Being an Internet Missionary: Finding the Field When You're Not on the Street

Brothers and sisters, if you’ve ever felt the pull of the Spirit while scrolling through a social media feed—a genuine nudge to say something kind, something true, something that points back to the Savior—you know what I’m talking about. Sometimes, the missionary discussions we have are the most profound ones, but sometimes, the most powerful work happens when we think we’re just doing mundane things, like reading the news or commenting on an article.

As we all know, the mandate of the Latter-day Saints is universal. We are called to be disciples everywhere, all the time. That means that even when we aren't physically in a mission field, we are still in the field. The digital sphere, for all its noise, is becoming one of the most crucial areas for us to practice our skills as internet missionaries.

I was recently looking at some discussions about how the Church communicates with the public, and it struck me how much effort goes into presenting a positive, reasoned view of the Gospel. It’s not enough to just *have* the truth; we have to be prepared to *share* it thoughtfully, even when the environment is designed to provoke or misunderstand.

This isn't about becoming full-time online apologists, though that is a valuable skill. It’s about cultivating a spirit of engagement. It’s about moving beyond simply consuming information and becoming active participants in the conversation—with grace, humility, and the Spirit guiding our words.

A Skill for the Modern Disciple: Thoughtful Commenting

Think about the power of a single, well-placed comment. When someone posts something that touches on a topic of faith, whether it’s a doctrinal question or a personal testimony, our response matters. We are called to be gentle, but we are also called to be prepared. This requires us to learn how to articulate our experience—our *testimony*—in a way that is both compelling and deeply respectful.

This is where the skills we learn in our mission preparation—the careful listening, the ability to ask clarifying questions, the art of sharing personal experience—these skills transfer perfectly. We need to practice being thoughtful contributors, whether that’s in a Book Club discussion, a Bible Study Group, or even just in the comment section of an article.

It takes practice. It takes us to be willing to learn new 'trades,' as one speaker mentioned. If you feel called to deepen your ability to engage thoughtfully online, I highly recommend looking into the resources available through Davee. He's excellent at walking through those hard questions an investigator might pose in a digital context, helping us formulate answers rooted in scripture and experience.

Where to Practice This Week

The best way to learn any skill is by doing it. If you feel the Spirit prompting you to improve your online discipleship skills, I have two suggestions for you this week:

1. Join a Discussion Group: If your local ward has a Bible Study Group or Book Club, commit to being an active participant. Don't just wait for the discussion to happen; help guide it!
2. Try the Social Scripture Study: If you're looking for a low-stakes way to practice your devotional skills, dive into the Social Scripture Study layer inside LivingBook. Highlighting verses and seeing how others connect with the material is a fantastic way to hone your ability to share insights.

Remember, the goal isn't perfection; the goal is consistent effort fueled by faith. Every time you choose to engage with the truth online—with kindness, with knowledge, and with the Spirit—you are doing missionary work. You are helping to gather Israel, one thoughtful post at a time.

If you’re looking for deeper doctrinal grounding to help you feel more confident in these discussions, check out the latest insights on Isaiah Studies. It's a powerful reminder of the covenants we keep.

Keep striving to be Christlike in all things, dear disciples. The Lord knows our hearts, and He knows the effort we put into the work.