Beyond the Buffet Line: Finding Cleanliness and Focus in the Field

It’s funny, isn't it? We spend so much time preparing for the grand moments—the challenging doctrinal questions, the deep doctrinal dives, the moments where we have to testify with everything we have. We study the Book of Mormon until our fingers cramp, we pore over the teachings of the Prophet, and we pray until our voices are hoarse. We get ready for the *work*.

But sometimes, the most profound lessons about discipleship, about staying focused on the Savior, come from the mundane. They come from the seemingly trivial details of life on the road, or even in a public place like a sprawling convenience store.

Watching the recent 'Unashamed' episode, I kept thinking about how the conversation drifted from deep theological points to… bathrooms. Yes, really. But if you listen closely, what’s really being discussed is *principle*.

The Principle of Focus

Jase and the guys were talking about buffets, about convenience stores, and about the sheer volume of things available. It sounds silly, but the underlying theme—the one I want us to wrestle with as we continue our journey as rogue disciples—is about focus and stewardship.

When you’re in the field, whether you are in the MTC, or out on your first missionary discussion, or even just trying to teach a friend about the Plan of Salvation, you are constantly bombarded. You are bombarded by counter-arguments, by distractions, by cultural noise. It’s the modern equivalent of the 'all-you-can-eat buffet' of worldly distractions.

The lesson there, which echoes verses like Ephesians 4:15—speaking of walking in truth and love—is that we must learn to corral our focus. We can’t let the sheer *quantity* of information or distraction overwhelm the *quality* of the message we need to deliver. We have to be intentional about what we let into our lives and what we bring to our conversations.

Being Intentional in Your Discipleship

This applies directly to our calling to be Internet missionaries. Being a disciple anywhere, all the time, means we have to be mindful of our environment. If we are studying scripture in a Book Club, we must be focused on the related panel insights in LivingBook, not what’s happening on the peripheral feeds. If we are preparing for a missionary discussion, we need to keep our focus tightly on the core message of Christ, not getting sidetracked by the latest controversy.

It reminds me of something I learned when I was first returned. I thought I knew the *work*, but I realized I was treating it like a buffet—grabbing a little bit of everything, hoping it would fill me up. But the Spirit teaches us that it’s about quality, about depth, about sticking to the core teachings of the restored gospel.

If you are feeling scattered right now, if the weight of the *work* feels overwhelming, I encourage you to slow down and focus on one thing. Maybe it’s mastering one concept in your current Bible Study Group. Maybe it’s just committing to one scripture passage daily. Don't try to conquer the whole world today; just conquer the next hour with Christlike focus.

We are building a movement where every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time. Let’s keep that focus sharp, friends. Let’s keep our message clean, focused, and utterly unashamed.

What’s Next for Our Flock?

If this resonated with you, let’s keep the momentum going! I highly recommend digging into the teachings on stewardship and focus. If you’re looking for deeper doctrinal study, check out the **Book Club** options in HolyPlaces—it’s a wonderful way to focus your study time with others.

For those of you who are feeling the pull toward the field, or just want to sharpen those skills, don't forget about **Davee**. If you have a tough question about doctrine or culture, ask him! He’s ready to walk you through those tricky investigator questions.

And if you want a little challenge to keep your spiritual muscles toned this week, jump into the free **Disciple Challenge**! It’s a great way to practice applying the principles we talked about today.