Making Peace

In creating the Constitution of the United States of America, the founding fathers understood the benefit of building on the influences of philosophers, reformers, and political pioneers. Gleaning wisdom from modern English and ancient Roman philosophies, delegates studiously applied the wisdom of their political predecessors to form a nation unlike any seen in Earth's history.

However, the most surprising (and more significant) influence for the delegates of the Constitutional Convention could be found much closer to home. The most democratic societies of the time were those of Native American nations, in particular the Iroquois Confederacy located in and around the Great Lakes region. 

Centuries prior to the founding of the American colonies, six primary nations were united on the American continent through great effort and dedication by a now-legendary Huron man named Deganawida.

Deganawida had a vision of neighboring tribes forming an alliance of friendship that would replace the routine cycle of hostility and vengeance. In pursuit of his vision, the legendary Huron journeyed and performed impressive feats of purity, power, and persuasion. Together with other peace minded individuals like Hiawatha and Jigonhsasee, Deganawida helped establish a powerful confederacy and ushered in an era of peace between the Oneida, Cayugas, Onondagas, Senacas, Tuscaroras, and Mohawk tribes. Because of his efforts, he is remembered reverently as the Great Peacemaker.

We bestow a lot of respect and reverence upon our history's peacemakers, and rightfully so. In a world full of despotic ambition and senseless warmongering, we find special comfort in the achievements of men and women who, against overwhelming odds, overcome the intoxication of vengeance and violence to embrace something greater than their own grief or individual hardship.

The everyday peacemaker, through monumental and admirable effort, influences the hearts and minds of others in ways that far surpass the tyranny and coercion employed by wicked men and women. What makes peacemaking so special is that one does not need to come from a position of societal status or import to effectively make peace. In fact, humility and meekness are common characteristics amongst the worlds most impressive peacemakers.

This ultimately means that we too can become peacemakers, so long as we understand what it means to make peace, and then dedicate ourselves to the practice of making it within our own hearts, our own families, and our own communities.

The Peacemaker

Peace is not something you wish for. It is something you make, something you are, something you do, and something you give away. - Robert Fulghum

Learning what it means to become a peacemaker might mean that we need to abandon some deeply held beliefs over how we achieve peace. For instance, we might not associate attributes such as assertiveness or audacity with peace. Such things seemingly fly in the face of compromise and conformity; two virtues we often erroneously connect to the achievement of peace. In truth, making peace can be messy, onerous, and downright difficult.

In what might seem like a counterproductive approach, peacemakers can be disruptive and bold. They are active, engaging, and even zealous in their pursuit of peace. Though they may not seek a fight, peacemakers do not shirk from confrontation. Though they do not delight in a fight, they do find purpose and satisfaction in resolution.

Of course, peacemakers do not create actual peace, rather they create the conditions whereby peace can exist, building an environment of boundaries and respect. As suggested by President Nelson, the peacemaker's greatest skill lies in their ability to draw boundary lines without creating battle lines.

The peacemaker understands the purpose of agency, and does not employ the tools of deception and manipulation to accomplish harmony. Any "peace" that is built on a foundation of lies and corruption cannot last, assuming it even existed at all in the first place. The peacemaker takes no shortcuts. He or she make no pretense over the intentions they possess. This makes them powerful uniters, because they are full of integrity and transparency.

It would be worth noting that the world does not always look kindly on the peacemaker. Even the Great Peacemaker himself could not convince his own Huron tribe to join the Iroquois Confederacy. Likewise, we should expect a significant dose of ironic friction as we walk along the peacemaker's path. There will be haters, detractors, and even traitors.

To a peacemaker, giving weight or credence to the critic falls low on their list of priorities. Instead, they pursue truth over comfort, concerning themselves primarily over what is right, not over what will happen. As such, the peacemakers make the most effective agents and harbingers of peace in the human family.

The Peacekeeper

Peace is the only battle worth waging - Albert Camus

In stark contrast to the peacemaker, the peacekeeper employs a very different strategy:

A peacekeeper is primarily interested in maintaining the status quo. They do not like to rock the boat, stir the pot, nor rattle the cage. Peacekeeping implies that every possible effort be employed to avoid the conflict, hoping to eliminate the conflict before it can even reach a boiling point.

The peacekeeper always forgets that conflict avoided is only conflict deferred; and conflict deferred is conflict intensified. A peacekeeper doesn't actually keep the peace, rather they maintain the illusion of peace. In this we find the primary fault in the peacekeepers approach: there is no peace to keep.

Rather than fostering an environment of harmony, the peacekeeper creates an atmosphere of resentment, avoidance, and confusion. Deep down, the peacekeeper doesn't have the desire for peace, rather they desire comfort over conflict. They concern themselves chiefly over what will happen, or what people might think, as opposed to concerning themselves over what is actually right.

Peacekeepers are nervously indifferent, impossibly hesitant, and habitually avoidant. Tragically, they are doomed to fail because in their desire to keep a non-existent peace, they fail to take the necessary steps to bring about actual peace in their lives, let alone the lives of others.

Christ alluded to the eventual failure of the peacekeeper when he taught, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it."

When it comes to experiencing peace in our lives, we cannot afford to take a passive approach. Peace cannot simply be preserved. Peace must be made.

The Prince of Peace

This all brings me to some thoughts on the example of Jesus Christ, the very Prince of Peace. As I have worked towards establishing peace in my own life, I have found incredible insight into how I might best achieve that peace by studying how Christ encouraged harmony and delivered peace. I would encourage you to do the same, because I think that what you will find will further challenge your fundamental understanding on what is peaceful living.

The first thing we must note, is that Christ's definition of peace does not fit comfortably with our own understanding of peace.

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth," He said, "I came not to send peace, but a sword." (Matthew 10:34)

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to understand this. Christ teaches us that our understanding of peace, or the peace as the world giveth, is not the peace that He will provide. This is evident in His diverse treatment of the people He interacted with. Remember, the same Prince of Peace who healed the sick and gave sight to the blind was the same Prince of Peace who "made a scourge of small cords, [and] drove [money changers] all out of the temple..." (John 2:15)

Yes, Christ exemplified kindness, charity, and love. However, Christ also exemplified assertiveness, authority, and righteousness. Christ rebuked. Christ chastened. Christ disrupted. Christ did not seek contention, but He did not shy away from confrontation. Christ was a peacemaker, not a peacekeeper.

So what do we make of this knowledge? How do we reconcile our hallowed image of the Prince of Peace in light of His disruptive and assertive behavior?

If "...[His] thoughts are not [our] thoughts, neither are [our] ways [His] ways...", then we need to start by better understanding His ways, and cease confusing them with our ways:

- Rebuking (His way) is not akin to berating (our way).

- Confrontation (His way) is not akin to contention (our way).

- Disruption (His way) is not akin to turmoil (our way).

- Zeal (His way) is not akin to fanaticism (our way).

- Chastening (His way) is not akin to scolding (our way).

Christ was a peacemaker, and He explicitly invites us to follow His example. That might mean a lot of discomfort. Many of us have walked the fruitless path of the peacekeeper, sticking with comfort and familiarity. Many of us think that berating is rebuking, contention is confrontation, turmoil is disruption, fanaticism is zeal, and scolding is chastening.

It is here we need reminding that "...[His] thoughts are not [our] thoughts, neither are [our] ways [His] ways..."

As we abandon our ways and adopt His ways, we will soon find ourselves endowed with the same power wielded by Christ, who when facing the raging tempest, commanded the winds to cease and the waves to subside. With this power, we too can stare down the danger and chaos around us, and we can say "Peace! Be Still."

1) Making Peace In your heart

Peace comes from within. Do no seek it without. - Buddha

Peace, like any great achievement starts with small and deliberate steps. It starts in the hearts and minds of individuals, after which it will grow outwards from the individual soul and into other domains, both immediate and distant. There are no shortcuts. There are no substitutes.

The entirety of our struggle with peaceful living starts from within. Our fears and our anxieties rob us of the peace we so desire. This is why in the midst of the storm, Christ could be found sleeping in the boat while experienced mariners panicked over that wind and the waves which threatened their lives.

"Why are ye so fearful?" asked Christ admonishingly. It was a question and command Christ would utter multiple times throughout His earthly ministry:

"Fear not."

"Be not afraid"

Roman Emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius understood intuitively this lesson taught by Christ:

"If you are distressed by anything external, the pain itself is not due to the thing itself, but to you estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment"

Keeping an untroubled spirit might seem like a simple enough philosophy, and it might even make a lot of sense logically. Afterall, if every individual were able to experience a profound sense of internal calm and composure, then the world might actually experience a dramatic cessation of hostility without a plethora of despots, dictators, and deceivers. But this line of thinking gets away from the actual importance (and efficacy) of our individual effort to establish powerful personal peace.

Starting where we are now and with what we can do in this moment will accomplish far more than anchoring our hope to a misguided desire that others might experience a sudden pang of guilt or epiphany.

We like to anchor our hope on such things due to the difficulty of looking inwards and calming the tempests raging in our own hearts. Self-reflection and self-improvement are onerous endeavors. To understand that our peace begins and ends in our own mind and heart is to also accept that the burden of our angst, our frustration, and our dissatisfaction falls squarely on our shoulders.

It is there, within the personal domain, where the heaviest lifting must be done. And achieving that internal clarity and resoluteness might look different for everyone. But in general pursuing higher degrees of wholeness requires honest (but not necessarily perfect) attention to physical, mental, intellectual, and spiritual health. On top of that, you must combine those pursuits with a forgiveness of your shortcomings, and with a sincere appreciation for your efforts.

Making peace in your heart requires these things and more. Through your faith and hope, you can endeavor to establish and increase a sense of internal peace that will flow beyond your personal domain, until it affects the immediate world around you.

"Nowhere you can go is more peaceful, more free of interruptions, than your own soul. Retreat to consult your own soul and then return to face what awaits you." - Marcus Aurelius

2) Making Peace In Your Family

When you find peace within yourself, you become the person who can live at peace with others. - Peace Pilgrim

For those who wish to see how their internal peace or chaos might be impacting their world, look no further than your own relations with your family. Our ability or inability to pursue and produce inner peace is most visibly measured by our interactions with our parents, our children, our siblings, and our spouse.

In most cases, our personal peace is tested more profoundly in the relationships with whom we share the most love, care, and appreciation. A man might bear any burden, face any invader, and sustain any physical damage without any loss of inner peace. However, agonizing over the betrayal, deceit, desertion, or injustice from close relations tends to test our limits far more than the threat of physical harm. Making peace in these circumstances proves excruciating at best.

Agency and self-determination will always preclude us from forcing peace in the familial domain. Here we must remember that the goal is to make peace, not force peace.

Making peace in your family looks like:

- Offering counsel or perspective, while remaining open to the counsel and perspective of others.

-  Allowing someone space to grow and potentially make mistakes, but offering forgiveness and admiration for someone who makes genuine changes.

- Seeking first to understand, and second to be understood.

It does not look like:

- Ignoring abusive behavior or subjecting yourself to it.

- Abiding lies, deceit, and manipulation in order to keep the relationship intact.

- Sacrificing dignity, growth, and sanity for the sake of comfort and familiarity. 

In summary, making peace in your family might mean turning the other cheek, but it does not mean giving them a cheek to strike over, and over, and over again. It is worth remembering that neutrality, conformity, apathy, and passivity, in any combination, do not amount to peace, harmony, and calmness.

"A bad peace," said the Roman Historian and politician Tacitus, "is even worse than war."

Some will argue that you always fight for family. In a sense, this is a true and noble sentiment. We can always plead, hope, and desire the best for the people closest to us. But when family embraces a life of malice and destruction, both towards themselves and towards others, fighting for your family must take on new meaning. Sometimes the act of severing those ties proves more courageous than the act of enduring them.

Thankfully, making peace within your family often doesn't require such an extreme decision. Instead, the family can be a safe place wherein you might exercise a positive and lasting influence, building your own peace and consciously adding to the peace of others. Whenever possible, take advantage of these opportunities as they will create a solid framework whereby you can make peace in other areas of your life.

3) Making Peace in Your Community

The more we sweat in peace the less we bleed in war - Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit

I have already mentioned the futility of wishing and hoping for a sudden miraculous program or policy that might reverse the tide of chaos we see the world over. We know peace starts with us. So, I will not preach nor pontificate over the complexities of civil unrest and world crises. However, I would like to admonish against the practice of keeping solely to ourselves and our own. Peacemakers are not content to stop at the border between their world and the greater world around them. In many ways, they can make a world of difference.

If you need convincing of this fact, I would refer you to scripture. In studying this topic, I noticed a very interesting scriptural pattern. Whenever peace is mentioned in the Book of Mormon, it is often accompanied by some conjugated form of the verb establish. 

Mosiah 29:14

 "And even I myself have labored with all the power and faculties which I have possessed ... to establish peace...

3 Nephi 6:3

"... and thus they did establish peace in all the land."

Alma 3:24

"And then they returned again and began to establish peace in the land..."

Helaman 2:1

"...had established again peace..."

These aren't simply a few selections of verse. This pattern repeats itself over and over and over again. Active peace making can, and often does, make a far reaching difference, sometimes even the world over.

For more examples like this, I encourage you to look at the stories of notable historical figures like Nelson Mandela, Dirk Willems, William Penn, Andrew Carnegie, and Theodore Roosevelt. Doing so, you will note how with skill and diplomacy, these monumental figures encouraged peace by masterfully balancing action with deference, boldness with meekness, and mercy with justice. Practicing these same virtues in your life will also encourage peace, whether it is in your heart, your family, or your community.

Armed with a better understanding of what it means to be a peacemaker, we should endeavor to make peace within our own lives and the lives of others. The peacemaker is not content with simply preserving peace, rather he wages peace with the same devotion as those intent on waging war.

Building Momentum

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to reminisce with my father over some our favorite ranch experiences that I experienced in my formative years. Many of those memories revolved around our experiences rounding up the cattle herd for transport or medical treatment. Most cattle obediently and systematically entered the corrals and entered the squeeze chutes without much fuss. However, once in a while, a wild and rebellious cow would make life difficult for our herding party. On more than one occasion, I found myself perilously staring down a furious Hereford, hell-bent on smashing my head in.

Many years have passed, and thankfully my exposure to bloodthirsty bovines has decreased precipitously. Even so, I get an occasional opportunity to visit more docile cattle at the fair or a petting zoo. Without any fear or trepidation, approaching these animals has been a far more calming and pleasant experience.

On paper, not much separates the calm and docile cow from the wild and murderous cow. Both weigh an intimidating 1,600 pounds. Both have the same bone crushing body mass. So what makes the docile and motionless cow so different than the wild and unstoppable cow? The answer is momentum.

In the scientific world of physics, momentum is defined as the quantity of motion of a moving body, measured as a product of its mass and velocity. It is formulaically described as Momentum = Magnitude x Velocity. But outside the world of physics, momentum is one of the most powerful forces we have at our disposal. Momentum converts minor dedicated efforts into long-lasting unyielding progress. For those who can harness the power of momentum, there is no unachievable goal. 

Momentum is something we build. We do not wake up one random morning and find suddenly that stars have aligned perfectly in our favor. God does not bestow haphazardly the blessings of momentum. Though God might give us a sense of direction and a glimpse into our personal magnitude, He does not push, pull, or exert physical influence over our lives sufficient to initiate momentum.

Heavenly Father might string the bow and provide the quiver, but it is our hand that nocks the arrow and draws the string. It is our arm that steadies and restrains the compressive and kinetic energy of the bow. And it is our eye that dictates the aim. Yes, momentum must be built; and we must be the builder.

If ever you have experienced a period of aimlessness, stagnancy, or inertness, what you are actually experiencing is a crisis in momentum. Something is off in the formula. 

If you find yourself unmotivated, indecisive, or inert, then perhaps you might have a strong sense of your worth (magnitude), but your ability to channel that knowledge appropriately towards worthy goals might be hampered (velocity):

Momentum ≠ Magnitude x Hesitance

If you find yourself spinning your wheels, putting forth an exhaustive effort without noticeable traction, then perhaps you are anxiously engaging or actively pursuing (velocity), but your sense of purpose might be unclear or your self worth misunderstood (magnitude):

Momentum ≠ Insignificance x Velocity

If we want to improve our situation, if we want to remove ourselves from the cycle of small aims, misdirected effort, and lackluster living, then we have to get the formula right. We have to take seriously our responsibility to build positive momentum in our lives.

In a April 2022 General Conference address, President Nelson provided the framework whereby we might build momentum in our spiritual lives. While his words and counsel might have approached this topic from a spiritual angle, these same steps can be applied towards building momentum in all aspects of our lives. So enmeshed and intertwined are the spiritual and temporal worlds that we navigate, that by following this counsel we will find renewed and powerful momentum taking affect in our daily life.

1. Get on the covenant path

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” - Chinese Proverb

Momentum demands movement. We can imagine, debate, and dither over details in our minds, but unless we take the first steps, then we cannot expect to make progress towards any meaningful goal or destination.

When considering some scriptural examples of men who, after wandering paths of sin, returned to the covenant path, I am impressed to think of the impact each of them had and the mark they made in history:

- Alma the younger

- The Apostle Paul

- Corianton

Their experiences prove what we already know instinctively; that we each posses a potential for far-reaching good, even when we find ourselves at our very worst.

We often discredit the power and potential of the first step. But we can also make the mistake of being far too intimidated by it too. The first step doesn’t need to be a monumental leap. Rather than focus on the the magnitude of that first step, we should focus on the much simpler act of taking that first step, however small and insignificant it might seem.

Remember, we are building momentum, one small, impactful step at a time. 

2. Discover the Joy of Daily Repentance

We place an inflated value a “results now” mentality. We want what we want, and we want it now. I have found that in the practice of repentance, we make the same mistake; we want to be perfect, and we want to be perfect now.

I came to this realization this week, when out of frustration, I wondered why I couldn’t just learn my lessons, take my lumps, and just move on. I pondered why I couldn’t just make my mistake and learn from it. That was, in my mind, what repentance was all about; moving on.

The mistake in my thinking was believing that repentance was more formulaic than it really is. In my mind, a mistake is made, it is recognized and addressed, and then we move on. The reality is far more nuanced and complex. We say repentance is a process, but we actually hope (incorrectly) that it is a formula. This confusion can, and does create a lot of dissatisfaction with the practice of repentance. And here is where we find wisdom in the counsel to discover the joy of daily repentance:

If we can change our mindset to recognize repentance as a persistent and dedicated approach to incremental improvement, then we begin to find more satisfaction in repentance. We tend to be easier on ourselves; more patient with our own shortcomings. We change our focus from hard deadlines and noticeable immediate results, to a focus on learning, improving, and harnessing the power of compounding interest from small and meaningful gains.

Finding joy in repentance means trusting that results will come. It means being patient in your imperfections, while simultaneously being serious in your efforts to overcome them. It means accepting responsibility over those things we can control, and letting go of the things we cannot.

3. Learn about God and how he works

When beholding one of the most horrific scenes of his life, Amulek watched the gruesome martyrdom of innocent men, women, and children who dared convert and commit themselves to a higher standard of living. Out of what I imagine to be intense frustration, Amulek asked the question:

How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the ​​​power​ of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.

When we see similar atrocities, we might ask:

Where is God?

Why does He not intervene?

Where is the pavilion that covereth His hiding place?

Through the combined missionary efforts of Alma and Amulek, great success had been achieved in teaching and converting their brethren prior to the awful martyrdom scene explained in Alma chapter 14. After building so much momentum, it must have been a heart wrenching and discouraging experience to witness such a tragedy. But here we learn an important lesson on how we can maintain momentum through our understanding of God and how He works.

Through the insight and teaching of Alma, Amulek learns how God works, and why He allows bad things happen to good people. Having learned this important lesson, Amulek doesn’t allow the tragic experience to halt his momentum. Rather, he uses his newfound understanding of God and how He works to propel himself towards even more success.

The experience of revered neurologist, author, and philosopher Viktor Frankl’s echoes the experience of Amulek. Rather than allowing the horrors of surviving the Holocaust ruin and sour his life, Frankl reflected, observed, and sought additional understanding of why bad things happen to good people. Frankl gained valuable insight, and through his written works, he shared that insight with millions of readers, impacting and improving the lives of multiple generations.

When we allow tragedy, misfortune, and injustice to interrupt our lives or make jaded our world view and perspective, we willfully put to a halt our momentum.

But, if we instead seek opportunities to understand the world around us, and to gain knowledge of God’s work and His glory, then we are creating a situation whereby our momentum can increase.

4. Seek and Expect Miracles

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find… For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth…” Matthew 7:7-8

Why should we seek miracles? Because we cannot experience them without first seeking them. Miracles don’t just happen in a vacuum. They occur only when the conditions of faith, need, and preparation are present.

I find it interesting that the expectation of miracles is also a necessary part of this counsel. To expect miracles, we should keep watch for them. We should anticipate that our faith and our efforts will be fruitful. As you expect miracles, you will see them. You will recognize how often they are bestowed upon you. You will be surprised to find that we are sustained miracles, big and small, on a frequent basis.

In some circumstances, to expect miracles might require as much faith as it takes to seek them. If we get into the habit of not expecting miracles, we lose confidence that God is with us and we lose the momentum that results from that confidence.

5. End Conflict in Your Personal Life

Few things have more influence on momentum than friction. When present, friction resists motion; slowing down an object to the point where all movement has ceased.

Whether it is exerting influence in the world of physics or in our personal lives, friction generates the same debilitating effect. When present in our personal life, friction will hinder and impede our momentum, until the moment when all progress has been halted, and in some cases, becomes undone entirely.

The influences of anger, jealousy, revenge, and pride will eventually render us inept and inert if we allow them to guide our interactions and dictate our response to conflict. By holding on to these feelings, we will find that our experience to be like riding down a slide of sandpaper; the way is coarse and uncomfortable, and no one walks away without a scratch.

“How much more harmful are the consequences of anger,” spoke the wise Marcus Aurelius, “than the circumstances that aroused them in us”.

When it comes to settling scores, there are no winners.

Taking an eye for an eye soon leaves the world dark and colorless.

Adding fuel to fire and insult to injury equivalates to adding friction to our momentum. It is unnecessary. It is unwise. But it is within our power and control to make friction an unavailing presence in our lives.

Of course this is excellent advice and all, but what can be done when the conflict and the friction present in your life is not of your own doing? What of the conflict introduced in our lives, not by our own choice, but by the choices of others?

The answer to these difficult questions can be found in the experiences of Joseph of Egypt.

Having been beaten and sold into slavery by his own brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned by his master, forgotten and neglected by his cell mates, Joseph of the Old Testament demonstrated exactly how we can respond to situations where our hardships are the direct result of other people's choices. Even so, after enduring betrayal upon betrayal, and misfortune upon misfortune, few biblical characters epitomize the power of momentum as Joseph did.

In every hardship, Joseph responded the only way that he could, or that any of us could; Joseph focused on those things that were in his control. By all appearances, Joseph spent little energy skulking and souring over his misfortune. He had determined, whatever his circumstances, he would do his best.

This is not to say that Joseph was perfect. I am certain that over the course of his difficult life he would have experienced intense rejection, resentment, frustration, heartache, anger, and disdain. I think this is evident by his petty and uncharacteristic treatment of his brothers towards the end of his story. But what is unique about Joseph is his incredible ability to build momentum and follow a divinely inspired trajectory, despite the intense injustice forced upon him. With apparent ease, Joseph wouldn't allow the choices and wrong-doings of others destroy his momentum. In fact, you might argue that he turned his misfortune into opportunity, which only amplified the momentum he already possessed.

This is what happens when we actively and intentionally end the conflict in our personal life. This is what happens when we address our internal struggles and seek to remove the internal conflicts that beset us. Over time, and with enough effort, the fiery darts, the venomous slander, and the malicious treatment that others aim at us... it all becomes irrelevant.

When dedicated to building momentum, as opposed to building resentment, we unlock our divine power and potential. Continued dedication breeds continued growth, until finally we arrive at a place where the offenses of others can do nothing to halt the momentum we have built.