The Prince of Peace

This week our bishop asked us to think about the Savior and pick our favorite name/title for him. Mine has always been the Prince of Peace. To me it is all of the names wrapped in one. I am going to attempt to put down my thoughts about The Prince of Peace in this entry.

The following is a quotation by Pres. Howard W. Hunter and it is one of my favorites. “We are at a time in the history of the world and the growth of the Church when we must think more of holy things and act more like the Savior would expect his disciples to act. We should at every opportunity ask ourselves, ‘What would Jesus do?’ and then act more courageously upon the answer. We must be about his work as he was about his Father’s. We should make every effort to become like Christ, the one perfect and sinless example this world has ever seen”

The whole 'WWJD' thing at times is a little of out control and can be trite, but the overall meaning when one really attempts to act and be like the Savior is quite a concept. We all know that Jesus would do the right thing, and that is what I like about what Pres. Hunter says, "...and then act more courageously upon the answer." This is the essence of the gospel. If all of us acted as He would then the world would not only be a better place it would be one without envy, hate, and wars. Now I understand that this is out of the realm of possibility for the entire world right now. But each of us can work on ourselves. We have the power to control our own thoughts and actions. We can do our best to become like Christ.

Now that I am a parent I have some understanding of the love that God has for us. We are all his children, but Jesus is his only Begotten. He was ridiculed, mocked, beaten and spit upon--to save us all. He brought a message of peace, a message of love, yet was received with hatred. It is hard to fathom that our Heavenly Father had to allow this to happen, had to allow wicked and evil men to crucify His son. As a father it is utterly heartwrenching to think of my own kids under similar circumstances. It is impossible, yet I perceive in some way how much love God does have for us, each one of us, regardless of how good or even bad we may be.

Christ's sacrifice is for all--it is up to each person to choose to accept it. That is what makes the atonement transcendent above all everything else, it is for everyone. The very men that called for his crucifiction and nailed him to the cross would be beneficiaries of His sacrifice. It would benefit all mankind before, during, and after His life was taken. He willingly and knowingly gave up His life, knowing that His death would in fact bring life. The most wonderful thing about the atonement is that each of us need it. Everyone one of us fall short, we all make mistakes, we all sin. No one is worthy on their own merits. The atonement allows us to be forgiven and make us clean. Everyone regardless of what they have done can partake in this glorious event by repenting of their wrongs. So while the atonement is for all it becomes personal. We all can have a relationship with our Savior and feel of this love for ourselves.

Oh the relief! I cannot express how wonderful this is. Too many times in an effort to differentiate ourselves from other beliefs we don't stress that we are saved by grace. We truly are. It is the grace of God that He sent His son to atone for our sins, my sins. It is through grace that he died for us and was resurrected on the third day. Because of this all mankind will be resurrected and can receive forgiveness for their sins. But this is where the atonement becomes personal and where it becomes up to us. True forgiveness means we must forsake our sins and do them no more. We must then do and this is where our choices come into play. This is where Pres. Hunter's admonition comes in; we must choose to accept the atonement and then do our very best to live it.

If I could sum up all my thoughts on this I would do so using a quotation from Pres. Spencer W. Kimball,

"In quiet, restrained, divine dignity he stood when they cast their spittle in his face. He remained composed. Not an angry word escaped his lips. They slapped his face and beat his body. Yet he stood resolute, unintimidated.

Though pronounced innocent, he was scourged. Unworthy men lashed him, the pure and the Holy One, the Son of God. One word from his lips and all his enemies would have fallen to the earth, helpless. All would have perished, all could have been as dust and ashes. Yet, in calmness, he suffered.

Even when delivered to the soldiers to be crucified, he prayed for them who despitefully used him. How he must have suffered when they violated his privacy by stripping off his clothes and then putting on him the scarlet robe! His hour had come. He was alone, yet among crowds of people.

Alone he was, with eager angels waiting to comfort him. Alone, with his Father in deepest sympathy but knowing that his Son must walk alone the bitter, tortuous path. Alone, drained, feverish, dying, he called out: “My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?” Alone he had been in the garden—praying for strength to drink the bitter cup.

He had said, “Love your enemies.” Now he proved how much one can love his enemies. He was dying on the cross for those who had nailed him there. As he died, he experienced agonies that no man had ever before or has since experienced. Yet he cried out, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Was this not the last word—the supreme act? How divine to forgive those who were killing him—those who were clamoring for his blood! He had said, “Pray for them which despitefully use you,” and here he was praying for them. His life met perfectly his teachings. “Be ye therefore perfect” was his command to us. With his life, his death, and his resurrection, Jesus truly has shown us the way."

I do know that Heavenly Father loves us. He has shown us this by sending his Son to be sacrificed so that all of us have the opportunity to repent. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, the Holy Messiah, the Lamb of God, the Prince of Peace. That by him and through him we can overcome all of our trials and tribulations. I know that He loves us. He gave His life for us, for me. May each of us take the admonition of Pres. Hunter by choosing to be more like Him at every opportunity and then being more courageous to act upon it.