Peace is Possible

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Every day, news outlets report on violence, crimes, natural disasters, and unrest. News truly does travel fast now, and we can almost instantaneously learn of atrocities that are happening around the globe. Although technology allows us to feel informed, that knowledge can also leave us feeling powerless--powerless to stop the bad things from happening, and powerless to help those directly impacted. Even though often there are ways to donate money or goods to a particular cause, there will always be more causes--more than any one individual can realistically contribute to. It is easy to feel unsettled and discouraged.

Recently, I was in Europe when several news reports broke which, because I live in Utah and am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, touched close to home. The first event was the assassination of Charlie Kirk, on September 10, 2025. I had a conversation with a stranger in Scotland who, when he found out I was from Utah, asked me for my opinion. I told him that my opinion (or at least, hope) is that everyone, regardless of political ideology, should be able to agree that we should not kill each other. It seems like a rather low bar to set, and given the status of adherence to some of the other of the Ten Commandments, maybe I shouldn't be surprised that it would even have to be stated, but in any case, it saddens me that there are people who kill other people. 

On September 27, 2025, Russell M. Nelson, prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away at the age of 101. He had spoken often about peace, and the need for peacemakers. 

The following day, Sunday, September 28, a man crashed his truck into a church in Michigan, started shooting members of the congregation, and set the church on fire. Several people, including the shooter, died. The church building was a total loss. I thought about those events and imagined the awful scene in the church that day. 

Recently, Elder Gary E. Stevenson spoke about peace and acknowledged that many people today ask, "Can I truly become a peacemaker when the world is in commotion, my heart is filled with fear, and peace seems so far away?" He continued by answering the question:

The resounding response is once again yes! We embrace the words of the Savior: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. … Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Today, peacemaking still begins in the most basic place—in our hearts. Then in homes and families. As we practice there, peacemaking will spread into our neighborhoods and communities.

Peace is possible, and it starts in our hearts. We must practice peace even when "the world is in commotion, [our hearts are] filled with fear, and peace seems so far away." Stilling our anxious minds by letting go of what we cannot control, trusting God, and living by the Golden Rule will help us in our quest for peace. Music can also be a tool in our quest for peace, so I'll close this post with the following video.