Peace Be Unto You

Two days ago, when I was taking my two youngest children to a group music lesson, my six-year-old daughter Charity showed me once again why her name fits her perfectly. She started writing a note in the car and explained to me that at school she had been “a little mean” to a boy named Jack and she wanted to say sorry. From what I gathered, another girl had convinced Charity to run away from Jack on the playground and then she felt bad about it. Her note said this, with some backwards letters and misspellings: “Jack, I am so sorry that I was a litl bit men to you yestejay.” She took a seashell from her collection and put it in an envelope with the note, and yesterday she gave it to him at school. I was amazed at the fact that she did this all unprompted. I asked her about it last night, and she told me that other kids are mean to this boy. She said she is the only one nice to him and she played with him at recess yesterday. She also added that she tells people at school her name is Charity and that it means “love.” She has always been an incredible example to me of what it means to care about and love other people, and I was grateful for yet another reminder from her of my own need for charity.

                Her example also teaches us of what to do when we make a mistake—you make it right with love. She clearly had her conscience pricked, and instead of just feeling bad she did something about it to correct it. She learned, whether she realized it or not, that repentance brings the peace that we seek when we make mistakes. This is poignantly taught in the story of the Lamanites encircled about in darkness in a prison with Nephi and Lehi. They asked, “What shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us?” A former Nephite answered them, “You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you by Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you.” This they did: “And it came to pass that they all did begin to cry unto the voice of him who had shaken the earth; yea, they did cry even until the cloud of darkness was dispersed.” Not only did the darkness disperse, but they were filled with the Holy Ghost: “And behold, the Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words. And it came to pass that there came a voice unto them, yea, a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper, saying: Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world” (Helaman 5:40-47). Their repentance, exhibited through their fervent prayers, cast out the darkness surrounding them and brought them the Holy Ghost and peace. The Lord ascribed this peace He gave them to their faith in the Savior. Thus this story teaches that it is the first two principles of the gospel—faith in Jesus Christ and repentance—that will bring us the peace that we seek.

                Alma the Younger’s experience teaches the same thing. He related to Shiblon, “And it came to pass that I was three days and three nights in the most bitter pain and anguish of soul; and 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). Through faith in Jesus Christ and repentance, crying unto the Lord, he found peace for his soul. Isaiah confirmed that the Savior suffered so that we could have peace through Him: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Mosiah 14:5). We can have peace in Him because He was chastised for us and bruised for our iniquities. As we seek to repent with love like my daughter and show forth faith in Him, we can have the peace that comes only through the “Well Beloved” of the Father.