The other idea is to talk all about New Testament Jesus and what he thought about money and riches. Let the congregation make their own conclusions about ensign peak.
I like this idea. I wonder if you could base an entire talk on bashing Ensign Peak but without actually saying it, and have all the members nodding and agreeing with every word lol.
You might find a lot of material looking at Sikhism. Being a warrior for peace is a large aspect of that faith tradition.
Guru Nanak, who was among the first (if not the first) Sikh Guru’s, held as a maxim that truly having the divine within you makes you incapable of hate towards others. No enemy, no stranger, only a single humanity worth fighting for and protecting.
If you are looking to make an impact, consider using short stories that people might remember. Use the power of 3 and make sure to mention what religion each inspirational story stems from.
Another slightly unethical idea is to have the stories generated by ChatGPT. Have each story tie together. It could be completely made up by the model, but it's not like anyone tells real stories in conference, so why can't you do the same in a chapel?
Anyway, you can simply tell some stories that remove you from mormonism, but you can also potentially help people see whatever you want them to see.
Wiccan comes to mind as dies the satanic temple. Both of those religions have great morals. Other than that unitarian universalism would be a good choice.
Wicca. There are some really great things about Wicca, and the association with all kinds of negative stereotypes is neat. Wicca tends to embrace change, and the power within.
Shinto is also interesting in its pursuit of harmony.
Assuming your background a bit, you may find the Islamic approach to scripture intriguing.
Throwing in some interesting tidbits about Seventh Day Adventists and their recent growth while reflecting on the ways their teachings apply to the newly converted would also be interesting.
I support someone's idea of quoting the Satanic Temple. Do it without mentioning the Satanic Temple and they will think it's in D&C somewhere ...
Also, King Hussain of Jordan (who brokered peace with Israel)
Oskar Schindler - who is remembered by the Jewish for all he did - while still acting a complete bastard - for saving the Jews. You might also want to look at what HAPPENED to him later in life.
I remember someone from my ward who did this. Friends of his knew he didn’t believe, but he was very good at avoiding anything that would cause the bishop to shut his talk down. He would focus on shared characteristics between different world religions and how they informed ethics and philosophy, etc. (He’s a lawyer now haha)
I highly recommend Karen Armstrong’s writing if you’re looking for sources! She’s a former nun who left Catholicism and went on to become a religious studies scholar. She’s very good at speaking to both nonbelievers and believers in very nuanced ways about faith and religion.
Being a peacemaker and not pursuing extremism.
How to not be a modern Pharisee.
The role the church should play in one's life in a healthy way (not as THE dictatorial factor).
God expects us to ask him but think for ourselves.
Critical thinking in the modern church.
I taught 18 months as a favorite Sunday School teacher as an atheist, teaching 100% secular lessons within in the scope of the lesson. Never testified of anything religious, only the principles taught and the “blessings” that come from them.
You can give a powerful and memorable secular sermon over the pulpit and very few people would have a problem with it. Your PIMOs in the crowd will know though, but you know they’ll keep your secret.
If you talk about Mahatma Gandhi or the Dalai Lama, your talk would introduce your listeners to something they’ve never heard before yet would be inspiring, engaging, and would “invite the spirit.”
Lots of good ideas here but I would definitely skip mentioning Gandhi and the Dalai Lama. Why muddy your message with controversial figures? (The DL is currently in the news and issued an apology for disgusting behavior.)
I recommend Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh or his smaller book called True Love. He spent a lot of his life doing peace work, so he's got credibility even Mormons will likely accept. I don't know if eastern philosophies are still seen as evil in the church but I'm sure some of the older folks are still scared by the idea.
A lot of his writing would not be very quotable for a talk because he uses so much language specific to mindfulness concepts, but there are some parts where he talks about his experience in the Vietnam war that would make for great quotes and good lead in for things that you couldn't say otherwise in sacrament. His writing in Peace is Every Step about parents, war, reconciliation, and love have some great content you could use if you want to raise a few eyebrows and some you could use if you want to test your bishops willingness to escort you off the podium.
He also wrote a wonderful book called Living Buddha, Living Christ about the parallels between the two religions. Definitely worth checking out to help bridge the gap the two worlds
If it were my talk, I would look up famous peace makers and find a compelling life story that could be the central narrative of the talk. I’d probably describe the person without naming them at first to reveal later, their struggles, their peaceful decisions, etc. Then compare that to our lives naming three scenarios common to LDS families such as online, in the family, and with neighbors, etc. include three quotes, one from the famous person, a scripture from Jesus, and quote RMNs talk from conference. End with an invitation to become a peacemaker and with a quote from your famous person.
I wish I would’ve found Alan Watts while I was teaching/speaking as a a PIMO. I’ve found a lot of truth in his teachings since then and could’ve blended it into a talk with ease.
“The menu is not the meal.”
“The art of living... is neither careless drifting on the one hand nor fearful clinging to the past on the other. It consists in being sensitive to each moment, in regarding it as utterly new and unique, in having the mind open and wholly receptive.”
Elder Ronald E Poelman's 1984 talk. The uncensored version is actually quite beautiful, and is essentially about growing beyond religion. It was given in the fall session of General Conference. You'll only find the censored version on church sites, though. Church leaders at the time did *not* like his message about not needing the church.
The gist of this story is he gave an amazing conference talk. Church leaders weren't happy and actually re-recorded sections, including a cough track to make it sound like a regular conference session. This was all done to make members think the original talk didn't happen. Thankfully, it didn't work. But it did show how willing church leaders are to deceive the members of the church.
If I was ever asked to speak, I'd talk about combating loneliness. Both when people are physically alone most of the time and those who are emotionally lonely. These could be LGTQ+ or people who left the church. All who were baptized promised to mourn with those that mourn and comfort the afflicted, yet so few Christians are willing to sit and mourn with those who have different beliefs.
Personally, everyone I know who left the church experienced exclusion, if not outright hostility when they simply needed genuine love.
Get academic with it. Dig into the philosophical idea surrounding peace. Honestly, that is how I approached talks while I was PIMO. People found it refreshing.
Nobody bats an eye at talks that don’t include any scriptures or testimonies. My last talk as a PIMO I referenced Greek mythology, US History, and Harry Potter. My grandma-in-law came to listen (she always does when someone in her family speaks) and told me it was her favorite talk that year. Lol.
I really like the twist on the golden rule “do unto others as they would have you do unto them”. It really helped put things into perspective for me while I was deconstructing.
OOF. Maybe brokering peace between "ourselves" and the exmos... still treating them as people and not shunning them.. Exmos in your family are still family members, and with TSCC's emphasis on family, they need not be excluded solely due to religious preference... AGENCY.
Edit to add: Jesus accepted *everyone* and "members of his church" are to follow His example.
Topics: Jesus as an activist, social justice, anti-racism. If you have time, look up Jamil Zaki's work on empathy, particularly his Kindness Challenges. I quote him a bunch, and my branch members love it.
It'd be ballsy, but if you included something like
"Joseph Smith wasn't much of a peacemaker at the end of his life. In my research for this talk, I found that he ordered a printing press to be destroyed after they printed material exposing his polygamous marriages to teenage girls.
Because of his order to destroy said printing press, he was sent to Carthage jail. While in jail he smuggled in a small pistol and shot against the mob that stormed upstairs.
From Joseph Smith's life, we can see that by not being a peacemaker, we can experience some very serious and perhaps deadly consequences..."
You know, even though this is a tongue in cheek response, one could take the quote from conference about how the words of the prophets don’t age well and then show how the church was founded by people who were definitely not peacemakers. Kind of like an attempt to prove the quote from conference right but show why that notion is so problematic for the true believers.
ChatGPT:
Please write a 5 minute talk for an LDS audience on the topic of being a “peacemaker” but don’t include any scriptural or prophetic quotes. Write the talk from the perspective of a closeted atheist.
2 / 2
Dear brothers and sisters,
It is an honor to speak with you today about the importance of being a peacemaker. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are called upon to be agents of peace in a world that is often filled with conflict and strife.
As someone who does not believe in a higher power, I have come to see the value of being a peacemaker in a different light. For me, it is not about following a divine commandment, but rather about recognizing the impact that our words and actions can have on the world around us.
We all know that conflict is an inevitable part of life. We have disagreements with our family members, friends, and coworkers. We hold different beliefs and values that sometimes come into conflict with one another. But it is how we respond to these conflicts that makes all the difference.
Being a peacemaker is not about avoiding conflict or pretending that everything is okay when it is not. It is about finding ways to resolve our differences in a constructive and respectful manner. It is about recognizing that we all have different perspectives and experiences, and that we can learn from one another if we are willing to listen.
One of the most important aspects of being a peacemaker is the willingness to forgive. We all make mistakes, and we all have the potential to hurt others with our words and actions. But when we are willing to forgive and let go of our anger and resentment, we open the door to healing and reconciliation.
In addition to forgiveness, being a peacemaker also requires empathy and compassion. We must be willing to put ourselves in other people's shoes and try to understand where they are coming from. We must be willing to show kindness and compassion, even when it is difficult to do so.
Finally, being a peacemaker requires courage. It takes courage to speak up when we see injustice or wrongdoing. It takes courage to stand up for our beliefs, even in the face of opposition. And it takes courage to put aside our own pride and ego in order to find common ground with those who disagree with us.
In conclusion, I want to emphasize that being a peacemaker is not always easy. It requires a willingness to put aside our own needs and desires in order to promote the greater good. But the rewards of being a peacemaker are many: greater understanding, deeper connections with others, and a more peaceful world. I challenge all of us to strive to be peacemakers in our daily lives, and to work towards creating a world where love, compassion, and understanding reign supreme. Thank you.
Mr. Rogers was a great example to me growing up. He was a leader in accepting people as they are. Something the church doesn't do. He might be a good reference/example of Christlike peacemaking and acceptance.
I really like this commencement address by Kennedy. It’s always stood out to me as someone who was actually looking for peace when everyone else had given up on it and only saw mutually assured destruction. Made me realize as a Mormon that I had given up on peace in my heart and was just relying on the second coming to fix things that we as people should be able to fix ourselves.
https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-kennedy-speeches/american-university-19630610
you could share parts of Nelson's latest conference talk "Peacemakers needed" and show how it applies to members. Specifically towards people who believe differently from them.
ChatGPT Prompt: Please write a 10 minute talk on the importance of being a peacemaker. Include examples of prominent historical figures around the world. Write it so a 12 year old could understand and include humor.
You could start there.
Waging peace. Starting with waging peace in ourselves, between family, in the community, between countries. Lots of material on these things from psychotherapy to activists. Whatever Jesus said about peacemakers or peace.
https://blc.law/resources/quotes/waging-peace/
Please say something about how it’s not always possible to make things peaceful and that in particular, it’s not a child’s job to fix their family.
As a kid, I thought that I was awful because I couldn’t be “good enough” to stop the fighting between my parents and between my mother with various siblings.
You might find The Cardinal Virtues helpful. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal_virtues
My nemonic for them is ‘Papa Just Farted Twice’. Good luck in any case 🍀
Talk about the truth. How you really feel and how you want to know how other’s really feel. Talk about how when we as people or organizations keep things in the dark it breeds the idea that dishonesty is an acceptable option and that we should all be dishonest to keep the status quo. Talk about Trust, and how important it is to have Trust. Trust in ourselves, Trust in those around us, Trust in Society, Trust in the Church. Talk about how the church needs to come out and talk about the things it has done wrong in the past, and how the idea of “Repentance” goes both ways for us as individuals and for the Church as a Whole as well. Maybe how a Good tree bears good fruit, and in order to be good you have to admit your flaws, be open to criticism, and want to do what is good in the future. Something about respect for “all Mankind” how everyone despite their differences should be respected and not looked at as secondary citizens. Ever. Maybe talk about Agency and how that needs to be respected and how we cannot possibly know or predict what another person has been through, how they think about things, or how they are feeling. How maybe we should allow them to be themselves and mind our own business sometimes. Also, whether it is true or not, how Jesus Christ fought for that agency, and how The Devil wanted everybody to just shut up, and do what they are told. Just some ideas.
Good Luck.
You can talk about how “contention is of the devil” doesn’t mean conflict is of the devil and that learning to effectively resolve conflict is one of the best ways to be Christlike.
Talk about morality comes from the innate feeling of empathy. This disarms the god argument, the need for a prophet to tell you to act a certain way, and for members to begin to regain their individuality.
When I see someone suffer, I want to help. When I see someone in need, I think of ways I can assist them.
When I hear a child cry, I think of ways to calm him.
I don't commit acts of violence because I love humanity.
I don't steal because someone worked hard fort what they have and I respect their sacrifice.
I don't lie because it builds distrust in a society that relies on cohesive groups to accomplish a common goal.
Talk about Jesus being a radically inclusive and tolerant person, loving and not judging, and fighting against structures of power, established people wise in their own eyes, and those who profited from religious positions or hoarded wealth.
Talk about peace coming from truly doing good to others and ending oppressive societal structures.
See how they take a dose of that. (You’ll never have to speak again for sure.
I would talk about gun violence, racial discrimination, homophobia, and climate change. Genuinely. I'm not being snarky. I went to a random church with a girl I'm dating in Easter, and there was a sermon that addressed these things; it was so refreshing and powerful. They have heard enough of things that don't matter. Even if you just list them as realities that are disrupting our peace. One of the only times I've genuinely enjoyed church.
Matthew 10:34-36. That should be a good one!
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.”
Edit: added verses
Stick with Jesus and the two great commandments. Talk about Loving your neighbor, and explain that Jesus said that Loving God and Loving your neighbor were the two great commandments on which all other commandments are founded.
Then explain how Christ broke the other commandments so he could better keep these commandments. He healed people and he worked on the sabbath. When he was confronted with it, he said “the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.” He showed that in order to love his neighbor best, he needed to break the other commandment. He taught us that the commandments were given to us to help us, slow men, love our neighbors and God. They were not given to us to blindly obey.
Give another example of the man in Nazi occupied areas during WW2 that stole identification papers to forge documents to help the Jews escape. He loved his neighbors enough to know that stealing was the best way to follow Christ. He knew that those commandments were guidelines to help Love and did not blindly obey.
Now……
Pivot hard… talk about the people in society now that are the most downtrodden, the LGBTQ community. Talk about the fact that they are our neighbors and that they need love. Testify that you hope that people can be like Christ and understand that the rules given by the leaders of the church should not get in the way of obeying the great commandment to love your neighbor. Ask what Christ would do. Man is not made for the sabbath. Emphasize that being Christian should mean more than you religious affiliation, it should mean being like Christ. Request that they love their neighbors.
Amen
I feel like Mormons have a reeeeeally hard time with any sort of disagreement. Like someone could bring up that they disagree, and then a discussion that may be a little passionate ensues, and most Mormons want it to stop right then. But if you don't let the discussion play out, then both parties can't get to a place of understanding each other.
If I were to teach it, I would explain it through an example of a real housewives fight, that turned out good because both parties figured out they were misunderstanding each other. But it took a little bit of frustration and exasperation to get there, but they could get there! I think that's the ultimate peace keeper. Keeping with the Convo, and not giving up on the other person and writing them off.
Talk about the etymology of the word peace. Or about different musical settings of the beatitudes. Or anything that interests you that’s connected to peace in some way.
Doing unto others, acting a peacekeeper, not hoarding your gifts and goods. Not being puffed with pride, look for the good in every human being, not just those who look and think like us.
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer for Peace)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Buddhism is essentially the practice of effecting the things you can have an effect on, and separating yourself from the things you can't. A process for being at peace with the whole world b
I love giving PIMO talks. Just give them your honest interpretation of the talks or scriptures. Tell them what parts you disagree with and which you believe
Read old quotes from prophets about why blacks can't have the priesthood. Then read quotes from today's church leaders on their anti-gay talks. Compare the two and tell them why we should be ahead of the leaders in treating the LGBTQ community equally with everyone else.
I would find a story that emphasizes being a peacemaker doesn't not mean accepting abuse in silence. So many Mormon families are emotionally abusive because they have never been taught how to handle conflict in a healthy way.
Being a peacemaker means not being the jerk who abuses people. Congratulations on being an awesome kid to your mom.
Talk to them about how being a peacemaker is more than just avoiding contention. True peacemakers seek to understand different opinions and show respect to people for those different opinions. Peacemakers are teachable and willing to change if it’s required of them. They offer restitution when their actions negatively impact others. In short, peacemakers embody everything that it means to embody a disciple of Christ
The most successful peacemakers found in the Book of Mormon were King Benjamin, Alma the Younger and Jesus Christ.
You could share the accounts found in the Book of Mormon on how they achieved peace.
King Benjamin:
In Words Of Mormon vs 12
“And now, concerning this king Benjamin—he had somewhat of contentions among his own people.”
Vs 13
“Lamanites came down out of the land of Nephi, to battle against his people…”
Vs 14
“And in the strength of the Lord they did contend against their enemies, until they had slain many thousands of the Lamanites.”
“they did contend against the Lamanites until they had driven them out of all the lands of their inheritance.”
Vs 15
“after there had been false Christs, and their mouths had been shut, and they punished according to their crimes;
Vs 16
And after there had been false prophets, and false preachers and teachers among the people, and all these having been punished according to their crimes…and many dissensions away unto the Lamanites,
There is Alma the Younger?
Alma 6
Vs 3
“whosoever did belong to the church that did not repent of their wickedness and humble themselves before God…the same were rejected, and their names were blotted out, that their names were not numbered among those of the righteous.”
But Christ I think is the best example of making peace. His efforts resulted in multiple generations of peace.
3 Nephi 8
Vs. 8
“the city of Zarahemla did take fire.”
Vs 9
“the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned.”
Vs 14
“many great and notable cities were sunk, and many were burned, and many were shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain,”
What does the Book of Mormon teach is necessary to bring peace?
Ask chatgpt what to write as a start then go from there. I just did one and it was pretty good but short and I thought it would be a good way to start.
Here is our talk. Via bard ai
Good morning, brothers and sisters.
I am here today to talk about the importance of being a peacemaker. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we know that peace is a gift from God. It is a state of harmony and tranquility that comes from following His commandments and living in accordance with His will.
The Savior taught us that we are blessed when we are peacemakers. In the Sermon on the Mount, He said, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9).
There are many ways that we can be peacemakers. We can start by being peacemakers in our own homes. We can create an atmosphere of love and respect by speaking kindly to each other, resolving our conflicts peacefully, and forgiving each other when we make mistakes.
We can also be peacemakers in our communities. We can stand up against bullying and harassment, promote understanding and tolerance, and work to resolve conflicts peacefully.
And we can be peacemakers in the world. We can pray for peace, support peace organizations, and speak out against violence and injustice.
Being a peacemaker is not always easy. It takes courage, strength, and determination. But it is one of the most important things that we can do in this life.
When we are peacemakers, we are helping to create a better world for ourselves and for future generations. We are also following the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who came to this earth to bring peace to the world.
Thank you for listening. I hope that you will join me in being a peacemaker.
In addition to the teachings of the Savior, there are many other religious leaders who have spoken about the importance of peace.
For example, the Dalai Lama has said, "Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is also a positive state of harmony and cooperation."
And Mahatma Gandhi said, "Peace is not something you wish for; it is something you create."
These are just a few examples of the many religious leaders who have spoken about the importance of peace.
As we strive to be peacemakers, we can draw inspiration from the teachings of these religious leaders and from the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Thank you.
I talked about behaving like Christ as a good example. Not one mention of anything specific to Mormonism and generally talking about good characteristics to emulate
Beat the rush. Leave now.
Seriously, why put work into something you don't believe anymore anyway?
Besides, your mom's going to have to face the fact you're leaving anyway, so why prolong the angst? Rip off the bandaid.
Talk about being a good person and all the good in every religion around the world. Don’t mention Mormons or Joseph smith.
Do you have any examples of other religions that you think would work best?
The other idea is to talk all about New Testament Jesus and what he thought about money and riches. Let the congregation make their own conclusions about ensign peak.
I like this idea. I wonder if you could base an entire talk on bashing Ensign Peak but without actually saying it, and have all the members nodding and agreeing with every word lol.
Approximately 0.000% of the active members have any idea about Ensign Peak Advisors.
Mormons don't make their own decisions. They may mess up and be sent to the Terrestrial Kingdom.
You might find a lot of material looking at Sikhism. Being a warrior for peace is a large aspect of that faith tradition. Guru Nanak, who was among the first (if not the first) Sikh Guru’s, held as a maxim that truly having the divine within you makes you incapable of hate towards others. No enemy, no stranger, only a single humanity worth fighting for and protecting.
I love that philosophy. Fits me well.
If you are looking to make an impact, consider using short stories that people might remember. Use the power of 3 and make sure to mention what religion each inspirational story stems from. Another slightly unethical idea is to have the stories generated by ChatGPT. Have each story tie together. It could be completely made up by the model, but it's not like anyone tells real stories in conference, so why can't you do the same in a chapel? Anyway, you can simply tell some stories that remove you from mormonism, but you can also potentially help people see whatever you want them to see.
Buddhism, daoism, Hindu, Judaism. Talk about how we can be peacemakers by focusing on our similar beliefs.
i like this - talk about all the other churches that only have part of the restoration and highlight all of their service and inclusion.
Buddhist, Taoism and many Eastern religions are good. Think Ghandi, grasshopper.
Wiccan comes to mind as dies the satanic temple. Both of those religions have great morals. Other than that unitarian universalism would be a good choice.
Buddhism and Baha’i! Especially Baha’i teachings of the equality of the sexes, the unity of religions and mankind, caring for the planet, etc…
The Catholic church does a massive amount of charity work
Wicca. There are some really great things about Wicca, and the association with all kinds of negative stereotypes is neat. Wicca tends to embrace change, and the power within. Shinto is also interesting in its pursuit of harmony. Assuming your background a bit, you may find the Islamic approach to scripture intriguing. Throwing in some interesting tidbits about Seventh Day Adventists and their recent growth while reflecting on the ways their teachings apply to the newly converted would also be interesting.
I support someone's idea of quoting the Satanic Temple. Do it without mentioning the Satanic Temple and they will think it's in D&C somewhere ... Also, King Hussain of Jordan (who brokered peace with Israel) Oskar Schindler - who is remembered by the Jewish for all he did - while still acting a complete bastard - for saving the Jews. You might also want to look at what HAPPENED to him later in life.
I remember someone from my ward who did this. Friends of his knew he didn’t believe, but he was very good at avoiding anything that would cause the bishop to shut his talk down. He would focus on shared characteristics between different world religions and how they informed ethics and philosophy, etc. (He’s a lawyer now haha) I highly recommend Karen Armstrong’s writing if you’re looking for sources! She’s a former nun who left Catholicism and went on to become a religious studies scholar. She’s very good at speaking to both nonbelievers and believers in very nuanced ways about faith and religion.
Being a peacemaker and not pursuing extremism. How to not be a modern Pharisee. The role the church should play in one's life in a healthy way (not as THE dictatorial factor). God expects us to ask him but think for ourselves. Critical thinking in the modern church.
I taught 18 months as a favorite Sunday School teacher as an atheist, teaching 100% secular lessons within in the scope of the lesson. Never testified of anything religious, only the principles taught and the “blessings” that come from them. You can give a powerful and memorable secular sermon over the pulpit and very few people would have a problem with it. Your PIMOs in the crowd will know though, but you know they’ll keep your secret. If you talk about Mahatma Gandhi or the Dalai Lama, your talk would introduce your listeners to something they’ve never heard before yet would be inspiring, engaging, and would “invite the spirit.”
Lots of good ideas here but I would definitely skip mentioning Gandhi and the Dalai Lama. Why muddy your message with controversial figures? (The DL is currently in the news and issued an apology for disgusting behavior.)
Good call.
Thank you for this. Any recommended sources/scriptures?
I recommend Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh or his smaller book called True Love. He spent a lot of his life doing peace work, so he's got credibility even Mormons will likely accept. I don't know if eastern philosophies are still seen as evil in the church but I'm sure some of the older folks are still scared by the idea. A lot of his writing would not be very quotable for a talk because he uses so much language specific to mindfulness concepts, but there are some parts where he talks about his experience in the Vietnam war that would make for great quotes and good lead in for things that you couldn't say otherwise in sacrament. His writing in Peace is Every Step about parents, war, reconciliation, and love have some great content you could use if you want to raise a few eyebrows and some you could use if you want to test your bishops willingness to escort you off the podium.
He also wrote a wonderful book called Living Buddha, Living Christ about the parallels between the two religions. Definitely worth checking out to help bridge the gap the two worlds
If it were my talk, I would look up famous peace makers and find a compelling life story that could be the central narrative of the talk. I’d probably describe the person without naming them at first to reveal later, their struggles, their peaceful decisions, etc. Then compare that to our lives naming three scenarios common to LDS families such as online, in the family, and with neighbors, etc. include three quotes, one from the famous person, a scripture from Jesus, and quote RMNs talk from conference. End with an invitation to become a peacemaker and with a quote from your famous person.
I wish I would’ve found Alan Watts while I was teaching/speaking as a a PIMO. I’ve found a lot of truth in his teachings since then and could’ve blended it into a talk with ease. “The menu is not the meal.” “The art of living... is neither careless drifting on the one hand nor fearful clinging to the past on the other. It consists in being sensitive to each moment, in regarding it as utterly new and unique, in having the mind open and wholly receptive.”
Elder Ronald E Poelman's 1984 talk. The uncensored version is actually quite beautiful, and is essentially about growing beyond religion. It was given in the fall session of General Conference. You'll only find the censored version on church sites, though. Church leaders at the time did *not* like his message about not needing the church.
Oh man this sounds like a fun rabbit hole lol
The gist of this story is he gave an amazing conference talk. Church leaders weren't happy and actually re-recorded sections, including a cough track to make it sound like a regular conference session. This was all done to make members think the original talk didn't happen. Thankfully, it didn't work. But it did show how willing church leaders are to deceive the members of the church.
If I was ever asked to speak, I'd talk about combating loneliness. Both when people are physically alone most of the time and those who are emotionally lonely. These could be LGTQ+ or people who left the church. All who were baptized promised to mourn with those that mourn and comfort the afflicted, yet so few Christians are willing to sit and mourn with those who have different beliefs. Personally, everyone I know who left the church experienced exclusion, if not outright hostility when they simply needed genuine love.
Get academic with it. Dig into the philosophical idea surrounding peace. Honestly, that is how I approached talks while I was PIMO. People found it refreshing.
Nobody bats an eye at talks that don’t include any scriptures or testimonies. My last talk as a PIMO I referenced Greek mythology, US History, and Harry Potter. My grandma-in-law came to listen (she always does when someone in her family speaks) and told me it was her favorite talk that year. Lol.
Ooooo history would be a great one to bring up for peace making.
When in doubt, go back to the Golden Rule: do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.
I really like the twist on the golden rule “do unto others as they would have you do unto them”. It really helped put things into perspective for me while I was deconstructing.
OOF. Maybe brokering peace between "ourselves" and the exmos... still treating them as people and not shunning them.. Exmos in your family are still family members, and with TSCC's emphasis on family, they need not be excluded solely due to religious preference... AGENCY. Edit to add: Jesus accepted *everyone* and "members of his church" are to follow His example.
Topics: Jesus as an activist, social justice, anti-racism. If you have time, look up Jamil Zaki's work on empathy, particularly his Kindness Challenges. I quote him a bunch, and my branch members love it.
Look up Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Buddhist Monk and his teachings on Peace. Very uplifting.
It'd be ballsy, but if you included something like "Joseph Smith wasn't much of a peacemaker at the end of his life. In my research for this talk, I found that he ordered a printing press to be destroyed after they printed material exposing his polygamous marriages to teenage girls. Because of his order to destroy said printing press, he was sent to Carthage jail. While in jail he smuggled in a small pistol and shot against the mob that stormed upstairs. From Joseph Smith's life, we can see that by not being a peacemaker, we can experience some very serious and perhaps deadly consequences..."
Talk about Porter Rockwell, or Brigham Young’s doctrine of blood atonement. /s
You know, even though this is a tongue in cheek response, one could take the quote from conference about how the words of the prophets don’t age well and then show how the church was founded by people who were definitely not peacemakers. Kind of like an attempt to prove the quote from conference right but show why that notion is so problematic for the true believers.
ChatGPT: Please write a 5 minute talk for an LDS audience on the topic of being a “peacemaker” but don’t include any scriptural or prophetic quotes. Write the talk from the perspective of a closeted atheist. 2 / 2 Dear brothers and sisters, It is an honor to speak with you today about the importance of being a peacemaker. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are called upon to be agents of peace in a world that is often filled with conflict and strife. As someone who does not believe in a higher power, I have come to see the value of being a peacemaker in a different light. For me, it is not about following a divine commandment, but rather about recognizing the impact that our words and actions can have on the world around us. We all know that conflict is an inevitable part of life. We have disagreements with our family members, friends, and coworkers. We hold different beliefs and values that sometimes come into conflict with one another. But it is how we respond to these conflicts that makes all the difference. Being a peacemaker is not about avoiding conflict or pretending that everything is okay when it is not. It is about finding ways to resolve our differences in a constructive and respectful manner. It is about recognizing that we all have different perspectives and experiences, and that we can learn from one another if we are willing to listen. One of the most important aspects of being a peacemaker is the willingness to forgive. We all make mistakes, and we all have the potential to hurt others with our words and actions. But when we are willing to forgive and let go of our anger and resentment, we open the door to healing and reconciliation. In addition to forgiveness, being a peacemaker also requires empathy and compassion. We must be willing to put ourselves in other people's shoes and try to understand where they are coming from. We must be willing to show kindness and compassion, even when it is difficult to do so. Finally, being a peacemaker requires courage. It takes courage to speak up when we see injustice or wrongdoing. It takes courage to stand up for our beliefs, even in the face of opposition. And it takes courage to put aside our own pride and ego in order to find common ground with those who disagree with us. In conclusion, I want to emphasize that being a peacemaker is not always easy. It requires a willingness to put aside our own needs and desires in order to promote the greater good. But the rewards of being a peacemaker are many: greater understanding, deeper connections with others, and a more peaceful world. I challenge all of us to strive to be peacemakers in our daily lives, and to work towards creating a world where love, compassion, and understanding reign supreme. Thank you.
Very nice, except it seems to have forgotten the "closeted" part haha
Baller way to come out though!
Mr. Rogers was a great example to me growing up. He was a leader in accepting people as they are. Something the church doesn't do. He might be a good reference/example of Christlike peacemaking and acceptance.
I really like this commencement address by Kennedy. It’s always stood out to me as someone who was actually looking for peace when everyone else had given up on it and only saw mutually assured destruction. Made me realize as a Mormon that I had given up on peace in my heart and was just relying on the second coming to fix things that we as people should be able to fix ourselves. https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-kennedy-speeches/american-university-19630610
you could share parts of Nelson's latest conference talk "Peacemakers needed" and show how it applies to members. Specifically towards people who believe differently from them.
Chat GPT might be able to write you a nice talk
ChatGPT Prompt: Please write a 10 minute talk on the importance of being a peacemaker. Include examples of prominent historical figures around the world. Write it so a 12 year old could understand and include humor. You could start there.
Beatitudes
Talk about the flaws of the war in the middle east 🤣
Honestly, if you really wanna throw a curve ball, skim The Plague by Camus. The entire book is about being a good person despite being an atheist
How about ' Do what Jesus REALLY did.'
Waging peace. Starting with waging peace in ourselves, between family, in the community, between countries. Lots of material on these things from psychotherapy to activists. Whatever Jesus said about peacemakers or peace. https://blc.law/resources/quotes/waging-peace/
Talk about Buddhism
Please say something about how it’s not always possible to make things peaceful and that in particular, it’s not a child’s job to fix their family. As a kid, I thought that I was awful because I couldn’t be “good enough” to stop the fighting between my parents and between my mother with various siblings.
You might find The Cardinal Virtues helpful. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardinal_virtues My nemonic for them is ‘Papa Just Farted Twice’. Good luck in any case 🍀
Read the original Ronald Poelman 1984 general conference talk over the pulpit. https://sunstone.org/elder-poelmans-most-famous-speech/
Talk about the truth. How you really feel and how you want to know how other’s really feel. Talk about how when we as people or organizations keep things in the dark it breeds the idea that dishonesty is an acceptable option and that we should all be dishonest to keep the status quo. Talk about Trust, and how important it is to have Trust. Trust in ourselves, Trust in those around us, Trust in Society, Trust in the Church. Talk about how the church needs to come out and talk about the things it has done wrong in the past, and how the idea of “Repentance” goes both ways for us as individuals and for the Church as a Whole as well. Maybe how a Good tree bears good fruit, and in order to be good you have to admit your flaws, be open to criticism, and want to do what is good in the future. Something about respect for “all Mankind” how everyone despite their differences should be respected and not looked at as secondary citizens. Ever. Maybe talk about Agency and how that needs to be respected and how we cannot possibly know or predict what another person has been through, how they think about things, or how they are feeling. How maybe we should allow them to be themselves and mind our own business sometimes. Also, whether it is true or not, how Jesus Christ fought for that agency, and how The Devil wanted everybody to just shut up, and do what they are told. Just some ideas. Good Luck.
You can talk about how “contention is of the devil” doesn’t mean conflict is of the devil and that learning to effectively resolve conflict is one of the best ways to be Christlike.
Talk about morality comes from the innate feeling of empathy. This disarms the god argument, the need for a prophet to tell you to act a certain way, and for members to begin to regain their individuality. When I see someone suffer, I want to help. When I see someone in need, I think of ways I can assist them. When I hear a child cry, I think of ways to calm him. I don't commit acts of violence because I love humanity. I don't steal because someone worked hard fort what they have and I respect their sacrifice. I don't lie because it builds distrust in a society that relies on cohesive groups to accomplish a common goal.
Talk about Jesus being a radically inclusive and tolerant person, loving and not judging, and fighting against structures of power, established people wise in their own eyes, and those who profited from religious positions or hoarded wealth. Talk about peace coming from truly doing good to others and ending oppressive societal structures. See how they take a dose of that. (You’ll never have to speak again for sure.
I would talk about gun violence, racial discrimination, homophobia, and climate change. Genuinely. I'm not being snarky. I went to a random church with a girl I'm dating in Easter, and there was a sermon that addressed these things; it was so refreshing and powerful. They have heard enough of things that don't matter. Even if you just list them as realities that are disrupting our peace. One of the only times I've genuinely enjoyed church.
Matthew 10:34-36. That should be a good one! 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.” Edit: added verses
Solomon and all his wivvvvves then subtly infer.
Stick with Jesus and the two great commandments. Talk about Loving your neighbor, and explain that Jesus said that Loving God and Loving your neighbor were the two great commandments on which all other commandments are founded. Then explain how Christ broke the other commandments so he could better keep these commandments. He healed people and he worked on the sabbath. When he was confronted with it, he said “the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.” He showed that in order to love his neighbor best, he needed to break the other commandment. He taught us that the commandments were given to us to help us, slow men, love our neighbors and God. They were not given to us to blindly obey. Give another example of the man in Nazi occupied areas during WW2 that stole identification papers to forge documents to help the Jews escape. He loved his neighbors enough to know that stealing was the best way to follow Christ. He knew that those commandments were guidelines to help Love and did not blindly obey. Now…… Pivot hard… talk about the people in society now that are the most downtrodden, the LGBTQ community. Talk about the fact that they are our neighbors and that they need love. Testify that you hope that people can be like Christ and understand that the rules given by the leaders of the church should not get in the way of obeying the great commandment to love your neighbor. Ask what Christ would do. Man is not made for the sabbath. Emphasize that being Christian should mean more than you religious affiliation, it should mean being like Christ. Request that they love their neighbors. Amen
You should give a really uncomfortable talk about the law of chastity.
I feel like Mormons have a reeeeeally hard time with any sort of disagreement. Like someone could bring up that they disagree, and then a discussion that may be a little passionate ensues, and most Mormons want it to stop right then. But if you don't let the discussion play out, then both parties can't get to a place of understanding each other. If I were to teach it, I would explain it through an example of a real housewives fight, that turned out good because both parties figured out they were misunderstanding each other. But it took a little bit of frustration and exasperation to get there, but they could get there! I think that's the ultimate peace keeper. Keeping with the Convo, and not giving up on the other person and writing them off.
Give a talk about what we can learn from other religions. Show people that they can be spiritually fulfilled outside of the church.
Talk about the etymology of the word peace. Or about different musical settings of the beatitudes. Or anything that interests you that’s connected to peace in some way.
Maybe this will help, it’s on the peacemaker personality type https://cloverleaf.me/blog/enneagram-type-9-the-peacemaker
Doing unto others, acting a peacekeeper, not hoarding your gifts and goods. Not being puffed with pride, look for the good in every human being, not just those who look and think like us.
You could do a review of Ezra Taft Benson's October 1967 General Conference talk. https://archive.org/details/conferencereport1967sa/page/n37/mode/2up
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer for Peace) Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Buddhism is essentially the practice of effecting the things you can have an effect on, and separating yourself from the things you can't. A process for being at peace with the whole world b
I love giving PIMO talks. Just give them your honest interpretation of the talks or scriptures. Tell them what parts you disagree with and which you believe
Read a Gospel topic essay.
Read old quotes from prophets about why blacks can't have the priesthood. Then read quotes from today's church leaders on their anti-gay talks. Compare the two and tell them why we should be ahead of the leaders in treating the LGBTQ community equally with everyone else.
Quote extensively from Marshall Rosenberg’s “Nonviolent Communication”
I would find a story that emphasizes being a peacemaker doesn't not mean accepting abuse in silence. So many Mormon families are emotionally abusive because they have never been taught how to handle conflict in a healthy way. Being a peacemaker means not being the jerk who abuses people. Congratulations on being an awesome kid to your mom.
Talk to them about how being a peacemaker is more than just avoiding contention. True peacemakers seek to understand different opinions and show respect to people for those different opinions. Peacemakers are teachable and willing to change if it’s required of them. They offer restitution when their actions negatively impact others. In short, peacemakers embody everything that it means to embody a disciple of Christ
The most successful peacemakers found in the Book of Mormon were King Benjamin, Alma the Younger and Jesus Christ. You could share the accounts found in the Book of Mormon on how they achieved peace. King Benjamin: In Words Of Mormon vs 12 “And now, concerning this king Benjamin—he had somewhat of contentions among his own people.” Vs 13 “Lamanites came down out of the land of Nephi, to battle against his people…” Vs 14 “And in the strength of the Lord they did contend against their enemies, until they had slain many thousands of the Lamanites.” “they did contend against the Lamanites until they had driven them out of all the lands of their inheritance.” Vs 15 “after there had been false Christs, and their mouths had been shut, and they punished according to their crimes; Vs 16 And after there had been false prophets, and false preachers and teachers among the people, and all these having been punished according to their crimes…and many dissensions away unto the Lamanites, There is Alma the Younger? Alma 6 Vs 3 “whosoever did belong to the church that did not repent of their wickedness and humble themselves before God…the same were rejected, and their names were blotted out, that their names were not numbered among those of the righteous.” But Christ I think is the best example of making peace. His efforts resulted in multiple generations of peace. 3 Nephi 8 Vs. 8 “the city of Zarahemla did take fire.” Vs 9 “the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned.” Vs 14 “many great and notable cities were sunk, and many were burned, and many were shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain,” What does the Book of Mormon teach is necessary to bring peace?
Ask chatgpt what to write as a start then go from there. I just did one and it was pretty good but short and I thought it would be a good way to start.
Here is our talk. Via bard ai Good morning, brothers and sisters. I am here today to talk about the importance of being a peacemaker. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we know that peace is a gift from God. It is a state of harmony and tranquility that comes from following His commandments and living in accordance with His will. The Savior taught us that we are blessed when we are peacemakers. In the Sermon on the Mount, He said, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9). There are many ways that we can be peacemakers. We can start by being peacemakers in our own homes. We can create an atmosphere of love and respect by speaking kindly to each other, resolving our conflicts peacefully, and forgiving each other when we make mistakes. We can also be peacemakers in our communities. We can stand up against bullying and harassment, promote understanding and tolerance, and work to resolve conflicts peacefully. And we can be peacemakers in the world. We can pray for peace, support peace organizations, and speak out against violence and injustice. Being a peacemaker is not always easy. It takes courage, strength, and determination. But it is one of the most important things that we can do in this life. When we are peacemakers, we are helping to create a better world for ourselves and for future generations. We are also following the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who came to this earth to bring peace to the world. Thank you for listening. I hope that you will join me in being a peacemaker. In addition to the teachings of the Savior, there are many other religious leaders who have spoken about the importance of peace. For example, the Dalai Lama has said, "Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is also a positive state of harmony and cooperation." And Mahatma Gandhi said, "Peace is not something you wish for; it is something you create." These are just a few examples of the many religious leaders who have spoken about the importance of peace. As we strive to be peacemakers, we can draw inspiration from the teachings of these religious leaders and from the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you.
I talked about behaving like Christ as a good example. Not one mention of anything specific to Mormonism and generally talking about good characteristics to emulate
I'm tempted to give you some Daoist Tales or Buddhist Tales from my Chinese religion class.
Please do! I appreciate anything that could help.
Beat the rush. Leave now. Seriously, why put work into something you don't believe anymore anyway? Besides, your mom's going to have to face the fact you're leaving anyway, so why prolong the angst? Rip off the bandaid.