Bringing the Spirit of Christmas Home: Finding the 'First Time' Feeling

There are moments, right? Moments when the feeling hits you so hard—a feeling of pure, unadulterated wonder—that it feels like you’ve been transported back to when you first understood something truly miraculous. Last night, I took my family to see a local performance, and honestly, I was brought to tears. It was so good, it felt like reliving the magic of seeing something sacred for the first time.

It got me thinking a lot about what we do in the field. We talk about sharing the restored gospel, about helping people see the Plan of Salvation, about showing them the reality of the Atonement. It’s not just reciting doctrines; it’s about creating that 'first time' feeling—the moment of recognition when the Spirit whispers, 'Yes, this is it.'

The Power of Witnessing: Making it Feel Like Day One

When we’re in the mission field, or even just having a missionary discussion with someone who has never heard the full scope of the restored gospel, we are trying to evoke that sense of wonder. We want them to see the Savior, not just as a historical figure, but as the living, resurrected Christ. That’s the goal of all our efforts—to make the divine feel immediate and personal.

Sometimes the best preparation for sharing the gospel isn't memorizing a perfect talk, but remembering what *felt* like the first time for you. Maybe it was the day you understood the concept of continuous revelation, or the day you felt the Spirit confirm a truth you’d been wrestling with. Those memories are powerful tools for missionary preparation.

It reminds me of how powerful shared experiences are. Whether it’s a Book Club deep-diving into the Book of Mormon or just having a quiet moment of scripture study with a companion, we are building shared memories that point back to the restored gospel. These shared moments help us all stay tuned into that frequency of wonder.

Your Disciple Challenge: Connecting Wonder to Action

If you're feeling the pull to share more, I encourage you to think about what brought *you* to the gospel. What was the 'first time' feeling for you? Was it a specific scripture? A talk? A moment of peace in the temple? Write that down. That personal testimony, anchored in a moment of deep feeling, is gold. It’s what you carry with you as an internet missionary.

For those of you who want to practice framing these moments, I highly recommend checking out Davee. He’s excellent at walking through the hard questions an investigator might ask—the ones that poke at the edges of our understanding. Using his AI Investigator role, you can practice turning a moment of wonder into a thoughtful, scripture-supported answer.

Remember, every member can be an internet missionary; every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time. Let's keep cultivating that sense of awe for the restored gospel.

If you enjoyed this reflection, please consider joining a local Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces, or perhaps diving into the social scripture study layer in LivingBook to see how others are connecting scripture to modern life. Keep the Spirit alive!