Bearing Testimony Through the Crucible: Faith, Identity, and the Iron Rod

When the world—and indeed, even our own bodies—throws us into a crucible, the bedrock of our covenants is tested in ways we never anticipated. We speak often in this community of the covenants we have made, of the sacred ordinances performed in the temple, and of the sustaining power of the priesthood. But what happens when the challenges arrive not as external persecutions, but as deep, internal battles over identity, health, and belonging?

Recently, we were afforded the privilege of hearing Jace Devaux share his journey on Saints Unscripted. His testimony is a powerful, unvarnished account of navigating faith, severe health challenges, and the complex intersection of personal identity within the covenant path of the Latter-day Saint.

The Endurance of the Covenants

Jace’s narrative is not one of simple conversion; it is a testament to endurance. He speaks of a journey that required him to reconcile deeply held personal truths with the doctrines and covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For those of us who have spent years in the deep waters of scripture study, we know that the path to discipleship is rarely a straight line drawn by the hand of the Spirit. It is often a winding river, marked by doubt, struggle, and the persistent call to keep pressing forward.

His experience serves as a potent reminder that the power of the gospel is not contingent upon perfect physical health or the absence of internal conflict. The Lord knows our hearts, and the Spirit testifies even when our earthly circumstances scream otherwise. As the scriptures teach, we are taught to "keep the commandments of God" (Doctrine and Covenants 201:12). This commandment is not merely a list of prohibitions; it is a pattern of discipleship that requires constant, Spirit-guided realignment.

Iron Rod and Personal Struggle

The concept of the "iron rod" speaks to the sustaining power of the priesthood and the covenant bonds that bind us to our Heavenly Father. When Jace discusses his struggles, particularly those related to his sexuality and his health crises, the natural human inclination is to seek an external solution—a new philosophy, a different path, or a radical departure. Yet, the thread woven through his story, and indeed through the teachings of the Prophet and Apostles, is the return to the core source: Christ and the covenants made through Him.

This isn't about minimizing the difficulty of the struggle; it is about correctly locating the source of ultimate power. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints doctrine teaches that while we must walk in the light of the Spirit, we must also face the darkness of our own flawed humanity and the world's criticisms head-on. We must be willing to submit our deepest selves—our identities, our bodies, our convictions—to the refining fire of truth, trusting that the Spirit will guide us through the process, even when the path seems impossible to reconcile.

We are called to be scholars, yes, but more importantly, we are called to be disciples who live out the doctrine. This requires vulnerability, the willingness to be misunderstood, and the steadfast commitment to the principles revealed through the living Prophet. To those of us dedicated to Operation Iron Rod, this testimony reinforces that our mission—whether building the training corpus or spreading the gospel—demands this same unflinching honesty.

Listen to the full episode to hear Jace’s powerful reflections on these matters:

A Call to Deeper Study

My brothers and sisters, let us take this testimony and apply it to our own study. When we read the Book of Mormon, or when we ponder the covenants of the temple, let us not treat them as mere historical or doctrinal facts to be cataloged. Let us treat them as living covenants that demand our full, unreserved selves. The Spirit does not whisper only to the comfortable; the Spirit speaks most clearly when we are at our most broken and honest.

I invite you to ponder this: Where in your own life—in your health, your relationships, or your understanding of your own identity—are you resisting the refining fire of the covenants? Where do you need the sustaining power of the iron rod to pull you back to the center?