Since this is my journal I am going to write an experience that I had this past week. It has a little something to do with the talk that I gave this Sunday.
This month has been a crazy month!! I was asked to give a talk on October 25, 2009. Because I had so much going on I actually started writing my talk about two weeks before I was to give it. I started researching and studying my topic, which was peace. I found great, great things and actually had a first rough draft of the talk. Even though a lot of the information in it was fantastic (because it came from the Apostles talks) I just didn't feel that it was the right talk to give. That night I prayed to be able to write a talk that would invite the spirit and speak to people through the Holy Ghost, and most importantly, to bring glory to our Father in Heaven. That night I went to bed and woke up at about 1:00 a.m.- 2:00 a.m. I woke up and started outlining my talk. The outline just came to me and before I knew it my talk was all outlined. I went to bed and fell back to sleep. The next morning I was a little worried that it wouldn't be that great because I was half asleep when I wrote it but I used the outline anyway and proceeded to write my talk. I literally wrote it in minutes and then left it for a little while. I had Tom read it and he didn't make any changes. I can say that the talk did not come from me but was inspiration from our Father in Heaven. The talk went very well and I will always be grateful for the Holy Ghost and the wisperings from him late that night. It makes sense though as to why I had to write that first talk. I could not have outlined the talk without some of the information that I found earlier that night. This was an experience that I will never forget.
Here is the talk if you feel like reading it.
I would like to start off with a story about when Jesus was on a journey to Galilee, the Savior taught the multitudes crowded near the water’s edge. With the people pressing ever closer, Jesus sought a better teaching circumstance by stepping into a boat and pushing out a few yards into the sea. There, a short distance from the eager crowd, he could be seen and heard by those straining to see and hear the Master.
Following his discourse, the Savior invited his disciples to join him, and they set out together for the other side of the lake. The Sea of Galilee is quite low, about 680 feet below sea level, and the heat becomes quite great. The hills surrounding the water rise up very sharply and to a considerable height. The cold air rushing down from the hills meets the warm air rising from the lake in such a way that sudden and temporarily violent storms can occur on the surface of that inland sea. It was just such a storm as this that Jesus and his disciples found as they crossed the lake at evening time. This is the way Mark described it:
“And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
“And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
As we have been told by the prophets and our teachers, we are to liken the scriptures to ourselves. Most of us do not find ourselves on a boat in the middle of a large wind storm. However, as we make this story a metaphor in our life we can see in our lives where storms have come and the winds blow strong and attempt to shake our faith.
The story tells of Christ waking up and commanding the winds to cease and peace came upon the waves. Just as in our lives today the only true peace that we will feel is through our Savior Jesus Christ. The only way the storm would have ceased at that very instant was by our Savior.
Today, I have been asked to speak on Peace. I want to talk about having faith to follow the laws of our Savior and the peace that comes from our obedience and finally obtaining the greatest peace through our Savior.
Marvin J. Ashton gave a wonderful talk entitled, “Peace—A Triumph of Principles.” He told the following story: A little blind girl was sitting on the lap of her father in a crowded compartment in a train. A friend seated nearby said to the father, “Let me give you a little rest,” and he reached over and took the little girl on his lap.
A few moments later the father said to her, “Do you know who is holding you?”
“No,” she replied, “but you do.”
Some might be inclined to say, “What a perfect trust this child had in her father.” Others may say, “What a wonderful example of love.” And still others might say, “What an example of faith.” To me it indicates a beautiful blending of all of these principles, which brought a priceless inner peace to the child. She knew she was safe because she knew her father knew who was holding her. Affection, respect, and care over the years had placed in this little girl’s heart a peace that surpassed all understanding. She was at peace because she knew and trusted her father. When sorrow, tragedy, and heartbreaks occur in our lives, wouldn’t it be comforting if when the whisperings of God say, “Do you know why this has happened to you?” we could have the peace of mind to answer “No, but you do.”
We plead for peace in our prayers and thoughts. Where is peace? Can we ever enjoy this great gift while wars, rumors of wars, discord, evil, and contention swirl all around us? The answer is yes. Just as the little blind girl sat on the stranger’s lap with perfect contentment because her father knew him, so we can learn to know our Father and find inner peace as we live his principles.
I would like to share a story about our family. A year ago in June 2008, Tom was laid off due to the economy. There are really many lessons to be learned from this experience. The day he was laid off we had a small celebration. We were excited about new opportunities and also because while he was enjoying the fruits of being employed we saved our money, we obtained food storage, and could live for a few months without income. Commitment to God’s laws brought our family such peace.
We were at peace because we followed the teachings of the our prophets. Tom got a job just a couple of months later in Utah. I went to college in Utah and only knew what it was like to live in Provo. I wasn’t overly thrilled to move from my house, my family, and all my friends. Even though I went kicking and screaming, I did obey, we moved and were happy in our new little area. Tom was at the firm in Utah for four months and the economy hit and again he was laid off 2 weeks before Christmas. This time it was a little scary because we had used our food storage, a lot of our savings was gone from moving, finding a rental house, etc. We lived in Utah for three months after he was laid off. We knew after three months that we needed to move out of Utah and in with my parents. Not knowing that I was going to be giving this talk I wrote the following entry on our family blog in March of this year.
People have asked many times during this whole ordeal how we are doing and the answer really has always been, fine. Really, we have been and are fine because we have felt every single prayer offered on our behalf and also every fast on our behalf. We have been strengthened by the love of our friends and family. I have no doubt that as we are going through trials that are overwhelmingly stressful that our Father in Heaven is watching over us and sends us miracles. Never at any time did we need for anything. Sure we may have wanted things here and there, but our needs were always met. We know that it was by the grace of our loving Father, and those that were instruments in His hands, that we were able to make it through this time and actually stay in our townhome long enough to meet wonderful people and have Katie attend a wonderful school. Our family has been humbled to a point to where we can see much more clearly each and every miracle in our lives. Believe it or not I am so grateful for this trial and would do it all over again if that meant being able to witness so many miracles in our lives. I am actually awed and so grateful that Heavenly Father trusted us enough to know that we would follow Him during this crazy period in our lives. I am humbled that He would trust us and loved us enough to give us this trial. My heart is full of gratitude for the faith that I have been blessed with and the testimony that I have and the person that I have become during this time. I knew that I was loved and being watched over and that all of my needs were being met. We truly felt that we were being held in the arms of our Father in Heaven during this time.
I would like to talk now about peace through our Savior.
Two summers ago we went to our friend’s cabin for the 4th of July. Right behind the cabin was a stream. There were three families there so every minute was spent either in the stream or right next to it. The kids loved to go wading in the water and walking down the stream. Tom took Katie and Kellen with him and I was with my friend Jill and her daughter Amelia and newborn daughter Lucy. Jill was walking on the bank of the stream and Amelia was behind me. All of a sudden I heard Amelia slip on the moss and fall amongst the rocks in the stream, and then a scream!! I brought Amelia to her mom, Jill, where she cleaned up Amelia’s scrape. Amelia was crying and then Jill said, “Amelia, it’s okay, this too shall pass.”
Often times we are facing the storms in our life and I can imagine our Father in Heaven also telling us, “It’s okay, this too shall pass. In fact, your older brother, Jesus Christ, overcame the world so you may also do the same.” Our Savior felt our pain, our sorrows, our grief. He conquered the world and overcame such adversity just for us!
I find it very interesting that when Jesus came forth from the tomb and appeared to his disciples, his first greeting was, “Peace be unto you.” (Luke 24:36.) He said Peace—not passion, not personal possessions, not personal accomplishments nor happiness, but peace, which is one of the greatest blessings a man can receive. I know that in the midst of trial or great sadness we do not always believe in the power of the Atonement, that in fact it can heal us and bring us great peace in the midst of great affliction. I love the scripture “Be still, and know that I am God.” I find great power in that statement. I told the story of the great storm that arose after Jesus was teaching the crowd. HE calmed the storm. Although great men have tried to bring peace to us through worldly things, the only true peace comes from one that has actually calmed the storms, moved mountains, and the greatest of all risen from the dead. He died so that we could live, and He lives now for us. He lives to bring us peace!!!
So when we may ask ourselves, where can I turn for peace, where is my solace? I heard an interesting compilation of hymns the other day that may answer that very question.
Master the tempest is raging! The billows are tossing high. The sky is o’er-showed with blackness. No shelter or help is nigh. Carest though not that we perish? How canst thou lie asleep. When each moment so madly is threatening A grave in the angry deep.
Our Savior may answer like this: Be still, my soul. The Lord is on thy side. With patience bear they cross of grief and pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide. In ev’ry change he faithful will remain. Be still, my soul. Thy best, they heavenly Friend. Thro thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
I love the last verse of Master, the tempest is raging- Master, the terror is over. The elements sweetly rest. Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored, and heaven’s within my breast. Linger, O blessed Redeemer! Leave me alone no more! And with joy I shall make the blest harbor And rest on the blissful shore. The winds and the waves shall obey thy will. Peace, be still. Whether the wrath or the storm tossed sea or demons or men or whatever it be, No waters can swallow the ship where lies The master of ocean and earth and skies! They all shall sweetly obey thy will: Peace, be still, peace be still. They all shall sweetly obey thy will: Peace, peace be still.
I have no doubt that as we are faithful and follow the commandments, we will be blessed with peace. Our Savior has promised us such peace as we come and follow Him. I am grateful for the gospel that truly does bring good news!! And peace to our hearts.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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