BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
What does it take to be a peacemaker? One who would have peace in every situation and condition. The Lord has told us that contention is the spirit of the Devil. The spirit of Christ is love and peace.
In all our dealings with each other and with our families and loved ones and even with all men we must act in love and peace. If we offend others by our criticism or by our actions certainly we are not living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This applies especially in our homes and with those who are dearest to us.
To criticize a love one is to make them feel of less worth and damages their self esteem and like a two edged sword it hurts both parties the criticized and the criticizer. Certainly criticism is a tool often used by Satan to create contention and to cause hurt feelings. Satan uses this tool to beguile men into thinking that to improve his family he must tell them what is wrong and criticize them so that they can change and do better. This however only hurts the person and makes them feel of less worth. If we compliment and praise our loved ones for the things that they do that are right and good, that encourages them and builds them up and increases their desire to become better and increases their love for everyone. If we tell a loved one "don't be stupid." All they usually hear is Stupid and feel that they are being called stupid and it hurts and makes them feel stupid.
The lord has been very specific about calling names and making others feel less than they are.
Ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, and it is also written before you, that thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgement of God.But I say unto you, that whosoever shall be angry with his brother shall be in danger of His judgement. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou Fool, Shall be in danger of Hell Fire.
Nephi 12:21
Can we afford to call someone "Stupid" or "Dumb"? That is what we use today instead of "Fool".
An example of being peace makers are the people that Ammon and His brothers converted to the Gospel. They buried their weapons on War and made a covenant with the Lord that they would never take up arms against their brethren and would never again shed blood.
Even when their brethren the Lamanites came upon them they went out to meet them and kneeled down in front of them and prayed to Heavenly Father that he might forgive them. The Lamanites began to slaughter them with the sword and when they saw that they would not run or defend themselves they became ashamed and would not kill anymore.
Anger and contention and the Lack of peacemakers brought the Total destruction of the Jaredite nation even to the last man Coriantumr. Read the story in the book of Mormon, and see that Coriantumr's greatest punishment was to see all of His people destroyed because of him. And he was left alone to wander for forty years living on whatever he could find and kill for food. Finally to see another people possess the land a people that he could not even understand nor make them understand his language. So He carved his sad history on a rock and left it hoping someone could translate it. He only lived nine months after finding the Mulekites and dwelling with them. His guilt and loneliness was his punishment even unto death and his final judgement before God.
Also the Destruction of the Nephite Nation until all were killed except those that became Lamanites and a few who escaped to the south and Moroni only was left to tell the story. What a difference between Moroni and Coriantumr. Moroni was a prophet of God and had a great mission to perform. He spent his time and wanderings fulfilling joyfully the Commandments of God. He knew that he would be welcomed before the pleasing bar of God. To be a peacemaker one must learn to keep all of the commandments of God and really live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
First of course are the first principles of the Gospel.
First faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Second repentance
Third baptism by emersion for the remission of sins.
Fourth the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Notice the order in which the Savior taught the beatitudes. The Savior taught:
The teachings of the Savior continue on specifically dealing with our relationship with each other.
Peacemakers: Our most important relationships are those within our own family. We must learn to love each other as our selves.
Father, Mother and Children each one must learn individually to love and develop our capacity to love.
I thrill to hear our little children say I Know that my Mom and Dad love me. Then as they grow older they say I love my family.
As parents we must teach our children obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus. The first thing to be taught is love, unconditional love.
This is best taught by having it be absorbed from the spirit and atmosphere of the home. At a very young age things are not taught by word of mouth but are absorbed from their parents and those around them.
Parents should not let this love degrade into a power struggle between parent and child. Like having to count to three to force obedience on every little issue.
Make it easy for children to obey by creating and atmosphere of loving service.
To teach a horse to obey the reigns we do not jerk viciously when the horse is unprepared or unable to obey. Gentle persuasion when he is prepared will soon make obedience easy and willingness a trait.
The Lord has counseled us to provoke not our children to wrath.
Many times we do so unthinkingly. Fathers and Mothers let us not practice unrighteous dominion. Remember each one is and individual and deserves love and respect. This does not mean that we should overindulge or be too lenient with our children but love, firmness and constancy are necessary.
Especially parents should cooperate and not compete or try to dominate each other. Husbands watch that you do not say or indicate, "I am the Father I should be in charge and must be obeyed." The Lord has taught that this is not right and it will not create love or respect.
In a home filled with love and harmony, obedience will come as a natural course of living together.
Mother Quail teaches obedience by having the little ones obey the call to eat seeds and tender shoots of grass and weeds at first. Then when an enemy approaches she gives the signal to hide and lie still while she, through love, puts her life in danger by faking a broken wing and painfully leading the enemy away from the little ones. Failure to obey in this case by a little quail might mean death. If our little ones learn disobedience and continue to disobey their life and exaltation can be lost. If we obey in all things then our example is absorbed by our little children in the home and becomes part of their lives and attitude.
If we are peacemakers within our home and out we are teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and we can find peace in our lives.