Called to Serve: Taking the Gospel to the Digital Field

There are times when the simple, powerful melody of a children's song can carry the weight of a lifetime’s calling. When I hear "Called to Serve," I don't just hear lyrics; I hear the echo of a profound promise—a promise that the mission field is not confined to a specific corner of the earth, or even a specific building. It’s everywhere.

When I was first in MTC, I thought that being called to serve meant packing my bags and going to a foreign land. I thought the work was physically distant. But the gospel, my friends, is fundamentally portable. It is the Spirit, and the Spirit knows no borders. It knows that you are called to be a disciple wherever you are—at your job, across your screen, or at the dinner table.

The Internet Missionary: The New Frontier

The lyrics talk about proclaiming the Father's story far and wide. Today, 'far and wide' means navigating a thousand different social media platforms, connecting with people who may never have known the name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is the modern reality of being a rogue disciple—a disciple who understands that the covenant path continues even when you aren't wearing a missionary uniform.

The wonderful thing about the online world is that it has given us unprecedented access to resources. We have the Library, we have the LivingBook, and we have amazing tools like Davee, our AI Investigator, ready to help us navigate the tough questions an investigator might ask. The calling to serve hasn't changed, but the methods have become infinitely richer.

From Book Club to Digital Discussions

Whether you are leading a Book Club in HolyPlaces or sitting down with an investigator for missionary discussions in your own living room, the goal remains the same: to help them know the riches of the blessing of the Gospel. Remember the core principles we learn in Preach My Gospel: that we must be Christlike, that we must be prepared, and that we must share the story. This applies equally to a text message as it does to a face-to-face conversation.

If you are a pre-missionary feeling overwhelmed by the scope of the work, remember this: Don't try to do it all at once. Focus on one thing. Maybe it's mastering the art of the sharing moment, or perhaps it's dedicating yourself to studying the Book of Mormon in your local Bible Study Group. Consistency, powered by the Spirit, is the key. Talk to your district leader, or even your bishop, about how you can increase your exposure to the work, whether through service projects or simply dedicating time to study the scriptures.

"Every member can be an Internet missionary, every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time."

Pressing Forward as a Triumph

The song reminds us to keep pressing forward. Sometimes, the going gets tough, and the work feels like a marathon. On those days, I recommend diving into the teachings of Avraham Gileadi. His works, available in LivingBook, are incredible reminders of the depth and continuity of the plan of salvation. They remind us that our service is part of a grand, eternal narrative—that we are participating in the work of gathering Israel.

A Challenge to All Disciples

If you've been feeling the call to serve, I have a challenge for you this week. I invite you to take part in our free weekly Disciple Challenge! It's a low-stakes, high-reward way to build your missionary preparation skills. We'll be discussing how to articulate our testimony of Jesus Christ in modern, digital language. It's a perfect way to hone those conversational skills, whether you're preparing for a transfer or just want to deepen your personal testimony.

Let's commit to being more intentional about our discipleship. Let's be the kind of disciples who don't wait for a calling, but who recognize the calling in everything we do. We are all called to serve, and we are all called to press forward.