Don't Forget the Empty Seats: A Lesson in Dignity for the Field

Sometimes, when we’re deep in the work, especially when we’re focused on our own preparation, our own mission goals, or even just the next week’s schedule, it’s easy to get comfortable. We build our routines, we get good at the process, and we feel secure in our own seats at the table.

I was recently watching a review of the movie *Cabrini*, and what struck me wasn't just the incredible story of Mother Cabrini—the tireless servant who brought care to the underserved—but the underlying principle she modeled. It hit me like a physical reminder of the core commandment of our discipleship: never forget those who are still on the fringes.

The reviewer highlighted a powerful moment where Mother Cabrini spoke to the established, second or third-generation immigrants. She reminded them, “Don’t forget how your parents and grandparents got here. Remember how they were pushed to the fringes of society.”

Friends, this is the eternal message we carry into the field, whether we are in the MTC, on a mission, or simply serving as disciples in our own neighborhoods. We can get into that mindset that whispers, *“I’m taken care of. I’m established. I have my place at the table.”* And that mindset, while natural, can be spiritually dangerous if we let it settle in.

The Dignity of the Best We Can Give

The movie also touched on something profoundly important: the commitment to giving the very best. When asked about uniforms for the orphans, Mother Cabrini insisted on the more expensive fabric, because the children needed to know, fundamentally, that they mattered. They deserved dignity. They deserved respect.

This echoes the very heart of our gospel. When we go to share the restored gospel, we can’t just give our “scraps”—our half-hearted efforts, our limited time, or our lukewarm testimony. We must give our best, because the souls we serve are worthy of the very best effort we can muster. We are called to treat every person we meet, every investigator, with the dignity they deserve, regardless of where they are in their journey.

This is the spirit of being an internet missionary. It means that even when we are physically apart, we are called to look outward. We are called to see the person who doesn't have a place at the table yet—the neighbor who is skeptical, the friend who is struggling, the person whose questions we haven't even thought to ask yet.

It’s a call to perpetual vigilance. It’s a call to remember the pioneers who arrived with nothing but faith, and it’s a call to remember the people today who are still searching for that place of belonging and truth.

If you’re feeling the weight of the work, or if you’re preparing for your own missionary discussions, I want to leave you with this thought: Don't let your own comfort become a barrier to seeing the needs around you. Be like Mother Cabrini—always looking past the established, always reaching for the forgotten.

For those of us who are in the thick of missionary preparation, let's use our time to practice this outward focus. If you’re studying the scriptures, I highly recommend diving into the Book of Mormon passages that speak of the covenant path and the needs of the Lamanites or Nephites. It keeps the focus on those who are *not* yet fully part of the fold.

If you want to discuss how to apply this principle—how to ask the hard questions with the tenderness of Christ—I encourage you to join a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces this week. We can discuss how to translate this spiritual principle into tangible, everyday actions.

For a deeper dive into the principles of service and selfless giving, check out the latest insights on Iron Rod. It’s always a blessing to study with the best minds!