The Book of Mormon's Teachings on Peace

In the introduction to the Book of Mormon, it says that the Book of Mormon “tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life.”  I’ve looked through the various references to peace in the actual text of the Book of Mormon, and I think there are two main themes about how to obtain peace.  Peace comes by faith in the Christ and by keeping the commandments.  Put another way, we might simply say that the foundation of peace in our life comes from continually living the first two principles of the gospel as described by Joseph Smith: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and repentance (AF 1:4). 

                There are many references in the Book of Mormon which show that those who reach out to the Savior in faith obtain peace in their life.  In Nephi’s description of the last days, he wrote this: “Therefore, wo be unto the Gentiles if it so be that they harden their hearts against the Lamb of God.

For the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I will work a great and a marvelous work among the children of men… either to the convincing of them unto peace and life eternal, or unto the deliverance of them to the hardness of their hearts” (1 Nephi 14:6-7).  In other words, if we harden our hearts against the Savior we will not have the peace and life eternal promised by the gospel.  Only in softening our hearts through acceptance of Christ can this promised peace come.  Alma showed this through his experience as he described his agony over his sins to his son Shiblon.  He said, “Never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins. But behold, I did cry unto him and I did find peace to my soul” (Alma 38:8).  It was through his faith in Christ that he was able to find peace.  When Nephi and Lehi taught so many Lamanites and they were surrounded by a cloud of darkness, they were told by Aminadab, “You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ.”  They did this, the darkness was dispersed, and they heard a voice from heaven saying, “Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world” (Helaman 5:41, 47).  It was faith in Christ that enabled them to find peace.  When King Benjamin taught the people about the Savior and his atonement, the people embraced his teachings and said this, “O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified.”  After they had said this, “They were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come” (Mosiah 4:2-3).  It is faith in Christ that allows us to receive a remission of our sins, and that brings us peace of conscience that comes in no other way.

Inseparably tied to faith in Christ of course is repentance and keeping the commandments, and other passages in the Book of Mormon confirm that we must repent and obey in order to find peace.  For example, we have the words of Isaiah quoted by Nephi that teach this: “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments—then had thy peace been as a river….  There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked” (1 Nephi 20:18, 20).  Nephi showed this in his own life as he agonized over his own weaknesses and his succumbing to the temptation to become angry with his brethren.  Said he, “Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul?”  It was only as he could “no longer droop in sin” but open “the gates of righteousness” through the Lord’s help was he able to find the peace that he sought (2 Nephi 4:27-28, 32).  When Sherem came among the Nephites, he did “lead away the hearts of the people,” surely causing them to break the commandments.  After Sherem saw the power of God and was convinced of the evil of his ways, Jacob wrote, “And it came to pass that peace and the love of God was restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked man” (Jacob 7:3, 23).  It was as they rejected the wicked teachings of this man and returned to righteousness that peace was restored to the people. 

Perhaps the best and simplest summary statement about the source of peace comes from this quotation that the Savior gave of Isaiah’s words: “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children” (3 Nephi 22:13).  Peace comes as we are taught of the Lord Jesus Christ, both to have faith in Him and to keep his commandments.  The Book of Mormon shows through its stories and teachings that trusting in and following Christ is the only true source of peace.