Peacemakers Needed: Turning the Other Cheek

Matt 5:39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person.(seek revenge, retaliate against) But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

President Russell M. Nelson in his General Conference talk entitled "Peacemakets Needed" says:

"Anger never persuades. Hostility builds no one. Contention never leads to inspired solutions. Regrettably, we sometimes see contentious behavior even within our own ranks. We hear of those who belittle their spouses and children, of those who use angry outbursts to control others, and of those who punish family members with the “silent treatment.” We hear of youth and children who bully and of employees who defame their colleagues."

"The Savior’s message is clear: His true disciples build, lift, encourage, persuade, and inspire—no matter how difficult the situation. True disciples of Jesus Christ are peacemakers."

"My dear brothers and sisters, how we treat each other really matters! How we speak to and about others at home, at church, at work, and online really matters. Today, I am asking us to interact with others in a higher, holier way. Please listen carefully. “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy that we can say about another person—whether to his face or behind her back—that should be our standard of communication."

Turning the other cheek doesn't mean being a doormat or inviting someone to hurt you again. Turning the other cheek is a form of nonviolent resistance that aims to subvert their intent and break the cycle of violence. Culturally, a backhanded slap from a superior was a grave insult, and by turning the cheek, the victim forces the aggressor to use an open hand—a gesture of equality—effectively robbing them of the insult's power. The phrase is not a call to passively endure abuse, but a radical, nonviolent act of courage that challenges wrongdoing and affirms that one's dignity is not dependent on the aggressor's approval. 

The following podcast by Steven Bartlett 'Diary of a CEO' with guest Jefferson Fisher gives real direction in how to respond in the best ways when dealing with contentious situations. 

https://youtu.be/zsuOSDb7gzQ?si=F3-_qSsvxUXfMLIR

Communication Tips:

1. Take a Deep Breath

2. Pause

3. Untangle instead of argue

(Never seek to win an argument, seek for mutual understanding, prioritize relationships over issues)

4. Thank instead of apologize

5. Ask them to say it again 

6. Did you mean for that to sound short?

7. How would you like me to respond to that?

8. How did you feel as you said that to me in the way you did?

Shemini Atzeret and President Dallin Harris Oaks: Hastening and Welcoming the Rainy Season in Israel

There is a profound connection between the restoration of thr Church of Jesus Christ, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the Biblical fall feast holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, and Shemini Atzeret. 

Joseph Smith was given the golden plates upon which the Book of Mormon was translated on Rosh Hashanah, Sept. 22, 1827.  Together with the golden plates were mystical clear stones known as the urim and thummin used to traslate the Book of Mormon.  We learn from Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph Smith's mother, the first revelation through the Urim and Thummin, Joseph was shown Martin Harris. Joseph Smith prayer was for help in translating the Book of Mormon.  Martim Harris was the answer to Joseph's prayer.  Martin Harris served as a witness of Jesus Christ, special witness of the Book of Mormon, scribe to the initial translation, and principle investor in its publication.   This revelation occurred on Oct 6, 1827, which is the first day of Sukkot. Just as God provided manna to Israel in the wilderness,  God provided the means via Martin Harris to fund the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon. 

Today:, a descendant of Martin Harris, Dallin Harris Oaks, has now been ordained and sustained the 18th prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. President Oaks was ordained as prophet on October 14, 2025 which was Shemini Atzeret or the eighth day of Sukkot or eighth day of assembly or tarrying.  Part of the observation of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret includes a libation offering prayer for rain and marks the start of the rainy season in Israel. 

Zech 14:17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King (eg keep the feast of tabernacles), the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

There is a connection with Shavuot 50 days after Passover (Nisan Full Moon) but God not wanting Israel to make a separate trip to Jerusalem durring the rainy season.  Accordingly, God hastens the feast of Shemini Atzeret to immediately follow Sukkot instead of 50 days after the beginning of Sukkot (Tishrei Full Moon) as is done with Shavuot following Passover (Pesach). 

Isa 60:22. I the LORD will hasten it in his time.

The Lord Jesus Christ appeared in a dream to Martin Harris in 1817, three years before the First Vision of Joseph Smith telling him to not join any Church at that time but soon there would be a Church restored worthy to take upon itself the name of Jesus Christ.  Martin Harris and now his desendant President Dallin H. Oaks have served and are serving a key role in the building of God's kingdom on Earth. 

Again, Shemini Atzeret is the hastened holiday that is only 15 days following the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) as opposed to counting the omer and observing it 50 days following the new year as is done in the spring feasts. Shemini Atzeret marks the beginning of the rainy season is Israel.  The rain is a blessing to the righteous who are standing in holy places, but a tribulation to the unrighteous traveler who is caught outside in the storm. 

Matt 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

There is an also association with the Jewish Holiday of Shimini Atzeret and Simchat (Rejoice) Torah observed the day following on Oct 15, 2025.  Simchat Torah is when Jews celebrate the Torah and restart their weekly torah reading beginning again in Genesis.  Some see a connection between Shimini Atzaret, Simchat Torah and President Oaks having worked as a constitutional lawyer and Utah Supreme Court Justice. 

The reason Jews restart the Torah readings at Simchat Torah associated with Shimini Atzeret and not Matan (Giving) Torah associated with Shavuot is believed to be associated with Moses breaking the first tablets containing the ten commandments and then being given a new set of tablets paralleling the great apostasy and restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in these Last Days. 

President Dallin Harris Oaks, a descendant of Martin Harris, was ordained as the 18th President and Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Shimini Atzaret, October, 14 2025.  President Nelson, a heart surgeon prepared the Church for the hastening of the Lord's work.  President Oaks, a descendant of Martin Harris, a consitituonal lawyer and Utah (Jewtah) sepreme court judge, may be the prophet of Shimini Azeret/Simchat Torah, the prophet of the hastening,  the prophet of the rainy season, the prophet of the Law, and may also be the prophet of the Lord's divine judgement. 

Why Christians Should Prosetylize

Penn Jillette, of the magician duo, Penn & Teller, is an outspoken atheist.  Nevertheless, Mr  Jillette articulates one of the best reasons why Christians should share their faith, witness, and testimony of Jesus Christ with others.  

“I’ve always said that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward—and atheists who think people shouldn’t proselytize and who say just leave me alone and keep your religion to yourself—how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?

“I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”

https://youtu.be/owZc3Xq8obk?si=ooc9a07qptmsRUaH

Mediators of Christ's Grace

Elder Holland made this amazing point in General Conference.  When Jesus Christ healed the blind man, He could have just spoken it and made it so. Instead, Jesus anointed him with a mixture of spit and dirt. And then commsnded that the man wash in the pool of Siloam. 

John 9:6 "When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, ... He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing."

When Christ told the story of Good Samaritan, The Good Samaritan (representing Christ) could have stayed with the man and done everything himself.  Interesting that the story makes the point that the Samaritan employed the assistance of the innkeeper to continue caring for the man who fell among thieves. 

Luke 10: 33-35 "But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have."

Interesting also that the holy scriptural books of St. Luke and Acts (God breathed) was written by someone who confesses that he was not an Apostle nor an eyewitness to the things he's writing about but interviewed people who were.   

Luke 1:1-4  "Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed."

In another example we have the first miracle of Jesus changing water to wine at the marriage at Cana.  The Bible says Jesus commended the servants to bring him six waterpots.  These vessels were used for the guests to wash their hands and contained dirty water.  But Jesus didn't just immediately change the dirty water into clean.  Instead, Jesus commanded the servants to top off the waterpots to the brim with clean water and only then did He change the water to wine. We are like those waterpots.  We are filled with unclean water but if we wish to become not only clean but transformed into pure wine through the power of Christ, we must dump out the old dirty water and fill ourselves up with clean water to the very brim. Then we can expect to experience the trasforming power of His miraculous grace in our lives.  

John 2:7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

Christ could have effectuated this miracle with a word or even a thought.  Instead, Christ employed obedient servants, six waterpots, dirty water and clean.  But the power to transform unclean water to pure wine was 100% through the power and grace of Jesus Christ. 

So, yes we come to God through Jesus Christ.  But Christ seems to still be working through various people and means (gifts of grace) that we are also expected to both receive and make use of. So, I think we should be careful in over-interpretting when scripture teaches that Christ is our only mediator with God the Father to the exclusion of thinking we no longer need to accept the many gifts of grace Christ has sent us and expects we receive and make use of. (ie prayer, fasting, scripture, gift of the Holy Ghost, baptism, Lords Supper, priesthood, Apostles and Prophets, His Church, The House of the Lord). These gifts bring us to Christ and Christ brings us to the Father. 

Alma 60:21 "Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us?"

Yes, there is one mediator between God the Father and man.  That mediator is the only begotten Son of God, who is Jesus Christ.  But we come unto Christ by faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, being born again and entering into the discipleship and employment of Jesus Christ and being willing to recieve, make use of,  and become all that God wills for use to recieve, maje use of, and become. 

1 Tim2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"

Receive and Make Use of the Gift of Grace

Eph 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Modern mainstream Christianity has evolved in the last 100 years. It used to be that Christianity was divided by denominations.  Christians were Catholics, Orthodox, Anglican, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, or Methodist. In more recent times, non-denominational churches have arisen as part of a more modern Evangelical movement.  My understanding of Evangelicalism is the belief that regardless of denomination or non-denomination, if an individual believes that Jesus Christ is their personal Savior, they are saved.  That's it. Evangelicallism crosses denominationsl boundaries.  A person can attend a Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist or even Catholic congregation but still be Evangelical believing that their belief in Christ is the foundation of their faith over the denomination or non-denomination they might happen ro attend.  We see this with Charlie Kirk who was a more Evangelical Christian but was drawn to attending the more traditional Catholic Church services over the more contemporary service. 

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Many Evangelical Christians believe in the the doctrine of the 5 solae: While not specifically put forth in the Bible, the 5 Solae are: Sola Fe (faith alone), Sola Gracia (grace alone), Sola Scrptura (scripture alone), Sola Christus (Christ alone) and Soli Deo Gloria (God's glory alone).  This belief is that the Bible is the ultimate, final, and only authority.  And that salvation comes only through belief in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. So, while the the Bible may talk about the need for repentance and confession, or the Bible may talk about the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper, or the establishment of a Church with Apostles, Bishops and Deacons; none of these other aspects of Christian practice impact salvation.  Salvation is in Christ alone.  These other aspects of faith and practice support the believer, but do not impact their salvation. 

How do Evangelicals view members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons)?  Generally speaking,  Evangelical along with Catholics and most mainstream denominations hold the view that in spite of the name of our Chrurch, and our confessed belief that Jesus of Nazareth is Jehovah of the Old Testament, the promised Messiah, and the Savior and Redeemer of the World; LDS are not true Christians, we believe in a different Christ, and we are going to hell. 

Why doesn't mainstream Christianity like the Church of Jesus Christ?  In addition to accusing us of believing in the wrong Jesus they generally don't like that we believe in modern prophets and Apostles,  in additional scripture like the Book of Mormon, and in our Temples were we offer saving ordinances like baptism for the dead.  And, they claim our doctrine is too works based.  They accuse us of believing we can save ourselves through our own efforts. I think some of this stems from a misunderstanding of LDS belief on grace.  Yes, LDS absolutely believe that Jesus Christ is the only way and source of salvation.  But Evangelicals may point to our Book of Mormon which says: 

2 Nephi 25:23 "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."

Evangelicals say 'ha, after all we can do'.  That proves you think you can contribute to your own salvation. According to them,  we can't contribute anything.  However, The Book of Mormon explains what "after all we can do' means.  In one sense, because we have already been given the gift of agency, we therefore have the ability and can use our God-given agency to offer our whole souls back to God as an offering to God. 

Omni 1: 26 "And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved."

In another sense, the Lord Jesus Christ has given us the gift of His grace.  He has given the gifts of faith, prayer, repentance, scriptures, the Holy Ghost, priesthood, prophets, apostles, and temple ordinances.  What does Christ expect of us?  He expects us to receive these gifts and to make use of them.  

D&C 88:33 "For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift."

Alma 60:21 "Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us?"

LDS Doctrine is not about thinking we can save ourselves by our own efforts.  Instead, we simply believe that we are to demonstrate our faith by our works by receiving the many gifts of grace that the Lord Jesus Christ has given us and to make the best use of them we can. 

James 2:18 "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."

Matt 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

We need to avoid making the mistake of interpreting Eph 2:8-9 while excluding all other scriptures on the matter; especially the direct words of Jesus Christ during His ministry. Yes, if we truly accept Christ as our personal Savior, we will be born again, and born of the Holy Spirit and embark on a life-long path of discipleship, spiritual growth, and sanctification.   The many gifts of Christ grace (scripture, prayer, fasting, baptism, Holy Ghost, Lords Supper, temple) are given to us to aid in our progression in Christ unto eternal life. If we are truly born again, we should not have any aversion to receiving these many gifts with thanksgiving and diligent utilization.