Beyond the Veil: Finding Truth in the Cultural Conversation

Sometimes, the most profound lessons in discipleship don't come from a quiet evening of scripture study, but from the loud, messy, and wonderfully human act of *reacting* to the world around us. It can feel counterintuitive, right? We spend so much time preparing for the mission field, drilling down on doctrine, and perfecting our testimonies, that we sometimes forget that the world itself is a massive, ongoing missionary discussion.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how we process culture—the movies, the historical dramas, the philosophical debates. It’s easy to treat these things as mere entertainment, but what if they are actually unwitting classrooms? What if they are providing the perfect, low-stakes environment for us to practice the art of bearing testimony?

I was listening to a recent episode of WARD RADIO where the hosts reacted to the trailer for “Young Washington.” And while the conversation was filled with hype about special effects and historical accuracy, I kept thinking about the underlying current: the tension between what is *presented* and what is *true*.

It got me thinking about how we approach difficult concepts—like the Creeds, or the nature of belief itself. The hosts had a whole segment challenging common LDS perspectives on the Creeds, suggesting that the historical context of doctrine is often misunderstood. It’s a reminder that just because we’ve been taught something, or because it’s written down in a sacred text, doesn't mean we’ve fully grasped the nuance or the original intent.

Practicing the Investigator Mindset

This is where the power of the AI Investigator role, which Davee helps us practice, becomes invaluable. When we see a cultural artifact—a movie trailer, a heated debate online, even a friend’s skepticism—we can treat it like an investigative interview. Instead of immediately defending, we can ask, “What assumption is this piece of culture making about truth?”

We can use these external touchstones to sharpen our own testimony. If the conversation touches on intellectualism versus faith, we can pause and ask ourselves: Am I relying on my intellect, or am I relying on the Spirit? If the discussion is about historical context, I can dig into the scriptures to see how the early Saints understood their covenants, rather than just accepting the modern summary.

This is the heart of being an internet missionary: recognizing that the field isn't just in the assigned boundaries; it’s in the culture, the conversations, and the things we consume.

If you’re looking for a way to apply this skill this week, I highly recommend diving into the discussions around doctrine and belief. I found the segment on the Creeds particularly thought-provoking for me. I encourage you to listen to the full episode to see the depth of the conversation.

My challenge to you this week, as we continue our work to gather Israel, is this: Don't just consume culture passively. When you see something that sparks a genuine question—a historical inaccuracy, a philosophical debate, a moment of profound human connection—don't let it pass. Use it as fodder for a discussion, a scripture study, or even a quiet moment of personal reflection.

Remember that every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time. If you want to practice digging into these deeper theological waters with others, check out a Book Club or a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces. If you’d rather tackle the hard questions one-on-one, let’s set up a session with Davee to role-play some tough missionary discussions.

For some deeper reading that helps frame these discussions, I’ve been revisiting some material on the nature of truth from the Iron Rod authors. Check out the latest recommendations in LivingBook!

Stay diligent, brothers and sisters. The Spirit is waiting for us to apply our discipleship skills everywhere.