Such Things Should Be Done Away

One of the themes from President Nelson’s messages at this most recent general conference is the need for us to end conflict and seek peace, both personally and on a global scale. As it relates to the war in Europe, he said, “As followers of Jesus Christ, we plead with leaders of nations to find peaceful resolutions to their differences.” He explained, “Contention violates everything the Savior stood for and taught. I love the Lord Jesus Christ and testify that His gospel is the only enduring solution for peace. His gospel is a gospel of peace.” This of course applies to worldwide contention and contention in our personal lives. He invited us this way: “My call today, dear brothers and sisters, is to end conflicts that are raging in your heart, your home, and your life. Bury any and all inclinations to hurt others—whether those inclinations be a temper, a sharp tongue, or a resentment for someone who has hurt you. The Savior commanded us to turn the other cheek, to love our enemies, and to pray for those who despitefully use us.” We cannot on our own stop the wars around the world that continue, but we can do a lot to end the strife and discord in our personal relationships. We can increase peace in our homes, wards, workplaces, and communities, remembering this important declaration of the Savior: “For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away” (3 Nephi 11:29-30).  

President Nelson also gave several more invitations along these same lines. He remarked, “We are followers of the Prince of Peace. Now more than ever, we need the peace only He can bring. How can we expect peace to exist in the world when we are not individually seeking peace and harmony?” He urged us in these words: “I plead with you to do all you can to end personal conflicts that are currently raging in your hearts and in your lives.” In case we missed it he said again, “I repeat my call to end the conflicts in your life. Exercise the humility, courage, and strength required both to forgive and to seek forgiveness.” He invited us specifically, “Between now and [Easter], I invite you to seek an end to a personal conflict that has weighed you down.” He summarized these invitations with these words: “Strive to end conflict in your life.” Clearly he was serious about this invitation, repeating it several times: we need to reduce the contention in our personal lives.  

So how do we do this? How do we find more peace and reduce contention in ourselves and those around us, especially in our families? He gave us one suggestion in these words: “If forgiveness presently seems impossible, plead for power through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ to help you.” Surely the first step—whether trying to help ourselves, our children, or others to end conflict in our lives—is to come to the Savior and pray for His help. And then we can seek to pattern our lives after the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith as he was imprisoned, desperately seeking peace for himself and his persecuted people: “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile…. Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith.” We cannot live by these words, living with gentleness and meekness and love and kindness, and have contention at the same time. And then as we learn to pattern our lives after these words we can “without compulsory means” help those around us seek to live in peace and love with those around them (Doctrine and Covenants 121:41-46).