Where Can We Find Peace and Joy?

            My Come, Follow Me studies for this week took me to many Old Testament scriptures as well as scriptures in the New Testament and the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament scriptures and the Book of Mormon scriptures contained prophecies of the coming Messiah, and the New Testament scriptures contained a record of the fulfillment of those prophecies. It is fitting that we studied about the Atonement of Jesus Christ this week because tomorrow is Easter, the day that all Christians celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

            The lesson was introduced with a reminder that the life of Jesus Christ “is central to all human history” (“The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles”).  The introduction continued:

What does that mean? In part, it surely means that the Savior’s life influences the eternal destiny of every human being who has ever lived or will ever live. You might also say that the life and mission of Jesus Christ, culminating in His Resurrection on that first Easter Sunday, connects all of God’s people throughout history: Those who were born before Christ looked forward to Him with faith (see Book of Mormon - Jacob 4:4), and those born after look back on Him with faith. As we read Old Testament accounts and prophecies, we don’t ever see the name Jesus Christ, but we do see the evidence of the ancient believers’ faith in and longing for their Messiah and Redeemer. So we who are invited to remember Him can feel a connection with those who looked forward to Him. For truly Jesus Christ has borne “the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6; italics added), and “in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22; italics added).

            The lesson contains many principles, but the principle upon which I will focus is the simple fact that you and I can find peace and joy through the Savior’s Atonement. Jesus Christ made peace and joy available to us through His atoning sacrifice, and He has offered joy and peace to all who come unto Him throughout time (see Moses 5:9-12). Verse nine tells us the following.

9 And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will.

            God will not force any of us to do His will because He allows us to use our agency to make choices. If we choose to come unto Him, He will redeem us and make it possible for us to enjoy everlasting joy and peace.

As I started this post, the words of a hymn came to me, so I will share them with my readers. The hymn is “Where Can I Turn for Peace?” with text by Emma Lou Thayne, and music by Joleen G. Meredith.

Verse 1

Where can I turn for peace?

Where is my solace

When other sources cease to make me whole?

When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,

I draw myself apart,

Searching my soul?

Verse 2

Where, when my aching grows,

Where, when I languish,

Where, in my need to know, where can I run?

Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?

Who, who can understand?

He, only One.

Verse 3

He answers privately,

Reaches my reaching

In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.

Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.

Constant he is and kind,

Love without end.

            Ancient and modern prophets and apostles have taught that we must turn to Jesus Christ for redemption. We celebrate Easter because He overcame death and sin, and He made it possible for each of us to do the same. President Russell M. Nelson taught the following in October 2016 General Conference (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 81-84).

Life is filled with detours and dead ends, trials and challenges of every kind. Each of us has likely had times when distress, anguish, and despair almost consumed us. Yet we are here to have joy?

Yes! The answer is a resounding yes! But how is that possible? And what must we do to claim the joy that Heavenly Father has in store for us? …

My dear brothers and sisters, the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives. (Italics added.)

When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation, … and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening – or not happening – in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy. We feel it at Christmastime when we sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.” And we can feel it all year round….

How, then, can we claim that joy? We can start by “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” [Hebrews 12:2] “in every thought” [Doctrine and Covenants 6:36. We can give thanks for Him in our prayers and by keeping covenants we’ve made with Him and our Heavenly Father. As our Savior becomes more and more real to us and as we plead for His joy to be given to us, our joy will increase.

Joy is powerful, and focusing on joy brings God’s power into our lives….

            So, let us focus our lives on Jesus Christ, the Source of joy and peace. I invite you to learn more about Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. He completed His sacrifice that we might have joy. Easter season is a time of celebration because Jesus Christ overcame death and sin and made it possible for us to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for eternity.