It’s a wonderful thing to be at peace with yourself, particularly when you face difficult challenges.
When King Benjamin called his people together at the end of his reign, he reviewed his actions as king: keeping crime rates, incarceration rates, and taxes low, by teaching the people true principles and by laboring with his own hands. He wasn’t telling them these things to boast, he said, but rather “that ye may know that I can answer a clear conscience before God this day” (Mosiah 2:15; see also Mosiah 2:27).
As a result of his sermon, the people repented and received an assurance by the Spirit of the Lord that their sins had been forgiven. At that time, they were “filled with joy” and they experienced “peace of conscience” (Mosiah 4:3).
The word “conscience” means literally “with knowledge.” If you have no conscience, you are oblivious to the rightness or wrongness of your actions. If you ignore or defy your conscience, then you are acting in a way that is inconsistent with your knowledge.
When the apostle Paul appeared before the Sanhedrin during his last visit to Jerusalem, he said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:1). Shortly after, he said to Felix, the Roman governor of Judea, “Herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men” (Acts 24:16). I like the imagery of exercising our adherence to conscience. We can be intentional about paying attention to our sense of right and wrong and adjusting our behavior, words, and thoughts accordingly.
In 1833, Joseph Smith wrote the following counsel to church members who were suffering persecution in Missouri:
We know not what we shall be called to pass through before Zion is delivered and established; therefore, we have great need to live near to God, and always to be in strict obedience to all His commandments, that we may have a conscience void of offense toward God and man.
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, “Chapter 19: Stand Fast through the Storms of Life“
Ten and a half years later, as prepared to travel to Carthage, where he would be murdered by an armed mob, he said, “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a summer’s morning; I have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards all men” (Doctrine and Covenants 135:4).
Today, I will pay particular attention to my conscience. I will strive to act “with knowledge,” by adjusting my actions to more closely match my sense of right and wrong.
Void of offence: many see what Heavenly Father has in store for fhem, if they persevere and exercise good conscience daily. However. There are many that refuse to believe in change, and are sadly unacceptable of change in behavior or belief.in others. If you’re following God’s Plan, there is an opportunity for missionary work here, or sadly – you may need to choose better relationships. Prayers for others is key here, but we must remember… All have the gift of free agency, and that alone comes from our Heavenly Father.
Great thoughts, Judy. While we do need to respect one another’s agency, we can also hope and pray for others to make wise decisions and experience growth. Sometimes change happens slowly, but if we are patient and continue to love them, we have every reason to hope for a positive outcome over time.
Best,
Paul