Through Grandpa Lybbert's Eyes: Blessed Are the Peacemakers

I’ve never really gotten beneath the surface of the Beatitudes before, so I’m loving learning what Grandpa Lybbert saw in them.  His booklet was published in 1977 after his passing in January, so it is literally the expression of what he thought and taught throughout a lifetime. 

I’ve never thought of the Beatitudes being connected to each other in any kind of sequence, but Grandpa Lybbert saw being a peacemaker as a culminating attribute to be attained only after implementing the beatitudes preceding #7,  “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.”

Here are his words:

All of the beatitudes so far have shown us what we have to do to be…a peacemaker…

The Saviour knew that if we were poor in spirit, or in other words, humble and teachable and would come to our Heavenly Father with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, we would progress spiritually, and this would surely be the first step we need to take…,

The next step which is expedient for us to gain peace and excellence of character is to truly mourn for our sins, which is true and sincere repentance…

To be meek follows as very necessary…requiring strength of becoming teachable, willing to follow the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Hungering and thirsting after righteousness is next in importance.  Our hunger and thirst will be satisfied through prayer, faith and study, realizing…that when we make an effort to do all that is required of us, then we will be enlightened by the Holy Ghost.

The beatitude of being merciful encompasses the golden rule as found in Matt. 7:12, do unto others as you would be done by.  The mercy we give to others is a yardstick of how we value and love our fellowman.

Purity of heart comes from living all of the above principles, incorporating all that is lovely and true, with a wholehearted effort to improve, to learn of God’s ways, thereby coming to know him in a meaningful way.

By adhering to these beautiful beatitudes we are then more able to become peacemakers, a virtue all should possess…We owe it to ourselves and God to [become peacemakers].  Then and only then can we truly be called children of God!