Cover image via Gospel Media Library. 

The gospel of John describes Jesus cleansing the temple: John 2:13  “And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”

Was the Savior angry? If someone is angry or in a rage and out of control, do they take the time to make a scourge of small cords? After such a rage, are they in a state of mind to heal the blind and the lame?

(see Matthew 21:14)

Some people justify their anger by referring to Matthew 5:22 where it says “That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment … “ And they say “I HAVE A CAUSE!!” How many of us have used the phrase “righteous indignation” to become upset and to justify or excuse our behavior?

Instead of seeking to justify our anger, what would it be like to take counsel from the following scriptures: “cease from anger and forsake wrath” Psalm 37:8; “he that is soon angry dealeth foolishly” Proverbs 14:17, “put off all these: anger, wrath, malice.” Colossians 3:8.

In his April 2025 General  Conference talk, our dear prophet President Russell M. Nelson invited us to consider charity: “ … Two years ago, I called upon us, as covenant followers of Jesus Christ, to be peacemakers. I repeat what I said then: “Anger never persuades. Hostility builds no one. Contention never leads to inspired solutions.”

“True charity towards all men is the hallmark of peacemakers! It is imperative that we have charity in our discourse, both public and private. I thank those of you who took my previous counsel to heart. But we can still do better.”

President Nelson continues: “As followers of Jesus Christ, we should lead the way as peacemakers. As charity becomes part of our nature, we will lose the impulse to demean others. We will stop judging others. We will have charity for those from all walks of life. Charity towards all men is essential to our progress. Charity is the foundation of a godly character.”

I would submit that charity is the antidote to anger. Adjusting to Missionary Life offers the following suggestions to manage anger:

  • Give your brain time to override your emotions. The part of your brain that can reason and use good judgment is slower than the part of your brain that gets angry. Turn away from the situation for a few minutes and take some deep breaths to give your rational brain time to engage.
  • Don’t feed anger. People are more likely to feel angry when they choose to see others as (1) threatening, (2) unfair, or (3) disrespectful. Instead, see if you can think of a more charitable explanation for their behavior. For example, perhaps they are tired, uninformed, insecure, or think they are being helpful. Make the choice not to fuel anger.
  • Be calm, curious, and compassionate. Be curious about what others are thinking and feeling. Ask questions, listen carefully, tell the other person what you think you heard, and ask if you understood correctly. If not, try again.
  • Resist the tendency to blame or shame others or yourself. Instead, figure out what the problem is and ask the other person for help in fixing it, regardless of whose fault it is.
  • Be willing to apologize and ask what you can do to make things right. Apologizing is a sign of spiritual strength, not a sign of weakness.
  • Smile and be willing to laugh at yourself. Look in the mirror to see what you look like when you are angry.
  • Serve those you are prone to be upset with. Apply the Savior’s counsel to “love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you” (3 Nephi 12:44).
  • Take good care of yourself. Make sure you are eating well, sleeping, exercising, and praying so you have more emotional resources for dealing with frustration.

May the Lord bless us to overcome anger and fill our hearts with charity as we strive to be better disciples of our Savior Jesus Christ.