Peace



Los Angeles, California Temple, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Peace and Temples. It's been a theme of mine noting the connection in scripture. Being in the LA area visiting with my first granddaughter (oh, yeah - and my son and daughter-in-law), I thought this picture of the LA Temple reflects the peace I feel with Temples.
It's an appropriate theme for Easter Sunday as we celebrate the literal triumph over death and sin, the hope we have to rise as did our Savior and Lord to dwell with Him in eternal peace and fullness of joy.

Last week in Sunday School there was mention of the Temple of Solomon and how David was forbidden to build because he was a leader in war. I Chronicles 28:3. It was another scriptural head-slapping moment as I realized that Solomon's name itself means "Peace."

And on the same theme, I go to my distant relation, the Silurist Poet, Henry Vaughan (1722? - 1795):

Peace

My Soul, there is a country

       Afar beyond the stars,

Where stands a winged sentry

       All skillful in the wars;

There, above noise and danger

       Sweet Peace sits, crown’d with smiles,

And One born in a manger

       Commands the beauteous files.

He is thy gracious friend

       And (O my Soul awake!)

Did in pure love descend,

       To die here for thy sake.

If thou canst get but thither,

       There grows the flow’r of peace,

The rose that cannot wither,

       Thy fortress, and thy ease.

Leave then thy foolish ranges,

       For none can thee secure,

But One, who never changes,

       Thy God, thy life, thy cure.

A blessed Easter & Passover to one and all!