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Strengthening Feelings of Peace in Relationships
“As we follow the Prince of Peace, we will become His peacemakers.”1
Before Jesus Christ suffered in Gethsemane, He comforted His disciples by saying, “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; see also verses 26–31).
As followers of Jesus Christ, one of our goals is to emulate His example so we can return to our Heavenly Father and live with Him forever.
The Savior desired to help others experience peace. How can we also promote peace in our relationships?
Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “As we strive to develop attributes like the Savior’s, we can become instruments of His peace in the world according to the pattern that He Himself established.”2
Developing Christ’s attributes is one way we may find peace in relationships with others and ourselves. Below are some examples of Jesus Christ using His attributes to share His peace.
Charity and Love
Four days after Lazarus’s death, Jesus came to Mary and Martha as they mourned. Even though He knew He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, He had great compassion for the sisters, and “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). He showed a great example of acting in pure love and willingness to “mourn with those that mourn” (Mosiah 18:9).
President Russell M. Nelson has said: “The pure love of Christ is the answer to the contention that ails us today. Charity propels us ‘to bear one another’s burdens’ [Mosiah 18:8] rather than heap burdens upon each other. The pure love of Christ allows us ‘to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things’ [Mosiah 18:9]—especially in tense situations. Charity allows us to demonstrate how men and women of Christ speak and act—especially when under fire.”3
No matter the situation we are in, we can choose to view others and ourselves as children of God. Though we may not understand perfectly what others are going through or we may have a different understanding than someone else, we can continue to love and serve them with Christlike charity and compassion.
Forgiveness
While suffering on the cross immediately before His death, Jesus said of those who were crucifying Him, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
In life, we may be hurt by others. And sometimes we are the ones who cause others pain. If left unaddressed, these painful events can harm our relationships. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can gain the strength to have the patience to forgive and to seek forgiveness. As we do so, others and ourselves can experience and share the peace and love Christ offers.
President Nelson has taught: “Forgiveness is not just a one-time act but a continuous process that requires patience, compassion, and understanding. It is not always easy to forgive those who have hurt you. You can receive strength from Jesus Christ. … I invite you to remember the principle of seventy times seven and extend forgiveness to someone who has wronged you. As you do, Jesus Christ will relieve you of anger, resentment, and pain. The Prince of Peace will bring you peace.”4
It is important to remember, especially in cases of abuse, that “forgiveness does not mean forgetting the offense ever occurred or pretending it never happened. It does not mean that you allow the abuse to continue. It does not mean that it is possible for all relationships to be healed. And it does not mean the offender will not be held accountable for his or her actions. It means the Savior can help you let go.”5
As we work on developing Christlike attributes, we can use them to strengthen peace within our relationships.
President Nelson said:
“As we follow the Prince of Peace, we will become His peacemakers. …
“If you are serious about helping to gather Israel and about building relationships that will last throughout the eternities, now is the time to lay aside bitterness. Now is the time to cease insisting that it is your way or no way. Now is the time to stop doing things that make others walk on eggshells for fear of upsetting you. Now is the time to bury your weapons of war [see Alma 24:19; 25:14]. If your verbal arsenal is filled with insults and accusations, now is the time to put them away [see 1 Corinthians 13:11]. You will arise as a spiritually strong man or woman of Christ.”7
By becoming peacemakers, we can witness others reap the blessings that come from the Prince of Peace, our Savior, Jesus Christ.