“Promises of Peace,” New Era, Dec. 2018, 48–49.
Last Word
Promises of Peace
Our hope is to capture the true spirit of Christmas for ourselves and for those we love. That spirit is characterized by peace—not political peace, for the Savior was born at a time of fear and unrest so great that His family had to flee as refugees into Egypt; not economic peace, for He was born in a stable and laid in a humble manger; and not even the peace that comes when all the packages are wrapped, the trees decorated, and the table set, because that peace is only momentary. The peace of Christmas is “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). It is the peace that the Apostle Paul promised would “keep [our] hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). And Paul was right. That peace we seek is only through and because of Jesus Christ.
To all who have come into mortality, the Savior said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). Yet He gave this wonderful promise to His disciples during His mortal ministry: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (John 14:27). It is a comfort to know that this promise of personal peace continues for all of His covenant disciples today.
It is a promise given even on the very night of His birth. When heavenly messengers heralded the birth of the Savior, they declared, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14).
The Savior’s birth is the gift that makes it possible for the Father to give us “peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:23). We shouted for joy in the spirit world when we heard of that promise. Peace and joy come to us again when we hear words sung proclaiming that God’s loving promise was kept:
All is calm, all is bright. …
Glories stream from heaven afar; Heav’nly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ, the Savior, is born!1