“Hold Your Peace”

The Book of Common Prayer, first published by the Anglican Church in 1549, specifies the following text for a marriage ceremony: “If any man can shewe any iuste cause why they maie not lawfully be ioyned so together: Leat him now speake, or els hereafter for euer hold his peace.”

This may be the earliest recorded instance of the phrase “hold your peace.” The meaning is clear from the context: If you don’t speak up now, you’ll need to keep quiet. It won’t be useful to share the information after the ceremony is over.

The King James Version of the Bible uses the phrase “hold your peace” pretty consistently to translate “be silent”—charash (חָרַשׁ) in Hebrew and siópaó (σιωπάω) in Greek. For example:

• When the children of Israel begin to panic on the shore of the Red Sea, Moses says, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. … The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:13-14).
• One of the proverbs says, “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding” (Proverbs 17:28).
• In his first epistle to church members in Corinth, Paul explains that people should speak one at a time in worship services. “If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one,” (1 Corinthians 14:30-31).

“Holding your peace” seems like a good metaphor for the discipline of staying quiet. Unlike “biting your tongue,” which seems reluctant and insincere, “holding your peace” sounds like something you choose to do, something which reduces rather than increases your anxiety.

In 1829, the Lord instructed Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum to hold their peace, for two different reasons.

• Joseph was deeply engaged in the work of translating the Book of Mormon. The Lord wanted him to focus on that project and not to jeopardize it by sharing broadly what he was doing. “As you cannot always tell the wicked from the righteous, therefore I say unto you, hold your peace until I shall see fit to make all things known unto the world concerning the matter,” He said (Doctrine and Covenants 10:37).
• Hyrum wanted to preach the gospel, but the Lord told him it wasn’t yet time. “Wait a little longer, until you shall have my word,” He said. “Keep my commandments; hold your peace; appeal unto my Spirit.” Then, He added, “Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed. … But now hold your peace” (Doctrine and Covenants 11:16, 18, 21-22).

The phrase “hold your peace” doesn’t appear in the Book of Mormon, but there are powerful examples of people choosing to remain silent. Nephi cuts short an admonition to his readers, saying, “The Spirit stoppeth mine utterance” (2 Nephi 32:7). Ammon stands before King Lamoni for an hour before breaking the silence. (See Alma 18:14-15.) After the destruction which coincided with the death of Jesus Christ, the Nephites and Lamanites heard His voice, and then “there was silence in the land for the space of many hours” (3 Nephi 10:1).

I have had several experiences recently in which I accomplished more by speaking less. I’ve participated in meetings at work where everyone had something to say. Instead of barging in to add my ideas, I’ve listened and waited, sharing my thoughts only when the pace slowed down a little. As a result, my contributions have been more effective. I’ve also felt more calm and settled during and after those interactions.

Of course, it’s not always appropriate to remain silent. When the apostle Paul was in Corinth, the Lord appeared to him during the night and said, “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: for I am with thee” (Acts 18:10). The Lord’s guidance to Joseph and Hyrum was also time-bound. They were to remain silent for the moment, not forever. There are times when we need to speak up and make our voices heard, but there are also times when our best contribution is to remain calm and measured.

Today, I will be intentional and patient as I communicate. I will listen carefully, and I will strive to be comfortable with silence. I will communicate in a way that promotes peace within myself and with others.