Beyond the Apparent: Finding the True Reality in the Work

Brothers and sisters, as we continue to gather in the Spirit to prepare for the work, it’s easy to get bogged down in the mechanics. We talk about callings, curriculum, and the logistics of the field. We focus on the 'how'—the perfect testimony, the flawless doctrinal answer, the optimized schedule for our missionary discussions.

But I was recently pondering a talk—Jordan Peterson’s thoughts on what constitutes 'reality.' It really struck a chord with me, because it forces us to examine our own presuppositions about what is truly real when we are trying to teach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

He talked about how we build entire systems of belief—our cultural assumptions—and how those assumptions, while useful for building bridges or running economies, can leave us blind to what truly matters. He pointed out that modern science, for all its power, often relegates meaning and purpose to the subjective, treating the physical world as if it were all there is.

What did I take away from this, especially as a returned missionary who has seen the power of the Spirit in the field?

I realized that the greatest threat to our discipleship isn't a lack of knowledge; it's a flawed assumption about the *source* of knowledge. If we assume that the tangible, measurable, or the purely academic is the ultimate reality, we risk missing the profound, eternal reality of the Atonement and the divine potential within every soul.

The Meaning of 'Phenomena'

Peterson discussed the root word *phainesthai*—to shine forth. He noted that phenomenologists focus on what *appears* to us as meaningful. And that, friends, is exactly how the Spirit works! The Spirit doesn't present itself as a measurable variable; it shines forth as meaning, as conviction, as a feeling of peace that defies explanation. It is the divine overlay on the mundane.

When we are doing the work, we are constantly dealing with 'phenomena.' We see an investigator who seems skeptical, a family whose lives are chaotic, or a doctrinal question that seems impossible to answer. Our natural inclination, trained by worldly systems, might be to treat these as mere 'objects' to be categorized or solved. But the gospel teaches us that these appearances are windows into something infinitely more real.

The gospel of Jesus Christ, taught through the restored priesthood authority, is the ultimate framework for understanding reality. It provides the transcendent meaning that no purely materialist system can account for. It doesn't just *add* meaning; it *is* the meaning.

This reminds me of the importance of our foundational understanding. When we study the Book of Mormon, or when we engage in deep scripture study—whether in a Book Club setting or even just through the Social Scripture Study layer in LivingBook—we are doing more than just reading words. We are aligning our presuppositions with the truth that God is the ultimate source of meaning.

We must guard against the pathology of belief—the tendency to replace one set of false assumptions with another, just to feel stable. Our anchor must remain fixed on the restored covenants and the living word.

A Little Mission Prep Focus

If you are preparing for the field, or if you are currently serving, remember this: Don't just focus on the *facts* of the gospel. Focus on the *feeling* of the gospel. Focus on the reality of the covenant path. When you feel the Spirit guiding you, that feeling *is* the evidence of a reality beyond what the senses can prove. Trust the promptings, trust the covenants, and trust the Savior.

I encourage you all to spend some time reflecting on this. If you are struggling to articulate the difference between cultural assumptions and divine truth, Davee has some excellent prompts in his AI Investigator role that can walk you through the hard questions. Don't let the noise of the world convince you that meaning is merely subjective!

For those who want to dive deeper into how belief systems shape our understanding of reality, I highly recommend picking up *Maps of Meaning* by Jordan Peterson. It’s a dense read, but it offers incredible tools for thinking critically about the frameworks we build our lives upon.

If you haven't been to a local gathering recently, please make an effort! Let’s keep building up this community of disciples, together, in the spirit of Christ.