Happiness and peace will come to earth only as the light of love

In the gentle yet commanding voice of David O. McKay, a prophet of peace and a teacher of hearts, we hear an eternal truth: “Happiness and peace will come to earth only as the light of love and human compassion enter the souls of men.” In these few words, he reveals the secret foundation of all true harmony. The world, with its wars, divisions, and cries for justice, cannot be healed by might or law alone—it can only be redeemed through the awakening of love and compassion within the human spirit. For peace begins not in treaties or governments, but in the quiet transformation of individual hearts.

This truth has ancient roots, older than the nations and written in the soul of humanity itself. The sages of every age have declared that light is the symbol of understanding and goodness. When McKay speaks of “the light of love,” he calls us to the illumination of the soul—a light that burns not in the heavens, but within the conscience of every man and woman. Without that inner flame, civilization may advance in knowledge, but it regresses in spirit. The world may be filled with invention and power, but it remains dark if it lacks compassion, that sacred fire that binds all living souls together.

Consider the life of Mahatma Gandhi, a man who stood against the might of empire not with sword or hate, but with love and truth. Through nonviolence, he taught that no lasting peace can be born from anger, that only compassion can free both the oppressor and the oppressed. His life embodied McKay’s vision—proof that when love enters the soul, it radiates outward, softening even the hardest hearts. Gandhi’s power did not lie in armies, but in the invincible strength of spirit. And in that strength, millions found hope. His example shows that the light of love, when kindled in one heart, can illuminate an entire nation.

But McKay’s words also carry a warning. They remind us that happiness and peace cannot be imposed upon the earth by decree. They are not found in the noise of politics, nor in the rush of wealth and ambition. They arise only when individuals allow love to govern their actions and compassion to guide their judgments. The absence of peace in the world is but the reflection of the turmoil in human hearts. When men harbor greed, fear, and pride, the earth mirrors their conflict. Only when we cultivate humility, forgiveness, and empathy within ourselves will the outer world begin to heal.

The ancients said, “As within, so without.” This is the law McKay speaks of. The soul is the soil from which the harvest of the world grows. If hatred is planted, war will bloom; if love is sown, peace will blossom. Therefore, the path to a better world begins not with changing others, but with transforming ourselves. Each act of kindness, each moment of mercy, each word spoken with gentleness rather than wrath, adds light to the human spirit—and that light spreads farther than we can see. The greatest revolutions begin in silence, in hearts illuminated by compassion.

We see this truth again in the life of Mother Teresa, who walked among the poorest of the poor, her frail hands bringing comfort to the dying. She did not end the world’s poverty, yet her compassion transformed the meaning of human dignity for countless souls. She proved that peace is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of love amid suffering. Her life was a living answer to McKay’s call: that happiness and peace are born when love is not merely felt but lived—when compassion ceases to be a word and becomes a way of being.

Thus, the lesson is clear and radiant as the morning sun: if we would see peace on earth, we must first become its instruments. Let every soul be a lamp, burning with the flame of understanding and mercy. Speak kindly where the world speaks harshly. Forgive where others condemn. Extend a hand where others build walls. These small acts, multiplied by millions, will become the great tide that carries humanity toward the shore of harmony.

And so, children of time, remember this: the light of love is not a gift to be waited for—it is a responsibility to be awakened within. When you let compassion dwell in your soul, you join the ancient work of creation itself—the making of peace upon the earth. For in the end, as David O. McKay declared, happiness and peace will come only as the light of love enters the souls of men—and when that light shines in enough hearts, the world itself will finally be bright.