And let the peace of God rule in [our] hearts" (Colossians 3:14-15).

Today is a unique day in that it is 11/11/11.Today is also Veterans Day, the day we honor men and women who have served in our military forces. The history of Veterans Day started with World War I- "known at the time as "The Great War"- [which] officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of 'the war to end all wars'" (U.S. Department of Veterans History).That's why Veterans Day was originally called "Armistice Day". The purpose of Veteran's Day is: "A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good" (U.S. Department of Veterans History). As I have thought about those who have served our country by being in the military, giving of their time, talents, and sometimes, their very lives, I am humbled and grateful for their sacrifices and love so that all of us may be free and have peace. This date, 11/11/11 really is a symbol of peace, and that's what our veterans stand for.

So, what does this have to do with Jesus Christ and with us? Well, there is a war going on, even as we speak, between good and evil. Some people don't like me to use the word "evil" because it might be offensive or politically incorrect. But, there is evil and there is good. There is "opposition in all things" (2 Nephi 2:11) so that we may "know to refuse the evil, and choose the good" (Isaiah 7:15; 2 Nephi 17:15). We get to choose which side we are on, which side of the war we want to "fight" on. The war is between "the dragon" who is Satan (Revelation 12:9) and those of us who choose to follow Jesus Christ. "And the dragon was wroth with the woman (this would be Eve), and went to make war with the remnant of her seed (that's us), which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 12:17). "The great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Revelation 12:9). But we need not fear. We get to "choose...this day whom we will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord". Hopefully your answer is, "The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey" (Joshua 14:15, 24).

As we decide which side we want to be on, we can “endure the hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3). War is not easy, nor is it fun. It is hard and challenging, and in the end, when we are on the Lord’s side, we will win. The Lord is leading His army and is the King of Righteousness (Hebrews 7:2). “We have the volition of our own wills and we can choose evil or good. …We have got to learn to stand or fall for ourselves, male and female” (Pres. Joseph F. Smith). As we follow the King of Righteousness, the Prince of Peace we have nothing to fear because we are not alone. The Lord has said, "And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up" (D&C 84:88).

Remember the story in the Old Testament when the prophet Elisha is surrounded by the army of Syria and his servant comes out and is terrified because “an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! How shall we do” (2 Kings 6:15)? Elisha reassures the servant by sayings: “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kings 6:16). But the servant could not understand how they would be okay surrounded by that many enemy soldiers. So, “Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17). We too have nothing to fear because “they that be with us are more than they that be with them”.  The Lord watches over us as His children. "Trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe" (1 Timothy 4:10). 

As we stand "on the Lord's side" (see Exodus 32:26), "the right hand of God" (see Mosiah 5:9) which is the 'right side', we can do this simply by being an "example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Tim. 4:10). We can put down our "weapons of war, and [our] hatred, and the traditions of [our] fathers" (Heleman 5:51) and pick up "perfect love which casteth out fear" (1 John 4:18) and "put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in [our] hearts" (Colossians 3:14-15). And as the army of Heleman (you can read about them here) we can be "exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; ...we can be men and women who are "true at all times in whatsoever things [we are] entrusted". ...men and women of "truth and soberness, for we have been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him" (Alma 53:20-21). 

As part of the Lords military we need not fear. Today is a day to remember peace, and the veterans who fought for it and continue to do so. Today is also a day to remember the Prince of Peace, and "if [we] are prepared [we] shall not fear" (D&C 38:30). In Christ we shall find peace and we can say, "He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me" (Psalms 55:18). This I testify is the power and protection of being "on the Lord's side" and we have no need to fear and can live His peace.