the Church as well as with those who are not members of our Church. While those around us may not choose to taste the sweetness and peace of the fulness of the restored gospel for themselves, surely they will be blessed by seeing it in our lives and feeling the peace of the gospel in our presence. The message of peace will grow and expand through our example.'
" 'Live in peace,' said the apostle Paul, 'and the God of love and peace shall be with you.' " (2 Corinthians 13:11.)
