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I have thought a lot about how I would frame a statement about the key to internal peace and joy. This morning, while reading a post on a friend’s blog, I had the following thought: Quote:Even if people view many things differently, the core Gospel principles (LOVE; belief in the unseen but hoped; self-reflective change; symbolic cleansing; striving to recognize the promptings / will of the divine; never giving up) are universal. Understanding and living by those simple principles,
according to the dictates of our own individual consciences, really is the key to internal peace and joy. When that is coupled with a collective acceptance that ALL people have that same privilege to craft their own internal peace and joy (
subject to minimal restrictions, based on the fundamental principle of love), again, even if they view many things differently – in those cases, “Zion” truly exists. To me, those statements encapsulate Pure “Mormonism” more than any other definition I’ve heard. Ray, I really like that. I think most every religion captures those elements, at least the ones I’m thinking of. But the problem then with inner peace is when the external rules conflict with the internal thoughts of what is important. It then is not about internal change to better oneself, but change for the sake of conforming to the groups’ agreed upon standards. In other words, conforming to the group can sometimes make one feel internally not at peace with personal views of truth, or following internal views of truth not in line with the groups’ rules leaves one not at peace with the group. Wayfarer has described it as trying to fight against the currents to make some elements of the church work. And that isn’t peaceful.
So, it becomes more complex when one must try to reconcile internal peace with social peace. Trying to reconcile them is a worthwhile effort, because it seems to be external and internal peace. It’s nice when that can happen. Sometimes, it is stressful trying to make it happen.
You’re right, Heber – but that’s why I kept this limited to internal peace and joy, which can be found and maintained even amid quite violent exterior forces. Ironically, it often is easier to find and maintain internal peace and joy in the face of serious opposition than it is during times of relative calm – since there often is no motivation in calm times to search for true internal peace but rather coast along in fairly shallow waters. In that way, a faith crisis can be an empowering challenge for some people – even as it can break others. The difference, imo, really is rooted in one’s ability to establish internal peace and joy.
I think I might have to make this into a nifty little word-o-gram, pinterest-esque quote picture thing to put on facebook and the like. Good stuff.
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