In last week’s General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Russell M. Nelson gave an address titled, “Peacemakers Needed.”
President Nelson is known for injunctive calls to repentance in his talks, though this one was toned after many of the calls to repentance we read about in the scriptures.
President Nelson said, “Vulgarity, fault finding, and evil speaking of others are all too common. Too many pundits, politicians, entertainers, and other influencers throw insults constantly. I am greatly concerned that so many people seem to believe that it is completely acceptable to condemn, malign, and vilify anyone who does not agree with them. Many seem eager to damage another’s reputation with pathetic and pithy barbs!”
He continued, “Anger never persuades. Hostility builds no one. Contention never leads to inspired solutions.” He further made it clear that being a peacemaker is a requirement for being an heir, alongside Christ, to the promises of the Father.
Historically, making peace has never been easy. It requires conversation and understanding from both parties. Not all attempts at making peace have been successful, even when the greatest peacemaker of them all, The Prince of Peace, was involved. Christ was not able to persuade all His enemies of the truth He brought. Despite this, He was not found to be guilty of vulgarity, vilification, evil speaking, or maligning of those that hated and wanted to kill Him.
President Nelson reminded us that we should love our enemies, pray for them, and show maximum compassion to them, even in the political polarization of our time.
President Nelson explained, “My dear brothers and sisters, how we treat each other really matters! How we speak to and about others at home, at church, at work, and online really matters.”
He then prescribed the following, “Today, I am asking us to interact with others in a higher, holier way. Please listen carefully. ‘If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy’ that we can say about another person—whether to his face or behind her back—that should be our standard of communication.”
He asked that we look at ourselves and see how we can change, as followers of Christ, to be more in line with His teachings and His actions.
President Nelson closed his remarks with a call to replace negative behaviors with prayer, attempts to understand, and with his testimony that God and Christ live.
Written by: Jacob Fisher
Contributor at The Cougar Chronicle
The Cougar Chronicle is an independent student-run newspaper and is not affiliated with Brigham Young University or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
