When we talk about rivalries what do you think about? For some
it’s a sports team such as Michigan vs. Ohio. Maybe it's a battle like Batman v. Superman (#TeamSuperman). For some it’s a family thing like it
was in Romeo and Juliette. Sometimes those rivalries happen within the family
and we call those “sibling rivalries”. Those rivalries pale in comparison to
the 1948 rivalry between Hindu’s and Muslims.
Hindu’s and Muslims had a hard time getting along in India. The
Hindu’s felt wronged by the Muslims because the Muslims had a majority rule in India
and so fights would ensue. Several people died and many more were hurt in these
riots. Mahatma Gandhi, a political and religious icon in India, fasted twice
for these two people to get along; once in 1928 and in 1947; and peace would
ensue for a little while.
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| Gandhi |
India gained its independence from England and shortly after
riots ensued again. Gandhi went into another period of fasting to end the
violence. Several doctors, friends and even family tried to talk him out of it
but Gandhi would have none of that. He was fasting until Hindus and Muslims
mutually decided to stop fighting. He wanted all of India to end the violence
within. It happened in 1948 when political and religious leaders across India
agreed in every mosque and temple that the fighting would stop. Since then the
peaceful relations between Hindu’s and Muslims has been a bragging point for India,
even to this day!
Christ is the greatest source of peace and hope that the
world will ever see. Jesus said that those that will follow him will gain “Peace
in this life and eternal life in the world to come” (D&C 59:23). The way
you follow someone is to do what they say, and one of the core doctrines that
Jesus taught was that we are to “love one another; as [Jesus] loved you, that
ye also love one another”. (John 13:34)
How is this possible to do? Right now I bet you could come
up with at least 3 names of people who rub you the wrong way. How do we gain
that kind of Christ like love that can overcome our feelings for those people?
At the end of The Book of Mormon we are left with only 2 major players. Mormon and his son Moroni. during the time they lived these two were the only followers of Christ at the time, and they were being hunted down. during all of this Mormon writes a letter to his son all about love and charity towards your fellow men and especially your enemy. Consider
what he Teaches in Moroni 7:48: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto
the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love”.
In closing, remember to pray for the strength to overcome
hatred in your life and then in this upcoming week, think of someone you could extend a peaceful hand too.
Share your time, talents and experience with them. You don’t necessarily have
to become friends but practice what Christ did his entire life- when someone
wrongs you, turn the other cheek then do some good for them. As you and I do
this we will find that our inner peace with grow and the turmoil that makes
living so hard will dissipate.
May you all have a pleasant and enjoyable Sunday.
Very insightful
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