As I’ve implemented President Nelson’s invitation to be a peacemaker, I’ve found that it’s not about avoiding conflict or staying quiet—it’s about actively spreading love, joy, and understanding, even in the middle of chaos.
Being a peacemaker is energetic, intentional, and often messy—it’s choosing kindness, patience, and encouragement every single day. For me, this looks like ministering to the people around me and showing up for my friends in both big and small ways. Sometimes it’s listening without judgment; sometimes it’s sending a random text just to say, “I see you, and you’re amazing”; and sometimes it’s laughing together through the chaos so we can all feel a little lighter. Humor, kindness, and love are all peacemaking tools, and I’ve learned that mixing them with the Spirit creates real connection and healing.
Peacemaking isn’t just something you do because it’s a duty—it’s an opportunity to actively lift others, celebrate their strengths, and help them feel loved. That energy carries over into my friendships too. I love my friends fiercely, and being a peacemaker with them means I can share joy, offer encouragement, and support them in ways that matter. Seeing someone smile because of something I did or said reminds me why being a peacemaker isn’t passive—it’s active, intentional, and powerful.
Being a peacemaker is exciting, messy, and joyful work. It’s about showing up, speaking life, and spreading light wherever you go. President Nelson’s invitation has challenged me to lean into love, courage, humor, and friendship and to see peacemaking as an ongoing adventure rather than a quiet ideal. When I bring the Spirit, laughter, and love together, I can help create peace in a world that desperately needs it—one friend, one conversation, and one moment at a time.
—Kristina Hogge, Fall 2025 Latter-day Saint Insights Contributor and Contest Winner
FEATURE IMAGE BY KELLYSIKKEMA