President Heber J. Grant on finding peace through the Savior

President Heber J. Grant (1856-1945) was ordained an apostle in 1882 when he was 25 years old.  He served as president of the Church from 1918 until his death in 1945 at age 88.  His tenure as president lasted over 26 years; only Brigham Young had a longer term (over 29 years).

"In the living of the Gospel of Christ, and in the joy which flows from service in His cause, comes the only peace that lives forever.

"To the multitude Jesus said:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. [Matthew 11:28-30]

"To His apostles in the Passover chamber He said:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. [John 14:27]

"His peace will ease our suffering, bind up our broken hearts, blot out our hates, engender in our breasts a love of fellow men that will suffuse our souls with calm and happiness.

"His message and the virtue of His atoning sacrifice reach out to the uttermost parts of the earth; they brood over the remotest seas. Wherever men go, there He may be reached. Where He is, there may the Holy Spirit be found also, with its fruit of 'love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.' [Galatians 5:22]

"He will be our comfort and solace, our guide and counselor, our salvation and exaltation, for 'there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.' [Acts 4:12] ...

"Just before He offered up the divine prayer, Jesus, teaching the apostles, said: 'These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.' [John 16:33]"

- Heber J. Grant, Improvement Era, 45:1, January 1942, p. 10

In many ways, life is a continuing quest for peace. That applies to our public interactions, to our close relationships, and to our inner personal thoughts and feelings. The testimony of President Grant is direct and clear: "In the living of the Gospel of Christ, and in the joy which flows from service in His cause, comes the only peace that lives forever." So it's by following the Gospel principles in our life, and particularly in learning to serve diligently and unselfishly, and we can find peace. The Savior promises rest as we learn of Him and join in His cause. Truly, He is the source of the only real peace in this life:

I have always loved the beautiful invitation of the Savior from John 16:33.  We will have tribulation in the world; but we can always "be of good cheer"—not because of any method of coping with trials, or any self-help program to make us strong in difficulties, or any external program to facilitate our survival. We can have peace because He has "overcome the world"—and so can we as we turn to Him.