The List is Endless 

This generation loves planners, and to-do lists. By the time I reached my late 20’s, I had become very attached to my planner. Each day, I would list down some of the most important tasks of the day – taking care of my son, managing the house, finishing work deadlines, and doing my hobbies. Most days, I felt like I always had something important to do every hour. 

On one occasion – feeling drained and overwhelmed – I stumbled upon a Church video entitled “The Soul’s Sincere Desire.” The video depicted the life of an uber-busy young woman juggling too many priorities, only to find herself exhausted and discouraged. 

Watching that video was eye-opening. I decided to review my to-do lists and noticed something – there was no time for me to slow down, meditate, and just enjoy quiet time. There was no time for me to feel and savor peace. 

No Space for Peace

Nowadays, productivity is defined by how many tasks you can do in one day. Success is portrayed as jumping from one role to another without losing energy and focus. The world advertises productivity as living life non-stop. Unfortunately, it backfires. 

The millennial generation – perhaps the number one group suffering from emotional, mental, and spiritual exhaustion – has been tagged as the “burnout generation.” Young adults rarely find the time to relax, and enjoy quiet hours. With minds always occupied by multiple things to do, millennials can easily feel lost, unsure, and overwhelmed.

Why We Need Some Quiet Time

Even though relishing in the quiet moments is sometimes considered an unproductive thing to do, choosing to spare some time to enjoy the peace is one of the best things for our mental, spiritual, and emotional health. 

Quiet Time Helps Us Evaluate What’s Important

When we’re not rushing from one task to another, or wasting our time in worthless activities, we give ourselves the opportunity to evaluate and recognize the things that matter most. An hour of pondering and meditation can help us identify ways to improve our use of time. When we see beyond the deadlines, our time management becomes clearer. We begin to see if we’re spending time with family, if we’re dedicating enough moments for self-improvement, and if we’re giving enough time to help others. Moments of peace give us the chance to better value the things that matter most in our lives. 

Quiet Time Helps Us Feel Closer to the Lord

If we’re constantly focused on the rush, we tend to forget our relationship with the Lord. Sometimes, we find ourselves rushing our prayers, our scripture study, and our daily ponderings just because we can’t wait to start the day. Our lack of time for spiritual matters can cause us to miss important promptings, and meaningful revelations from the Lord. 

Choosing a time each day to ponder and connect with the Lord enables us to make better decisions, receive more guidance, and have the courage to see our full potential. 

Quiet Time Provides Us a Chance to Do Better

The story of Enos from the Book of Mormon is one of the most significant examples of the blessings of finding peace. After retiring to a quiet place, Enos spent time in prayer to repent of his sins. His choice has led him to identify his weaknesses and shortcomings. Ultimately, he gained forgiveness of all his sins, and received treasured revelation from the Lord to guide his life.

When we’re free from the noise of the world, we have more time to reflect on our choices. We see our weaknesses more clearly, as well as our need for guidance and heavenly help. By choosing to make room for peace in our lives, we increase our capacity to better our choices, our actions, and our goals. 

Finding Peace Amidst the Busy Scenes

Finding peace is easier said than done. To find peace and quiet in our lives, we must make the decision to turn our backs to not-so-worthwhile activities and focus more on spending our hours in reflection and meditation, and on things that have eternal value. When making our to-do lists, let’s not forget to add “Find peace” to the list – it just might be one of the best things we can give to ourselves. 

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The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead, also known as the Comforter. Unlike Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost does not have a body of flesh and bones, but is a “personage of Spirit” (D&C 130:22). The Holy Ghost being a personage therefore cannot be in different places at the same time. When people say that they have felt the Holy Ghost or the Holy Ghost fell upon them, it is not the person that they felt but the Holy Ghost’s influence, power or gifts.

The Holy Ghost witnesses of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the truth in all things (1 Corinthians 12:3, Moroni 10:5). When Jesus told His disciples of His death and resurrection, he also told them that when He ascended into heaven, the Holy Ghost would be their guide.

“… It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (John 16:7)

“… when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

“He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:13–14)

This promise from the Lord still stands to this day because the Holy Ghost not only guides prophets or apostles, but also all those who have received the gift of the Holy Ghost upon confirmation as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A revelation from the Holy Ghost “leaves an indelible impression on [a man’s] soul, one that is not easily erased. It is Spirit speaking to spirit, and it comes with convincing force” (Answers to Gospel Questions, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., 5 vols. [1957–66], 2:151). An impression from the Holy Ghost can be so profound that a man cannot mistake it for anything else.

The prophet Moroni also explains that if we pray, the Holy Ghost can manifest unto us the gospel truths contained in the Book of Mormon, saying, “… when ye shall read these things… I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:3-5).

The constant companionship of the Holy Ghost depends on our righteousness, obedience and sincere invitation. Elder David Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught, “Our invitations for the companionship of the Holy Ghost occur in many ways: through the making and keeping of covenants; by praying sincerely as individuals and families; by searching the scriptures diligently; through strengthening appropriate relationships with family members and friends; by seeking after virtuous thoughts, actions, and language; and by worshipping in our homes, in the holy temple, and at church. Conversely, casualness about or the breaking of covenants and commitments, failing to pray and study the scriptures, and inappropriate thoughts, actions, and language cause the Spirit to withdraw from or to avoid us altogether.”

It is important to note that the Spirit can “withdraw from us” or “avoid us.” This statement is supported by the verse we read in the Book of Genesis where the Lord says, “My spirit shall not always strive with man.”  Elder Kevin W. Pearson, a General Authority of the Church, further warned, “If you lose the Spirit, you are lost.”

As we strive to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost in our lives, we will have the power to resist evil and the power to discern truth from deception; we will not wander in a mist of darkness and our desire to live righteously will be increased.

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In this mortal world, sometimes we fall subject to natural disasters, economic downfall, poverty, wars, death, crimes, or other challenges. With all these challenges, how can we find peace and joy?

The song in the video entitled “The Prayer” and composed by David Foster contains two important principles on how we can find peace and joy in this life.

First Principle: Seek God’s Guidance

I pray you’ll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don’t know

Let this be our prayer
When we lose our way
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we’ll be safe.

I pray we’ll find your light
And hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night
Remind us where you are.

Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe.

The first and second verses of this song focus on asking help from a divine source. In times of troubles and difficulties, God can lead us to a safer, more peaceful ground. He can help us find comfort and will inspire us on how we can deal with life’s challenges. If we pray and ask for His help, He will listen and answer our prayers. He will help us find the light even during the darkest moments of our lives.

God’s greatest gift to each one of us is His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the light and the life of the world (Doctrine & Covenants 11:28). Through His example, we will know how to be truly happy in this life. His message teaches us what to do in order to find happiness in our mortal journey. Through His sacrifice, we are able to feel relief from our burdens. Jesus Christ suffered not only our sins but also our “pains, afflictions and temptations” so He could understand how to help us base on our experiences (Alma 7:11-12). When we sincerely believe that Jesus Christ can support us, we will feel His love and His hands comforting, protecting and guiding us.

Our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ are not physically present here with us but this does not mean that we cannot feel their presence. We can feel Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s love and presence through the Holy Ghost. Before Jesus Christ returned to Heaven, He promised His disciples that the Father will give the Holy Ghost to guide them (John 14:26). The Holy Ghost is given to us to guide us in this life. We can know that we are feeling the Holy Spirit when we have feelings of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23).

Second Principle: Love and Serve Others

A world where pain and sorrow will be ended
And every heart that’s broken will be mended
And we’ll remember we are all God’s children
Reaching out to touch you
Reaching to the sky.

We ask that life be kind
And watch us from above
We hope each soul will find
Another soul to love.

The last verses of the song remind us that we are all brothers and sisters. God is our Father and we are His children. He loves each one of us equally. We are God’s hands on the earth. One way God answers our prayers is through other people. When we love one another, we will have genuine peace.

Jesus Christ taught us to love one another. He taught this principle both in Jerusalem and in Ancient America, and the results were wonderful.

“And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.

And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.

There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.

And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings; yea, even they were blessed and prospered until an hundred and ten years had passed away; and the first generation from Christ had passed away, and there was no contention in all the land (4 Nephi 1:15-18).”

Just like in Ancient America, it is also possible to have peace and joy today when we apply the teachings of Jesus Christ and love one another. One way of showing love to our brothers and sisters is through service. A great leader from the same continent named King Benjamin exhibited this. When he was serving as the King, his greatest desire and motivation was to serve God. Because of this desire, serving other people became natural. He encouraged the people to help each other whether their need was emotional, spiritual or physical.

Now, a few years after the tragic incident in Tacloban, many families are starting to rebuild their lives. Service offered by other people has given them hope to start again. All forms of service whether it was as simple as praying for them, giving donations or building homes for them made them feel loved and comforted.

Our society can have continual joy and peace if we follow God’s commandments to love and serve one another. Through helping each other, our pains and sorrows can be ended. Christ-like love can heal a broken heart, strengthen a person and give light and hope to an uncertain future.

Our lives are full of challenges in different forms. Some challenges come from natural calamities while others from other’s choices. Whatever our troubles may be, there is a way to be happy and have peace in our lives. God will not give us anything that we cannot handle. If we trust Him, we will overcome whatever trials may come our way.

For more information about Tacloban after the typhoon, please see the links below:

2 Years After  Typhoon Yolanda
Tacloban One Year After Typhoon Haiyan
Remebering Yolanda
Shelters Built and Carpenters Certified
Cebu After Typhoon Yolanda

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