Christmas Commentary: Spreading peace through faith

When we feel the Christmas Spirit, it is the Spirit of Christ. It can block out all the distractions of a busy world around us, and give us a feeling of peace.

A good illustration of the way that Christians honor the Savior and grow close to him is expressed by the words Charles Dickens wrote to his children:

“My Dear Children, I am very anxious that you should know something about the history of Jesus Christ, for everyone ought to know about him, no one ever lived who was so good, so kind, so gentle, and so sorry for all people who did wrong. Remember, it is Christianity, to do good always, even to those who do evil to us. It is Christianity to love our neighbor as ourselves, and to do to all men, as we would have them do to us. It is Christianity to be gentle, merciful and forgiving, and to keep those qualities quiet in our own hearts, and never make a boast of them, or of our prayers, or of our love of God. But always to show that we love him, by humbly trying to do right in everything. If we do this, and remember the life and lessons of our Lord Jesus Christ, and try to act up to them, we may confidently hope that God will forgive us our sins and mistakes and enable us to live and die in peace.”

The way to follow Christ is simple and rewarding.

And what the Savior taught about peace in our lives also applies to peace in our families, peace in our communities, peace in our nation and peace in the world. The Savior and his Apostles never had a grand program for global peace, other than individual righteousness. They never mounted an opposition to the rule of Rome, or tyranny in general; they preached individual righteousness. And taught his followers to love their enemies, and live peaceably with their fellow neighbors. By small and simple things, great things can come to pass.

I love and look up to the Savior for how he overcame literally the most difficult situations a mortal being could be put into. And he did it peacefully and lovingly. He gives meaning to my brief mortal existence and he teaches me I can help those around me in my life, who happen to be in need.

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At this Christmas season, the whole Christian world celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Peace can seem fleeting in this world full of chaos, but the blessings of the Gospel are universal and can shelter us from any worldly turmoil. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this is what we seek.


Jason Lee is Cordova branch president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

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