Week 1: Introduction to Practical Peacemaking
As members of MWEG, we recognize that peace can feel like an abstract concept. And it’s not merely the absence of violence. Instead, peace is a state of harmony, tranquility, and understanding that requires not only justice and ethics, but also balance, love, and connection. Peace has everything to do with how we feel about each other and how we act in our personal and collective lives.
Defining terms
We differentiate between conflict and contention because conflict is a normal, ongoing part of our mortality; there is no way to avoid it! Conflict implies that we perceive or actually experience differences that matter to one or more parties. It is not necessarily positive or negative; it just means the differences matter in some way. On the other hand, contention implies hostility or another negative emotion about the perceived or real differences between and among us. We have a choice to move from conflict into contention.
Rather than something passive, peacemaking requires action, thought, the use of spiritual gifts, and wisdom to restore calm, tranquility, justice, and harmony where perceived or real differences have threatened relationships among individuals, peoples, and entire societies. An effective peacemaker publishes truth with the nonviolence and love of the Savior.
Finding peace
Like all gifts of God, when we seek the paths that lead to peace, we are promised to find it. To create greater peace on earth, we must do more than wish or hope for better times; we must prepare to become active and courageous peacemakers. As President Joseph F. Smith said during World War I: “Peace comes by preparing for peace, through training the people in righteousness and justice” (Improvement Era, Sept. 1914, pp. 1074-75).
In terms of a sure path to personal and world peace, Elder John A. Widtsoe stated in 1943: “The only way to build a peaceful community is to build men and women who are lovers and makers of peace. Each individual, by that doctrine of Christ and His Church, holds in [her] own hands the peace of the world. That makes me responsible for the peace of the world and makes you individually responsible for the peace of the world” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1943, p. 113).
Equipped with personal peace, we are empowered to carry out our personal ministries as ambassadors of peace for the Savior who is the Prince of Peace. Following in the Savior’s footsteps, we invite you to launch your journey as a peacemaker with weekly GROWS, discussion board topics, training videos, and shareable memes. We look forward to making this peacemaking journey with you. We anticipate that each of us will learn to better serve and represent the Savior in all that we think, feel, do, and say for the cause of peace. Truly, when we are prepared, we shall not fear.
Week 1 exercise
As your first step in this peacemaking journey, we ask that you consider your own personal perspectives on peace, conflict, and contention. In order to understand how you usually deal with conflict, we are going to explore five conflict approaches (avoiding, accommodating, compromising, competing, and collaborating) through an online survey tool and a live GROW discussion focused on how each of these approaches has a legitimate place in our peacemaking toolkit. When used in the appropriate situation, each approach will lead to greater peace and understanding.
Learning more
Ready to learn more about peacemaking? Check out the Practical Peacemaking course in MWEG Central!
