Carrying the Cross: Finding Our Strength When the Weight Feels Too Heavy

Brothers and sisters, when I was first called to serve, I thought I knew what ‘hard’ meant. I thought I knew what sacrifice looked like. I thought I understood the weight of the covenants we make. But nothing—nothing prepared me for the sheer, unrelenting weight of discipleship, or the moments when the Spirit felt like it was whispering, “You can’t do this.”

It’s easy, isn't it, to look back at the accounts of the Savior and see only the triumphant moments—the miracles, the teachings, the joy. But today, I want us to look at the *process*. I want us to look at the path to Golgotha.

The video we watched today, drawing from the life of Jesus, brings us face-to-face with the reality of that cross. It’s a stark, unvarnished look at suffering, sacrifice, and ultimate obedience. When we see Him carrying that cross, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We look at our own lives—our callings, our families, the ongoing work of building Zion—and we feel the weight pressing down on our shoulders. We feel the exhaustion of the daily grind of trying to be disciples in a complicated world.

The Weight We Carry

The scripture reminds us that He was *led* there, and He *carried* it. He didn't choose the suffering; He endured it for us. And what does that teach us, especially us returned missionaries, who are now trying to balance the intensity of the field with the quiet commitment of home life?

It teaches us that the cross isn't something we carry alone. When the weight of the gospel—the weight of knowing the truth, the weight of the expectation to *be* the light—feels too heavy, we look to those beside us. We look to the disciples who stood with Him.

Think about Mary, standing near the cross, and the Savior’s words to His mother and His beloved disciple. It wasn't just a moment of comfort; it was an act of divine delegation. He knew the mission was nearing its end, and He ensured the continuity of the covenant connection. He passed the torch.

“Behold your mother.”

This is the essence of the *rogue disciple* life, isn't it? We are never meant to carry the weight of the Atonement alone. We are meant to pass the torch, to support one another, and to teach the next generation. If you’re struggling right now, feeling like you’ve been left hanging on the cross of your own challenges, remember that you are not alone. Reach out to your Bishopric, your Ward leaders, or even just a trusted companion.

A Bite-Sized Mission Prep Skill: The Witness of Shared Burden

As we prepare to be internet missionaries, or as we are in the thick of our service, we often focus on what *we* need to say. Today, let's focus on what we need to *receive*. When you are in a missionary discussion, or even just talking with a friend about the Plan of Salvation, if you feel yourself getting overwhelmed by the difficult questions, pause. Instead of trying to have the perfect answer immediately, try modeling the Savior’s example: Acknowledge the weight of the question, and then gently redirect the focus to the source of strength—the Savior and the covenants we keep.

We are called to be Christlike, and that means modeling grace even when we are weary. It means knowing when to lean on the Spirit, and when to lean on our companions.

If you want to dig deeper into the profound covenants and the scope of the Atonement, I highly recommend revisiting the teachings found in the Iron Rod. There are some incredible discussions on discipleship waiting for you in LivingBook.

Fellow disciples, let’s keep lifting each other up. Let’s keep carrying the light, together. If you feel the Spirit prompting you to deepen your study, join a Book Club or a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces this week. It’s a wonderful place to wrestle with the hard questions together.

If you’d like to continue wrestling with these deep truths, feel free to chat with Davee in the AI Investigator role. He’s always ready to walk through those tough investigator questions with you.