Peace

This week we had a rather stirring open discussion in my Modern Near East, Islamic Perspective class. Our teacher began by reading an article on the conflict, and then asking us how we would solve the conflict, or how we'd begin to heal the wounds that have been passed from generation to generation and in most cases, run deeper than anyone could begin to understand.

So, we began. People raised their hands and suggested that we should get a mediator to bring the two sides together and help them understand that they are all just people. Our teacher is a Palestinian Christian, and he's lived with the conflict his entire life. He has dealt with every method of trying to create peace and less feelings of pain. There were many suggestions, each one seeming less and less hopeful than the last. Someone raised their hand and suggested bringing children together. Dr. Mussalam told us that they tried that starting in 1993 and that it had no effect against the war in 2000. There was still enough contention. (Also, he was very sincere...he wasn't just trying to have us suggest things so he could shut them down, he was very sincere. This is his life.)

A guy named Adam was sitting by me. After about 40 minutes of this style of an idea being presented and then deemed hopeless or having no way to carry out the ideas, Adam said to me, "Is it six?" I had no idea what he was talking about, but he pointed to his paper and he'd written down "Alma 31:6(?)" I didn't know what the scripture was, but we looked it up and it ended up being Alma 31:5 :

"And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God."

How true that is. How true is the word of God, and how it inspires us to do "that which is just." If the people here could only see that. If they could only hear the word and open their hearts to it. They see this beautiful building on top of the Mount of Olives, and all it is to them is a beautiful building. We have the word of God, in its fullness.

After we found that scripture, I took mine out and looked in the Topical Guide under "Peace of God" and just looked up different scriptures. One that I found and loved was D&C 19:23-24 :

"Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me. I am Jesus Christ; I came by the will of the Father, and I do his will."

When I read this I thought that it was so interesting that ultimate way of peace is through Jesus Christ, and neither side involved in this conflict believes in Him as the Messiah, Savior, and Redeemer of the earth.

What a blessing it is in our church to have the fulness of His gospel and Heavenly Father's plan for us.

I may have told you this, but when we went to the Garden Tomb, President Brown told us all about his experience with President Hinckley years and years ago, in the Garden Tomb area. They were walking down the path to olverlook Golgatha, and there was a little path marker on the ground (which is still there) that says, "Pray for Peace in the Middle East." And President Hinckley said aloud, half to himself, "I do. I do pray for peace in the Middle East." And President Brown thought, "If he can, then I sure can too."

Please pray for Peace in the Middle East. Even if it seems hopeless, we must have a love for these people as God's children. We must pray for their welfare and peace.

I love you all, and I am so thankful for the perspective this experience has given me and will continue to give me.

I hope I never forget you, Oh Jerusalem.