Peacemakers: Seeing Others as the Savior Sees Them—One Soul at a Time

It is popular in many circles to look at the world, see conflict and anger, and feel that things are getting worse all the time. I’ve lived long enough now to know that this really isn’t the case. We were just as fearful, and the doomsayers just as certain the world would end in inevitable, devastating war ten, twenty, even thirty years ago. When things heat up in the world and the doom starts to feel particularly inevitable, I turn to my Savior, Jesus Christ, for relief and to learn what I can do to be better for myself and for those around me.

Jesus is known as the Prince of Peace and the ultimate peacemaker, so His example is especially relevant when conflict and anger predominate. In Luke 6:27–29, Jesus teaches us to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse us, and to pray for those who despitefully use us. He then teaches that to him who smites us on one cheek, we should offer the other also. Turning aside from anger when I receive it is difficult, but I have found that when I do, the reward is very satisfying. Relationships that might have been lost often find a way to regrow and even strengthen.

I am fortunate to live most of my life outside of direct conflict, though strife can have more subtle sources. I have come to find that one of the growing sources of conflict in recent times is a trend to divide people into groups or identities. Often the purpose of doing so seems to be to stir up envy, jealousy, inequality, and demands for redress.

In this, too, the Savior shows us a better way. In Luke chapter 10, we receive the parable of the good Samaritan. In this parable, a member of a despised group is shown to be the true neighbour to a man who had been attacked by robbers and needed healing and protection. By breaking a group into individuals, we learn that our neighbour is anyone we meet who needs love and support.

Throughout His ministry, Jesus was criticized for associating with people considered undesirable by society. He spent time with publicans and sinners (Matthew 9:10–13), showed compassion to the woman taken in adultery (John 8:1–11), and spoke with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well (John 4:5–26). In each case, Jesus treated the person as a valued individual—worthy of His time, His compassion, and His teachings—regardless of their background, social label, or perceived identity.

To Jesus, we are loved individually, not as categories, labels, or groups. We are all children of God, known and loved personally by Him.

It is my testimony that we are to treat others as Jesus would treat them—as individuals of infinite worth, beloved sons and daughters of God. The truest diversity is the diversity of the individual, for the value of each soul is great in the sight of God (Doctrine and Covenants 18:10). ■