Opportunity for Peace – September 02, 1945
There comes to mind this day a comment of the chief captain of the Romans to Paul the Apostle: And the chief captain said: “With a great sum obtained I this freedom.” (Acts 22:28.) With a great sum, in money, in life, and in irreplaceable things, our world and our generation have been given another opportunity to live in peace—peace with ourselves, peace with our neighbors, peace with all men. By the mercy of God, and at a cost which no man can know, this has come by the sinews, by the sorrow, and by the sacrifice of many nations and peoples.
We have seen the years go by with the utterance —of the ancient prophet in our ears, crying, “Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14) and then, suddenly, it is with us again—an opportunity for peace. Life itself offers no more. Am opportunity is all any man has a right to ask. We can make much of it, or misuse it. Since history has been preserved to us, its pages have been colored with the words of prophets, inspired men of God, foretelling an unbroken reign of peace, when the rule of righteousness will cover the face of the earth, and when men will devote their God-given intelligence to the creation of things that make for more abundant living.
This day we have never fully seen. By the necessities of all past wars we have learned increasingly well how to destroy the world. Now may we turn our thoughts and our efforts to enjoying the good earth and the privilege of life as God intended, for “. . . men are, that they might have joy,” (11 Nephi 2:25) and there is no joy in a world torn with conflict, and little of joy where men live in fear of each other. May the world preserve its peace by turning with contrite hearts to a formula that has not in practice been fully tried: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and … thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matthew 22:37, 39.) “ . . . he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (I John 4.20.) We are deeply mindful this day of those who have given their lives that others may have life more abundantly. We pray for the restoration of the wounded, in mind, in body, and in spirit—and for hearts free from bitterness.
May those who wait for the sound of returning feet soon hear that joyful sound. May those who listen for footsteps that do not come, have their hearts fully comforted. And may this peace be not complacent or prodigal, but a peace that profits by costly lessons. And again and finally, may we all be possessed of the humility that is so becoming those who have been so greatly blessed.
“The Spoken Word,” heard over Radio Station K S L and the nationwide Columbia Broadcasting System, from the Tabernacle, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Sunday, Sept. 2, 1945. Copyright 1945.
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September 02, 1945
Broadcast Number 0,837