Confronting the Giants: How to Turn Fear into Faith on the Field

Brothers and sisters, if there’s one feeling that seems to touch every single soul, it’s fear. We all know it—the knot in the stomach before a difficult conversation, the worry about the future, the fear of failure, or maybe even the fear of the unknown. It’s a universal human experience, isn't it?

As returned missionaries, we learn quickly that the field is never predictable. You might walk into a missionary discussion expecting a gentle inquiry, only to be met with a barrage of challenging questions that make you feel like you’ve forgotten everything you learned in MTC. Or maybe it’s the quiet moments of personal study when doubt creeps in, whispering that maybe, just maybe, the covenants we’ve made are too big for us.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things we need to conquer—the world's challenges, the complexities of modern life, even our own internal anxieties. But the gospel of Jesus Christ, my friends, is fundamentally a gospel of overcoming. It’s a gospel that promises that we are more than the fears that grip us.

The Science of Spirit: Understanding Our Fears

Recently, I came across some material that really made me pause and think about this on a deeper level. It talked about how our brains process fear—classifying it, reacting to it. It’s fascinating, but what’s even more fascinating is how the Spirit works *through* that understanding.

This resource I found dives deep into the psychology of fear, offering a framework for understanding these anxieties. It suggests a journey of 21 days to help us confront and overcome what scares us. While the science is interesting, what we need to remember as Latter-day Saints is that our ultimate source of strength isn't a self-help audio guide; it's the Savior.

However, the principles are universal. If we can learn to manage our anxieties through study and preparation, we can certainly learn to manage them through consistent discipleship. Think about it: every time you feel that wave of fear—fear of rejection, fear of not knowing the right answer, fear of failing to keep your covenants—that is an invitation. An invitation to turn your focus back to the Savior and the power of the Spirit.

A Little Prep Skill for Our Next Outing

If you are preparing for your next missionary discussion, or even just studying for your weekly Book Club, I want to leave you with a small skill. When a difficult question comes, don't try to answer it perfectly right away. Instead, pause. Take a breath, and then pivot back to the core testimony. You can use phrases like, “That’s a really important question, and it touches on something I’ve been studying. What I know for sure is that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the answer to all of these things.” This keeps the focus on the Savior and reminds the investigator that we are disciples of Christ, not just information dispensers.

Remember that every member can be an Internet missionary, every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time. Don't wait for the next assignment or the next transfer to feel equipped. Start practicing that testimony today.

If you want to dig deeper into the scriptures and discuss these concepts with others, I highly recommend checking out the Bible Study Groups or Book Clubs in HolyPlaces. It’s a wonderful place to process these big ideas together.

For those who love diving deep into the Iron Rod teachings, I’ve been revisiting the writings on faith. If you haven't, I encourage you to check out some recommended reading in LivingBook. Let's keep building up our discipleship together!