Choosing the Greater Reward: Discipline in the Work of the Gospel

Brothers and sisters, have you ever felt that pull? That tug-of-war between what feels easy, what feels good *right now*, and what you know, deep in your heart, is what you *want* most?

It’s a struggle we all know well, isn't it? We set resolutions, we get fired up in a missionary discussion, we feel the Spirit guiding us toward a higher calling. We have the good intentions—we truly do—but then life hits, and suddenly, the 'now' wins over the 'most.'

It feels like we are constantly battling against ourselves. We want to do what is right, but we stumble. We know the gospel principles, we’ve read the scriptures, we’ve even been taught by the best leaders, but the daily grind, the distractions of the world, make it so hard to keep that focus.

This feeling of being 'out of control' isn't a sign of failure; it’s a sign that we are human, and we need divine help to learn a vital skill: discipline. And I want to talk to you about what that really means for us as disciples.

Discipline: Choosing What You Want Most

When we hear the word 'discipline,' a lot of us cringe a little. We think of rules, restrictions, or something that requires superhuman willpower. We think, "I'm not a disciplined person."

But I want to offer a different lens, one that helps us see this gift through the lens of the Spirit. Simply put, discipline, with the help of Heavenly Father, is choosing what you want most over what you want right now.

Think about it in the context of the work. What do we *want* right now? Maybe it’s comfort, maybe it’s avoiding that difficult conversation with an investigator, maybe it’s just staying in bed instead of getting up to study. But what do we *want* most? We want the Spirit. We want to draw nearer to our Savior. We want to build Zion, and we want to help our fellow Latter-day Saints come unto Christ.

That choice—the choice to prioritize the eternal over the immediate—that is the heart of discipleship. It’s the daily choice to let the Spirit guide our actions, even when our feelings are pulling us in another direction.

This isn't just academic theory, though. This is the substance of missionary preparation. It’s what we practice when we are in the field, when we are studying for our mission interviews, and it’s what we practice right here, right now, as Internet missionaries.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the ultimate answer to this struggle. Paul wrestled with this—the desire to do good versus the reality of falling short. But the answer, always, points back to Him. He is the power that changes us.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of staying focused on the covenant path, I encourage you to look into the scriptures together. Have you tried diving into the social scripture study layer in LivingBook? It’s a wonderful place to see how others are wrestling with these very principles.

Your Next Step on the Path

If this concept resonates with you—that the greatest reward lies in the disciplined choice to follow Christ—I have a couple of suggestions for where to go next:

1. Read Up: I highly recommend checking out the Iron Rod authors who have written on self-mastery and covenants. A good read can really anchor your thoughts when the world tries to pull you off course.
2. Study Together: If you're looking for accountability, check out a Book Club or Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces. There’s nothing like discussing these principles with your fellow disciples.
3. Let Davee Help: If you're grappling with a specific doctrinal challenge—say, "How do I keep my enthusiasm up during the long stretches between calls?"—don't hesitate to bring it to Davee. He’s great at walking through the hard questions an investigator might ask, helping us sharpen our answers and our testimonies.

Remember, every member can be an Internet missionary, every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time. Let’s commit today to choosing what we want most.