A Prince of Peace

Alma taught the people of Ammonihah this about Melchizedek: “Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness; But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father” (Alma 13:17-18). What struck me as I read this description of Melchizedek establishing peace among his people is that there is no mention of any war or other kind of disruption of physical peace among them. It does not say that he established peace with their enemies or stopped the wars among them; rather, the peace mentioned here seems to refer to a different kind of peace. This peace came by repentance and seems to be a spiritual peace that was established among them. Isaiah similarly called the coming Messiah a “Prince of Peace” and for Him it was the same (Isaiah 9:6). He did not bring peace with the Romans or any other kind of physical peace; rather, He brought the peace that comes with repentance and the forgiveness of sins. As He told His apostles, “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). His peace is not the kind that the world seeks by stopping physical wars and contentions; it is the peace that comes through the purifying and sanctifying of His people through His great atoning sacrifice.

               Abinadi also taught the wicked priests of King Noah about the peace that he was inviting them to receive. They had, at the time, peace with the Lamanites (though that would soon be lost), but their society had lost true spiritual peace because of its great wickedness. He said, “I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins…. And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth! And O how beautiful upon the mountains were their feet! And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace! And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this time henceforth and forever! And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people” (Mosiah 15:11-18). True peace comes from a remission of sins, and that is offered only through the “founder of peace” who is Christ, the Son of God. All the prophets have preached peace as these verses suggest; they have preached faith on the Lord and repentance, which are the only ways to true peace of conscience and forgiveness of sins. It is found in seeking a life of righteousness. Isaiah taught this when he wrote, “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked” (Isaiah 57:20-21). If we want true rest and peace, we must seek that from the Savior through repentance and obedience to His commandments. Alma put it this way: “Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and their garments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb. Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God.” True rest comes from seeking to be sanctified through the blood of the Lamb, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Alma left us with this invitation: “And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest” (Alma 13:13). If we feel that we need peace and rest, it will not come through a lack of conflict but first and foremost through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.