If we want to be peacemakers in a contentious world, the question we must ask ourselves is “where is my heart?” One of my favorite parts of the Thai language is the inclusion of the word “heart” in the descriptions of various emotions and feelings. For example, the attributes of being cool, calm, and patient are reflected in a Thai word that is literally translated as “a cool heart.” The opposite emotions of being quick-tempered, hasty or hot-tempered are reflected in a Thai word that is translated as “a hot heart.' This way of associating emotions and feelings with the heart creates words that are rich in meaning and invite us to reflect on what is truly happening in these emotional moments.
The scriptures contain numerous references to the heart which help us understand how powerful our hearts are in guiding our thoughts and emotions. Some of these references include:
“Hearts knit together in unity and love one towards another.” (Mosiah 18:21)
“Meek and lowly of heart.” (Matthew 11:29)
“Lift up your heart and rejoice.” (D&C 31:3)
“A willing heart.” (Exodus 35:5)
“A broken heart and a contrite spirit.” (3 Nephi 9:20)
“Clean heart.” (Psalm 24:3-4)
Of added significance is this specific teaching from the Lord that clearly defines what is, and is not, important to Him. Of all people he says, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7; emphasis added).
“Hearts knit together in unity and love one towards another.”
Mosiah 18:21
We can deal with contention and disappointment in the world by carefully monitoring what is happening in our own hearts. For example, when confronted with contention do we allow our hearts to be hot or cool?
The Savior taught a parable that helps us see the importance of controlling what is in our heart. A certain man had two sons. The younger son asked his father for his portion of his inheritance and then left home and went to a far country, wasting all of his inheritance on riotous living. Eventually a famine came into the land and this young man had nothing to eat. Desperate, he decided to return home and ask his father to allow him be a hired servant. The son’s return put the father in an interesting situation. He had to choose to let his heart become either angry, bitter or revengeful, or to let it be filled with goodness, acceptance and gratitude that his son had returned. The father’s “cool heart” chose love, and he ran to his son, clothed him, placed a ring on his finger, and set out a welcome dinner. The father’s “cool heart” in this potentially contentious situation allowed beautiful attributes to be manifest. The older brother in this story had a similar test of heart. He could let his heart be filled with anger, rejection, and jealousy at the celebration offered his little brother, or he could let his heart be filled with goodness, acceptance, and gratitude that his lost brother had returned. Sadly, we learn that the older son allowed a “hot heart” to govern and would not attend the welcome dinner intended to celebrate his brother’s return (Luke 15:11-32).
Our greatest asset for peacemaking in a contentious world is to choose to let our hearts be filled with the Christlike emotions and attributes that calm and sooth in contentious moments.
The ultimate power to control our hearts and to change them for the better comes through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The “mighty change” of heart experienced by Alma was wrought “according to his faith,” and the hearts of his followers were changed as they “put their trust in the true and living God” (Alma 5:12, 13). Likewise, the hearts of King Benjamin’s people were “changed through faith on [the Savior’s] name” (Mosiah 5:7). In the book of Helaman we are taught the process necessary to obtain this “mighty change of heart.” We read that the people “did fast and pray oft, and did wax … firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ … even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God” (Helaman 3:35).
I am convinced that peacemaking in a contentious world is made possible only when we learn to change and control our hearts to always be filled with peaceable attributes and emotions. If our hearts are truly changed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our actions and responses will bring peace to every contentious situation.