Hymn Favorites: "Where Can I Turn for Peace?"

"Where can I turn for peace?

Where is my solace

When other sources cease to make me whole?

When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,

I draw myself apart,

Searching my soul?

Where, when my aching grows,

Where, when I languish,

Where, in my need to know, where can I run?

Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?

Who, who can understand?

He, only One.

He answers privately,

Reaches my reaching

In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.

Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.

Constant he is and kind,

Love without end."

"Where can I turn for peace?"

The Lord gives us peace. "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).

"Where is my solace when other sources cease to make me whole?"

The Lord will make us whole. "And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind [Jesus], and touched the hem of his garment: for she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour" (Matthew 9:20-22, emphasis added). That applies to emotional and spiritual healing, too, not just physical healing.

"When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice, I draw myself apart, searching my soul?"

The Lord knows us better than we can know ourselves; His Spirit will guide. "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24).

"Where, when my aching grows, where, when I languish, where, in my need to know, where can I run?"

We can run to the Lord. "Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress" (Psalm 71:3).

"Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?"

The Lord's hand will be ever reaching out in comfort. "...his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still" (Isaiah 9:21, emphasis added).

"Who, who can understand?"

The next line gives us the answer: "He, only One." Only the Lord can truly understand. "For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; but if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit--and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink--nevertheless, glory be to to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men" (D&C 19:16-19).

"He answers privately,

Reaches my reaching

In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.

Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.

Constant he is and kind,

Love without end."

Peace at the Temple

There is something about the temple that makes it unique and different from other places. Whether you walk the grounds or enter its doors, there is an increase of joy and peace found there. It truly is hallowed ground.

Just this past Thursday I visited the local temple (the Seattle Temple) with two of my close friends. Something that I thought of regarding my visit (but I didn't think of until afterwards) was Moses' encounter with the burning bush in the Old Testament:
"Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
"And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
"And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
"And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
"And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground" (Exodus 3:1-5).

When we went into the temple, we took off our shoes, just as Moses did when he was commanded by the Lord. I testify that the temple and the grounds of the temple are truly holy, sanctified ground, and that is why we experience such peace and joy there.


It happened to be a beautiful day that we were there, so here are some pictures as well.

Grateful No Matter What

"Over the years, I have had the sacred opportunity to meet with many people whose sorrows seem to reach the very depths of their soul. In these moments, I have listened to my beloved brothers and sisters and grieved with them over their burdens. I have pondered what to say to them, and I have struggled to know how to comfort and support them in their trials.
"Often their grief is caused by what seems to them as an ending. Some are facing the end of a cherished relationship, such as the death of a loved one or estrangement from a family member. Others feel they are facing the end of hope--the hope of being married or bearing children or overcoming an illness. Others may be facing the end of their faith, as confusing and conflicting voices in the world tempt them to question, even abandon, what they once knew to be true.
"Sooner or later, I believe that all of us experiences times when the very fabric of our world tears at the seams, leaving us feeling alone, frustrated, and adrift.
"It can happen to anyone. No one is immune."
-Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Grateful in Any Circumstances"

Recently I was discussing with a close friend how to handle difficult times that come our way. During our conversation, he brought up this talk in particular and read this opening section. I cannot even describe the impact of those words in that moment. I could relate so much to this; we all can relate to this at some point in life.

Later, Uchtdorf said, "It might sound contrary to the wisdom of the world to suggest that one who is burdened with sorrow should give thanks to God. But those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and understanding."

A perfect example of this above statement is the story behind the hymn of "It Is Well with My Soul," which I wrote about in a blog post earlier this year (click here to read it).

Another great example is the story of Job in the Old Testament. Job was a wealthy man in his day and was faithful to the Lord. Satan decided he wanted to see if Job would turn his back on the Lord if he was given trials, so he received permission from the Lord to bring afflictions upon Job. Job lost his servants, his animals, his children, his home... "Then Job arose, ...and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, and said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:20-21).

The Bible is filled with verses and passages about gratefulness, thankfulness, being content in circumstances, etc. Here are a few that particularly stand out to me:
-"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts...and be ye thankful" (Colossians 3:15).
-"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, wherewith to be content" (Philippains 4:11).
-"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name" (Psalm 100:4).
-"O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever" (Psalm 118:1).
-"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place" (2 Corinthians 2:14).

Earlier I mentioned discussing this subject with a friend. That friend gave me a challenge, and now I challenge you to do the same: offer up a prayer in which you don't pray for any blessings or make any requests; let it solely be a prayer of gratitude. I've done this myself, and it made me feel so much better. I know that if you do this with sincerity, you will have increased joy and peace.