Steven Hultgren

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

Jesus Christ’s Sermon on the Mount (found in Gospel of Matthew chapters 5-7) is the most noteworthy discourse ever delivered, and the sermon established a foundation for so many of Jesus’ teachings during his earthly ministry. He taught about moral conduct, love, humility and spirituality. One can imagine how our world today might be different if all of humanity followed what was taught in the Sermon on the Mount and used those teachings as our moral compass as we strive to do what is right. All people, regardless of faith, culture, political views, etc., can agree on the importance and value of the core principles and attributes taught by Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount. That is certainly true in regard to what was taught about being peacemakers.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God … But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.”

Pope Francis often spoke of peace and taught of the need for peacemakers. In one particular quote that is a personal favorite, he stated “To make peace, one needs courage, far more than to wage war. It takes courage to say yes to encounter and no to confrontation; yes to dialogue and no to violence; yes to negotiation and no to hostility; yes to honoring agreements and no to provocation; yes to sincerity and no to duplicity. For all this, great courage and strength of soul are required.” 

Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has taught of the need for peace and peacemakers on several occasions. 

He has said, “How we treat each other really matters! How we speak to and about others at home, at church, at work and online really matters. Today, I am asking us to interact with others in a higher, holier way … Contention reinforces the false notion that confrontation is the way to resolve differences; but it never is. Contention is a choice. Peacemaking is a choice. You have your agency to choose contention or reconciliation. I urge you to choose to be a peacemaker, now and always.”

Both of these religious leaders have taught of our need to promote peace and emphasized that being peacemakers does not mean that everyone needs to agree on everything all the time.

It also doesn’t mean completely avoiding interaction or “encounters” with those who view things differently. It takes courage to stand up for what we feel is right, but it takes greater courage to do so in a way that promotes peace, respect, and mutual understanding.

One can dream of a world in which The Sermon on the Mount is humanity's moral compass, but what is most important is the choices that we each make individually. Our individual efforts to be peacemakers can make the difference.

As I observe the many conflicts and unrest that is prevalent across our country and the world, it deepens my appreciation for how blessed we are to live in the Big Horn Basin and the community of Powell; however, even with our great community and our peaceful “small town way of life” it is important that we recognize that we are not immune to contention and conflict and we need to be vigilant in our efforts to be peacemakers and show love, respect and understanding to our neighbors. Those efforts, at times, are easier said than done. Thankfully, as is the case in so many aspects of our lives, we can look to Jesus Christ as our example to follow. During his earthly life, he navigated a world full of political unrest, economic uncertainty and cultural differences and he did so as a peacemaker. We can do the same.

(Steven Hultgren is a bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)