WEBVTT 00:00:01.910 --> 00:00:04.110 Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference, 00:00:04.290 --> 00:00:06.290 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:06.290 --> 00:00:07.950 approach to studying the most recent General 00:00:07.950 --> 00:00:11.089 Conference talks. This is Abbie. And Amy. Let's 00:00:11.089 --> 00:00:32.060 jump into it. Today we're talking about Blessed 00:00:32.060 --> 00:00:34.840 Are the Peacemakers by Elder Gary Stevenson of 00:00:34.840 --> 00:00:36.719 the Quorum of the Twelve. General Conference 00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:39.920 talks are months in the preparation, and as Elder 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:42.020 Stevenson mentioned, the weeks leading up to 00:00:42.020 --> 00:00:44.619 conference play a significant role in how the 00:00:44.619 --> 00:00:47.439 words of the talk are finalized. Many of us experienced 00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:50.020 profound tragedy and violence leading up to conference 00:00:50.020 --> 00:00:52.939 around the world, and even our sacred spaces 00:00:52.939 --> 00:00:57.750 were under attack. We happen to be in America 00:00:57.750 --> 00:00:59.990 and these tragedies struck close to home, but 00:00:59.990 --> 00:01:01.869 you can tell that the way that he's talking, 00:01:01.950 --> 00:01:04.409 he does have a worldview of the different tragedies 00:01:04.409 --> 00:01:06.349 that are going on. We never know all of the hard 00:01:06.349 --> 00:01:08.390 things that people are going through, but he 00:01:08.390 --> 00:01:10.709 does have a perspective of a worldwide church. 00:01:10.989 --> 00:01:13.709 And he felt like the last six months had their 00:01:13.709 --> 00:01:17.709 own fair share of heaviness. And, you know, I'm 00:01:17.709 --> 00:01:19.829 typically excited about General Conference coming 00:01:19.829 --> 00:01:24.310 up when it's just a few weeks away. I'm like 00:01:24.310 --> 00:01:26.650 anticipating it. I'm looking so forward to it. 00:01:26.909 --> 00:01:29.849 But again, being here, the heaviness that I was 00:01:29.849 --> 00:01:33.829 personally experienced made this conference kind 00:01:33.829 --> 00:01:38.150 of one for the books for me and kind of etched 00:01:38.150 --> 00:01:40.209 upon my heart. It'll be a memory that I take. 00:01:40.310 --> 00:01:42.510 The difference between the feelings that I was 00:01:42.510 --> 00:01:44.170 feeling kind of leading up to conference, excited 00:01:44.170 --> 00:01:46.709 to have conference, but like a heaviness of just 00:01:46.709 --> 00:01:49.170 world matters around me and then having just 00:01:49.170 --> 00:01:52.180 the peace. that I felt listening to the words 00:01:52.180 --> 00:01:58.640 of apostles in our day, not erasing any of the 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:00.579 challenges that are around us, but just for that 00:02:00.579 --> 00:02:02.540 brief moment, feeling that reprieve and knowing 00:02:02.540 --> 00:02:05.400 that there are things that we can do to extend 00:02:05.400 --> 00:02:08.639 that peace in our lives. Worldly cares were set 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:11.840 aside. I filled a book with great advice that 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:14.620 will prepare my studies over the next six months. 00:02:15.539 --> 00:02:17.599 Didn't allow myself to become overwhelmed by 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:19.340 all of the things that I should be doing, but 00:02:19.340 --> 00:02:22.560 instead I went into conference considering these 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:25.539 suggestions as a myriad of opportunities to combat 00:02:25.539 --> 00:02:27.479 the darkness that we are currently experiencing 00:02:27.479 --> 00:02:30.039 in this world. I love that, Abby. Thank you for 00:02:30.039 --> 00:02:33.780 sharing. Okay, let's step back in time. You're 00:02:33.780 --> 00:02:36.000 a young teen in Capernaum. You joined a crowd 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:37.879 to hear Jesus teach near the Sea of Galilee. 00:02:38.379 --> 00:02:40.159 As the crowd whispers that he may be the Messiah, 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:42.740 you listen and you are deeply moved by his message 00:02:42.740 --> 00:02:45.580 of love, forgiveness, and peace. Teachings that 00:02:45.580 --> 00:02:47.599 go beyond the law of Moses, including turning 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:50.580 the other cheek and being a peacemaker. I always 00:02:50.580 --> 00:02:52.240 like to put myself in scripture stories like 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:54.020 that. I think it was cute that he put us there. 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:59.740 So cute. And being a teen, I love that. If I 00:02:59.740 --> 00:03:01.479 was there, would his teachings pierce my own 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:03.800 heart? How would they differ from what I was 00:03:03.800 --> 00:03:05.659 already being taught? Would I have been looking 00:03:05.659 --> 00:03:08.000 for a mighty warrior to come free myself and 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:10.740 the people that I loved? Would I have felt that 00:03:10.740 --> 00:03:15.560 same commotion in that time as I'm feeling in 00:03:15.560 --> 00:03:18.520 this day and time? Would those words that he 00:03:18.520 --> 00:03:20.699 spoke so long ago be the exact answer to the 00:03:20.699 --> 00:03:23.280 challenges that we face today? I'm sure they 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:28.219 would. So Matthew 6, 9 is the verse that referenced 00:03:28.219 --> 00:03:30.620 being a peacemaker. And it's followed in the 00:03:30.620 --> 00:03:33.699 next two verses about being persecuted and reviled. 00:03:35.310 --> 00:03:38.310 in Jesus's time and also in our day being peacemakers 00:03:38.310 --> 00:03:41.949 doesn't necessarily promise peace but if we do 00:03:41.949 --> 00:03:44.750 receive the promises is that we will be called 00:03:44.750 --> 00:03:47.229 the children of God inherit the kingdom of heaven 00:03:47.229 --> 00:03:51.129 and then also earn a great reward there you never 00:03:51.129 --> 00:03:53.729 know if you know intentionally trying to be a 00:03:53.729 --> 00:03:55.389 peacemaker is going to affect the other side 00:03:55.389 --> 00:03:57.389 of that equation or sure like the world that 00:03:57.389 --> 00:03:59.969 you're in because yeah but this talk was so great 00:03:59.969 --> 00:04:03.810 because it was like there can be peace in yourself 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:06.520 that can bleed into your families, that can bleed 00:04:06.520 --> 00:04:08.520 into your communities. He sets this whole thing 00:04:08.520 --> 00:04:12.900 up and it's great because when you look out in 00:04:12.900 --> 00:04:14.300 the whole world and you see all the commotion 00:04:14.300 --> 00:04:15.860 that's going on, you think you have to fix that 00:04:15.860 --> 00:04:18.300 to feel peace. It's way too overwhelming. So 00:04:18.300 --> 00:04:22.079 he brings it in from all of the problems of the 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:25.000 world to... something that you really can manage 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:27.220 and focus and do. Absolutely. So let's go back 00:04:27.220 --> 00:04:29.500 to Capernaum. You arrive home breathless. Your 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:31.459 family gathers. Your father asks, tell us what 00:04:31.459 --> 00:04:33.680 you heard and feel. You share that he invited 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:35.459 you to let your light shine before others, to 00:04:35.459 --> 00:04:37.980 seek righteousness even when persecuted. Your 00:04:37.980 --> 00:04:40.160 choice, your voice catches as you repeat, blessed 00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:41.819 are the peacemakers for they shall be called 00:04:41.819 --> 00:04:44.120 the children of God. You ask, can I truly become 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:46.040 a peacemaker when the world is in commotion, 00:04:46.139 --> 00:04:47.959 when my heart is filled with fear and when peace 00:04:47.959 --> 00:04:50.540 seems so far away? Your father glances at your 00:04:50.540 --> 00:04:52.560 mother and answers gently, yes, we begin in the 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:54.959 most basic place in our hearts. Then in our homes 00:04:54.959 --> 00:04:57.839 and families, as we practice there, peacemaking 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:00.519 can spread to our streets and our villages. That 00:05:00.519 --> 00:05:02.279 was my favorite part of the whole talk, just 00:05:02.279 --> 00:05:04.339 that can I truly become a peacemaker when the 00:05:04.339 --> 00:05:06.899 world is, I mean, he's setting it up so beautifully. 00:05:07.079 --> 00:05:09.259 because it's exactly how they felt then. And 00:05:09.259 --> 00:05:11.420 it's exactly how we all felt moving into conference. 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:14.319 Does the message he shared over 2000 years ago 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:17.240 have application in our day? What challenges 00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:19.740 are we facing? Here's some of the list, polarization, 00:05:20.240 --> 00:05:23.540 secularization, retaliation, road rage, outrage, 00:05:23.720 --> 00:05:28.060 and social media pylons. And where can we go 00:05:28.060 --> 00:05:30.399 to have an encounter with Jesus in our day to 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:33.339 combat our own challenges? Seminary for the Strength 00:05:33.339 --> 00:05:36.220 of Youth conferences and Come Follow Me. Can 00:05:36.220 --> 00:05:40.220 you make, can you see that list? Yeah, and I 00:05:40.220 --> 00:05:42.959 think there's more. I think temples, sometimes 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:46.379 our meetings, you know, if done with a focus 00:05:46.379 --> 00:05:49.399 on Jesus Christ, sacred meetings can help be 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:52.139 those special moments. General conference is 00:05:52.139 --> 00:05:55.939 always for me on the top of that list. you know, 00:05:55.939 --> 00:06:01.639 a moment to spend time with Jesus. And honestly, 00:06:01.819 --> 00:06:03.899 we've talked in so many other podcasts about 00:06:03.899 --> 00:06:06.279 the opportunity to infuse more Jesus into our 00:06:06.279 --> 00:06:08.319 days. I mean, there's a whole talk in this conference 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:11.699 on the one with the Creole seasoning. Yes. But, 00:06:11.800 --> 00:06:14.379 you know, more Jesus. And I was just thinking 00:06:14.379 --> 00:06:18.180 the monotonous daily tasks that we have when 00:06:18.180 --> 00:06:20.920 we pop on a podcast or put our scriptures on 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:26.019 play. we're looking for, we can have a myriad 00:06:26.019 --> 00:06:30.139 of opportunities to commune with, um, commune 00:06:30.139 --> 00:06:33.420 with God, learn more, you know, learn more. We 00:06:33.420 --> 00:06:35.000 can make all of those things, folding laundry, 00:06:35.079 --> 00:06:36.680 and you're like playing something in the background. 00:06:36.759 --> 00:06:40.180 You can make that a special experience. And really 00:06:40.180 --> 00:06:42.620 anytime we hear and receive an invitation to 00:06:42.620 --> 00:06:45.670 be more. like our Savior, we get our own Sermon 00:06:45.670 --> 00:06:48.810 on the Mount opportunity. In recent times, we 00:06:48.810 --> 00:06:50.990 still receive the same enduring invitations from 00:06:50.990 --> 00:06:53.569 the Lord. So to let our light shine before others, 00:06:53.769 --> 00:06:56.350 seek righteousness even when we're persecuted, 00:06:56.629 --> 00:06:59.329 and then also to love our enemies. Living prophets 00:06:59.329 --> 00:07:03.829 and also our beloved President Nelson have asked. 00:07:04.490 --> 00:07:06.970 peacemakers needed. It is something that is so 00:07:06.970 --> 00:07:10.230 needed in this world to combat what is happening. 00:07:10.470 --> 00:07:12.350 When he said that line, did you just automatically 00:07:12.350 --> 00:07:15.209 think President Nelson? I did. There were so 00:07:15.209 --> 00:07:18.449 many talks that echoed the words of... of the 00:07:18.449 --> 00:07:21.329 prophet. And President Nelson, you know, he just 00:07:21.329 --> 00:07:23.629 didn't come to that idea recently, but he did 00:07:23.629 --> 00:07:26.009 have a conference talk recently that did stress 00:07:26.009 --> 00:07:29.230 the idea of peacemakers being needed. And just 00:07:29.230 --> 00:07:31.750 the recent events highlight how much better off 00:07:31.750 --> 00:07:33.769 the world would be if there were more peacemakers 00:07:33.769 --> 00:07:35.889 in it. And the fact that the Savior brought this 00:07:35.889 --> 00:07:37.990 up thousands of years ago is a good reminder 00:07:37.990 --> 00:07:39.670 that it's always been a challenge. It's always 00:07:39.670 --> 00:07:41.149 been something that we've struggled with, and 00:07:41.149 --> 00:07:43.589 it's always something we're striving for. And 00:07:43.589 --> 00:07:45.569 it's great that we have the perfect example of 00:07:45.569 --> 00:07:48.800 a peacemaker to look to. Totally. Tale as old 00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:51.439 as time, right? Let's look at the examples of 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:54.399 where peacemaking comes into play. He reminded 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:56.720 us that we can disagree without being disagreeable. 00:07:56.779 --> 00:07:59.759 Love that. Social media gives people an added 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:01.779 sense of security that they can say anything 00:08:01.779 --> 00:08:06.600 they want from, let's say, the safety quote of 00:08:06.600 --> 00:08:09.319 their keyboard. If I wouldn't say it in person 00:08:09.319 --> 00:08:11.180 to your face, what gives me the right to say 00:08:11.180 --> 00:08:14.990 it in print? Elder Stevenson asks. And I love 00:08:14.990 --> 00:08:18.189 this part. Can we replace contention and pride 00:08:18.189 --> 00:08:21.610 with forgiveness and love? Build bridges of cooperation 00:08:21.610 --> 00:08:24.589 and understanding, not walls of prejudice and 00:08:24.589 --> 00:08:27.230 segregation. And the same promise, blessed are 00:08:27.230 --> 00:08:29.569 the peacemakers for they shall be called the 00:08:29.569 --> 00:08:32.210 children of God. I love the building bridges. 00:08:32.429 --> 00:08:35.330 I love the, he said, you know, if it's not building 00:08:35.330 --> 00:08:37.669 a bridge, then don't push send. You know what 00:08:37.669 --> 00:08:40.330 I mean? It's just the way to be on online right 00:08:40.330 --> 00:08:42.779 now. We're sending missionaries throughout the 00:08:42.779 --> 00:08:44.679 world to teach of Jesus, but do you ever think 00:08:44.679 --> 00:08:48.500 about the reach that we have individually? When 00:08:48.500 --> 00:08:52.000 we're on our social media platforms, the best 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:55.100 opportunity for teaching others about who we 00:08:55.100 --> 00:08:57.059 believe in, who we trust, who we look to for 00:08:57.059 --> 00:09:00.200 guidance, being our Savior Jesus Christ, is seen 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:01.659 in the way that we're interacting with others 00:09:01.659 --> 00:09:05.899 and how we're treating others. And I think we 00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:07.299 all have to find this for ourselves, but I'm 00:09:07.299 --> 00:09:11.879 myself trying to find that balance between you 00:09:11.879 --> 00:09:13.860 know, my interactions with social media, sometimes 00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:16.539 it's just like, I'm going to shut it down. I'm 00:09:16.539 --> 00:09:18.019 going to step away from it. I'm going to be off 00:09:18.019 --> 00:09:21.080 of it. Sometimes I'm like, no, he wants me to 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:24.340 be engaged, be doing, you know, be on there. 00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:30.330 It's an opportunity to testify. I personally 00:09:30.330 --> 00:09:32.870 don't respond on people's comments that get me 00:09:32.870 --> 00:09:34.850 up in arms. Sometimes I'll type in a response, 00:09:34.950 --> 00:09:38.370 but I usually delete it. 99 % of the time, it 00:09:38.370 --> 00:09:41.649 gets deleted. I'm like, really, what's the point 00:09:41.649 --> 00:09:44.309 there? That's not really going to change anybody's 00:09:44.309 --> 00:09:46.570 opinion on the fact. But then I'm like, well, 00:09:46.750 --> 00:09:49.230 if it's something that's contradictory to real 00:09:49.230 --> 00:09:52.070 beliefs that I have, then I'm like, am I just 00:09:52.070 --> 00:09:55.409 being a coward? And should I step up and say 00:09:55.409 --> 00:09:59.029 something? And so... What I've decided for myself, 00:09:59.350 --> 00:10:01.149 and I don't know that this is for everybody, 00:10:01.309 --> 00:10:03.769 if I read something that's off -putting, you 00:10:03.769 --> 00:10:08.049 know, I'm not going to spell out. exactly like 00:10:08.049 --> 00:10:10.970 what things get get me but rather than commenting 00:10:10.970 --> 00:10:13.610 on that post and and being contradictory to the 00:10:13.610 --> 00:10:15.870 thing that they're saying on my own page i can 00:10:15.870 --> 00:10:18.570 testify of something that i know to be true like 00:10:18.570 --> 00:10:20.210 that's a good you know like if we're going to 00:10:20.210 --> 00:10:21.649 talk about like an abortion thing and they're 00:10:21.649 --> 00:10:23.929 like women it's their body and i happen to believe 00:10:23.929 --> 00:10:26.789 that you know the child is its love a life of 00:10:26.789 --> 00:10:29.830 itself rather than getting into a unnecessary 00:10:29.830 --> 00:10:34.190 and a fruitless debate on their post i can go 00:10:34.190 --> 00:10:36.330 to my own page and just say every life is important 00:10:37.149 --> 00:10:44.529 You know what I'm saying? Yes. So also a question 00:10:44.529 --> 00:10:48.190 we can ask each of us is what he said before. 00:10:48.250 --> 00:10:51.429 Can I truly become a peacemaker when the world 00:10:51.429 --> 00:10:53.929 is in commotion? My heart is filled with fear 00:10:53.929 --> 00:10:57.879 and peace seems so far away. I feel like that 00:10:57.879 --> 00:11:01.460 is such a great question and it's powerful. Let 00:11:01.460 --> 00:11:04.120 us embrace the words of the Savior. Peace I leave 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:07.220 with you. My peace I give unto you. Let not your 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:09.120 heart be troubled. Neither let it be afraid. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:12.379 You know, in social media world, you're never 00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:14.960 going to really change the way that people think 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:18.220 in one encounter or like getting into a heated 00:11:18.220 --> 00:11:21.299 keyboard debate with them. What we can change 00:11:21.299 --> 00:11:24.019 is the way that we interact or react to the things 00:11:24.019 --> 00:11:27.159 that we're seeing. For sure. I think with our 00:11:27.159 --> 00:11:30.159 heart. Exactly. I think that we've all felt that 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:32.240 blessing when things like there's turmoil and 00:11:32.240 --> 00:11:35.039 chaos around us that we've felt in control and 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:37.460 we felt some peace. Maybe initial thoughts of 00:11:37.460 --> 00:11:40.500 fear kind of creep in, but we like we put that 00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:43.299 at bay. We say no. And somehow like you get in 00:11:43.299 --> 00:11:45.759 the moment and you feel that peace, even though 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:50.049 it's just a disaster around you. Not that it 00:11:50.049 --> 00:11:51.669 happens every time for us, but if we've done 00:11:51.669 --> 00:11:53.289 it before that we know that that's something 00:11:53.289 --> 00:11:56.490 that's achievable for us again and again. So 00:11:56.490 --> 00:11:58.789 sometimes we can't provide that calming experience 00:11:58.789 --> 00:12:00.710 for others, but we put ourselves in a circle 00:12:00.710 --> 00:12:02.830 of people that can provide that calm for us. 00:12:04.490 --> 00:12:06.629 He shared lots of references of little children, 00:12:06.750 --> 00:12:08.769 things that they choose to do to become peacemakers 00:12:08.769 --> 00:12:11.450 in their lives. And I think the point that he 00:12:11.450 --> 00:12:14.070 is making is that young children, they have a 00:12:14.070 --> 00:12:16.250 special inclination towards being peacemakers. 00:12:16.870 --> 00:12:19.429 Something happens to us over the years and we 00:12:19.429 --> 00:12:21.529 get grown up, we complicate things and we forget 00:12:21.529 --> 00:12:24.710 that divine inclination to be kind. They were 00:12:24.710 --> 00:12:27.330 small examples, but it was like, if there's one 00:12:27.330 --> 00:12:29.850 cookie, share the cookie, one toy, you know, 00:12:29.850 --> 00:12:33.740 split time. it's that's how life's designed small 00:12:33.740 --> 00:12:35.940 and simple ways like in our family units that 00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:38.059 we maybe have experiences where we have to figure 00:12:38.059 --> 00:12:41.200 out that give and take and yeah like i'd be lying 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:43.159 if i didn't act like my kids don't fight all 00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:47.600 the time but they also that's like it's kind 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:51.460 of a laboratory for learning on at the end of 00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:53.980 the day sharing the space and sharing the time 00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:56.139 and sharing the toys and sharing the treats and 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:59.700 whatever Absolutely. When we make real efforts 00:12:59.700 --> 00:13:02.019 to find peace in our own heart, like you said, 00:13:02.059 --> 00:13:03.899 first we start with our heart, then our own life. 00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:06.440 It has the natural effect of changing our homes 00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:08.019 and our families. So that's like the ripple effect. 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:10.840 But like you said, we bring it back to us and 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:13.580 then it will go out from there. And as our homes 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:15.960 have the spirit of peace, we can then have a 00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:17.639 greater effect in our neighborhoods and then 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:19.840 in our communities. The gospel of Jesus Christ 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:23.159 nurtures and knits this trait of peacemaking 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:26.820 into our hearts, blessing us. in this life and 00:13:26.820 --> 00:13:29.039 also in the next. I think from scripture we read 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:32.759 earlier, we have to remember so many times being 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:36.340 a peacemaker won't reap immediate results and 00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:38.559 obvious blessings, but sometimes those blessings 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:41.059 will extend into the eternities. Again, this 00:13:41.059 --> 00:13:44.620 is a long game. And anytime we follow the spirit, 00:13:44.740 --> 00:13:46.700 anytime we are living the gospel of Jesus Christ, 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:50.980 that is the best thing to be doing. Once we've 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:54.279 cultivated that peace in our own hearts. You 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:56.120 may question, is that going to have an effect 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:57.860 on our own home or will that affect our home? 00:13:58.200 --> 00:14:00.179 And by using the Lord's pattern to influence 00:14:00.179 --> 00:14:02.080 our relationships with one another, which are 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:04.460 persuasion, long -suffering, gentleness, kindness, 00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:07.879 meekness, and love unfeigned. For the relationships 00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:09.860 in our lives that matter the most, there's really 00:14:09.860 --> 00:14:12.179 no better adjectives used to describe the type 00:14:12.179 --> 00:14:15.299 of relationship we're trying to create. Like 00:14:15.299 --> 00:14:17.240 I said before, we're the typical family that 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:19.899 we fight about chores and the TV remote and sharing 00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:23.159 toys. do see the home as being the perfect laboratory 00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:25.559 for learning these things. And I'm confident 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:30.080 that the experiences for myself, they were the 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:32.799 same for me growing up. And I would say probably 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:36.110 I fought with my siblings. dozens of times, but 00:14:36.110 --> 00:14:39.090 they're my best friends now. Yep. Enduring relationships, 00:14:39.269 --> 00:14:41.330 right? They are enduring. And I know not everyone 00:14:41.330 --> 00:14:43.429 gets to experience that joy with their own siblings. 00:14:43.549 --> 00:14:45.990 But, you know, if you're in a situation where 00:14:45.990 --> 00:14:48.190 you don't have those relationships, you have 00:14:48.190 --> 00:14:50.769 the opportunity to change it in your family from 00:14:50.769 --> 00:14:54.690 here forward. And you can even reference the 00:14:54.690 --> 00:14:56.389 hard examples that you went through to say, and 00:14:56.389 --> 00:14:58.149 that's not what I want for you guys. And so I 00:14:58.149 --> 00:15:00.809 want you to get along here and share here and 00:15:00.809 --> 00:15:04.230 make friends here and put forth effort. Effort's 00:15:04.230 --> 00:15:10.049 a great word for what we're doing. Anyway, basically, 00:15:10.289 --> 00:15:12.629 we get the opportunity to either duplicate what 00:15:12.629 --> 00:15:14.570 we had in our families or completely change it 00:15:14.570 --> 00:15:18.480 if it was crappy. Right. Okay, so we saved the 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:21.240 hardest for the last, and that is peacemaking 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:23.879 in our communities, right? Yeah, save that last 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:27.019 one. John A. Woodsoe once said, the only way 00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:29.340 to build a peaceful community is to build men 00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:33.000 and women who are lovers and makers of peace. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:35.759 Each individual by the doctrine of Christ holds 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:39.340 in his hands the peace of the whole world. That's 00:15:39.340 --> 00:15:42.639 pretty profound. Spelled P -E -A -C -E. Yeah. 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:46.539 Peace, I know, but I mean, the way that I hear 00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:48.100 it when it sounds, it's like a piece of the whole 00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:50.720 world, but it's true too. I'm just saying, when 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:52.360 you look at the whole world and all of the things 00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:54.679 that are going and it's chaotic, you think, I 00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:56.759 need to fix the world. You can't, but you can 00:15:56.759 --> 00:15:59.899 fix P -E -A -C -E in your heart and it will change 00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:03.679 a P -I -E -C -E of the world. Absolutely. I love 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:05.899 something that I was reminded of this week and 00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:10.440 it's when Jesus was, there was a group of people 00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:13.710 that were kind of trying to, get his goat, I 00:16:13.710 --> 00:16:17.269 guess you could say. And it says, um, Jesus kept 00:16:17.269 --> 00:16:20.750 his peace. And I love that part because yeah, 00:16:20.830 --> 00:16:24.330 he, he could have taken the bait and, and, um, 00:16:24.409 --> 00:16:26.289 had a conversation about it, but he realized 00:16:26.289 --> 00:16:29.909 not one time keeping my peace. And also he was 00:16:29.909 --> 00:16:32.649 able to do that because he knew at all times 00:16:32.649 --> 00:16:36.190 who he was. and what his focus was. And he didn't 00:16:36.190 --> 00:16:39.129 get derailed from that. When we come to know 00:16:39.129 --> 00:16:42.009 the glory of God, then we will not have a mind 00:16:42.009 --> 00:16:44.110 to injure one another, but to live peaceably, 00:16:44.149 --> 00:16:46.690 just like Jesus Christ did. In our congregations 00:16:46.690 --> 00:16:49.090 and also in our communities, may we each choose 00:16:49.090 --> 00:16:52.309 to see one another as children of God. I think 00:16:52.309 --> 00:16:54.809 each of us has to decide where we are. Like, 00:16:54.809 --> 00:16:58.529 are we naturally peaceful people? Is there something 00:16:58.529 --> 00:17:02.159 turmoil in us? Is there anything that's... kind 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:04.359 of out of whack in our in our own life that we 00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:09.759 need to focus on but um once we get that figured 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:13.099 out our first job is to extend that into our 00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:14.799 families and then we look out into the communities 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:20.279 but um it honestly can't follow until we have 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:22.359 that peace for ourselves for sure there could 00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:23.839 be a myriad of things going on the community 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:28.279 they're not a problem until we have our personal 00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:32.220 self short up and our home short up um he did 00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:34.720 offer a cute little one week peacemaker plan 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:36.500 wouldn't that be cool if that's all it took one 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:38.960 week for peacemaking for sure why don't you share 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:42.039 what he said about that a contention free home 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:45.299 zone i love that when contention starts pause 00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:48.599 there's power in the pause right and reboot with 00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:52.000 kind words and deeds Number two is a digital. 00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:54.200 We introduced our kids to this at Fem Home Evening. 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:56.000 Yeah, how'd it go, Abby? We were seven of us 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:58.980 on a king -sized bed. And I have growing children, 00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:00.859 and I have a wild four -year -old that likes 00:18:00.859 --> 00:18:03.079 to jump off the window seals and all sorts of 00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:05.180 things. Like, there was a bit of contention, 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:09.700 right? I'm like, man, you know, we need to get 00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:11.500 going on this, and it's already off to a really 00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:13.700 poor start. But anyway, I'm laughing thinking 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:16.119 about it. So two, again, we talked about this. 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:18.759 Digital bridge building before posting, replying 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:21.380 or commenting online. Ask, will this build a 00:18:21.380 --> 00:18:24.720 bridge? If not, stop. Do not send. Instead, share 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:27.559 goodness. Publish peace in the place of hate. 00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:31.220 Oh, my gosh. That was so that like hit my heart. 00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:34.599 Publish peace because that. It just brought on 00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:36.119 a different meaning for me, and I think it's 00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:38.640 a beautiful way to look at things and my publishing 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:41.140 piece in all things. Then number three is repair 00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:44.279 and reunite. That is so important in families 00:18:44.279 --> 00:18:47.039 because there's always going to be an opportunity 00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:49.700 to repair. There's always an opportunity to reunite. 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:52.059 Each family member could seek out a strained 00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:54.980 relationship in order to apologize, to minister, 00:18:55.259 --> 00:19:00.400 to repair, or to reunite, or all of them. Peacemaking 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:03.230 is a Christlike attribute, and as children, We 00:19:03.230 --> 00:19:04.930 already said, I think that we're born with a 00:19:04.930 --> 00:19:08.049 sense of natural peacemaking. And sometimes peacemakers 00:19:08.049 --> 00:19:10.430 get labeled as naive or weak, but you just shared 00:19:10.430 --> 00:19:12.450 the example of the Savior when he chose to keep 00:19:12.450 --> 00:19:15.190 his own peace. It did not make him weaker. It 00:19:15.190 --> 00:19:19.230 made him divine, made him strong. And it's a 00:19:19.230 --> 00:19:22.789 divine characteristic. So even if the world looks 00:19:22.789 --> 00:19:25.279 at a person's actions as weak, It actually requires 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:28.180 a lot of courage and compromise to execute it. 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:30.640 Peacemaking is leading with an open heart, not 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:33.220 a closed mind. That was his words. It is to approach 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:35.140 one another with extended hands, not clenched 00:19:35.140 --> 00:19:37.480 fists. Peacemaking is not a new thing. Hot off 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:39.779 the press. It was taught by Jesus Christ himself, 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:43.019 both to those in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. 00:19:43.380 --> 00:19:46.519 And I'll add taught by example, not just word. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:49.779 Absolutely, Abby. Is there anything else you 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:52.099 want to add? Well, I was toying. Amy and I kind 00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:53.859 of approached conference with the thought, like, 00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:55.740 are we going to keep doing the podcast? This 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:59.299 will be season four for us. We finished three 00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:01.539 seasons. Season four, if it was going to look 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:03.420 a little bit different, if we were going to maybe 00:20:03.420 --> 00:20:06.400 cut out doing some of the talks or do a little 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:08.680 snippet instead of covering the whole thing. 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:11.440 And I feel like we got the impression to proceed 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:14.539 as we're doing, but did get the impression that 00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:16.839 maybe a Facebook. page would be appropriate. 00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:19.240 And this kind of feels like a good talk to introduce 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:22.359 that. And it isn't going yet, but maybe by the 00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:25.099 time this broadcasts on Sunday, it will be. And 00:20:25.099 --> 00:20:27.779 my hope is that it will be called Closer to Christ 00:20:27.779 --> 00:20:29.559 through General Conference. And what it would 00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:31.900 be is an opportunity to post the links to the 00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:34.420 talk, probably not the platform you'll listen 00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:37.059 to it from, but that we can have like some dialogue 00:20:37.059 --> 00:20:39.980 and some sharing of thoughts because we're better 00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:41.960 when we hear from each other and we hear the 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:44.039 things people are doing to implement these or 00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:46.099 the action items that you're seeing from these 00:20:46.099 --> 00:20:48.819 talks, or maybe you took a totally different 00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:49.960 tangent or something. something really stood 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:52.319 out to you and sharing that or testifying of 00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:55.059 that may be just what, you know, somebody else 00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:57.619 needs that's on that same platform. So we'll 00:20:57.619 --> 00:20:59.559 give it a whirl. Maybe we'll abandon it after 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:03.180 some time, but it is the impression that we think 00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:05.680 we can add just to further the conversation. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:09.079 That's great. I love it, Abby. Everyone, thanks 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:11.200 for being with us. May you begin to make peace 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:14.299 in your heart today and may that bless your homes, 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:17.079 your families, and your communities. Have a great 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:17.279 week.