Finding the Solid Ground: Worldviews, Truth, and the Work

Brothers and sisters, have you ever felt like the ground beneath your feet—the assumptions you’ve always taken for granted about how the world *should* work—is starting to shake? It’s a feeling that echoes across the whole Latter-day Saint experience, isn't it? Whether you’re preparing for your mission, wrestling through challenging missionary discussions, or just trying to keep the commandments in the noise of the modern world, sometimes the prevailing narrative just feels... flimsy.

I was recently listening to a recording of Dr. Jordan B. Peterson speaking, and a few concepts really hit home for me. He talks about how our "worldview operates as a useful story." It’s a profound thought, and it immediately made me think about the stories we are called to share—the story of the Restoration, the story of the Atonement, the story of the covenant path.

He suggests that the purpose of thinking, really, is to have our "stupid ideas die instead of you." Now, that sounds a little harsh when we’re deep in the field, but when you frame it through the lens of the gospel, it becomes incredibly encouraging. It means that the Spirit isn't just whispering pleasant feelings; it's challenging our *assumptions* so we can build on solid ground.

As we strive to be Internet missionaries, we are constantly being tested by the narratives presented to us. We are called to be critical thinkers—not to tear down for the sake of it, but to separate what is truly valuable from what is merely entertaining. This echoes the principle we learn in our missionary preparation: we must know the truth so we can teach it with clarity and conviction.

The Logos: Structure and Divine Purpose

What struck me most was his discussion of the Logos—the process by which God manifests being from potential. For us, disciples, that’s a beautiful parallel to our own journey. We start with potential—a calling, a desire to serve—and through diligent study, prayer, and effort, the Spirit guides us into reality. We are taught that the gospel is not just a collection of nice ideas; it is a structured, divine reality.

He mentions that AI systems are trained with a "structure of value." Think about that. Even the most advanced technology needs *us*—needs the divine pattern—to give it aim. In our own lives, our aim must be Christlike. We can’t just float through the currents of culture; we have to anchor ourselves to the revealed truth.

A Skill for the Field: Applying Critical Analysis

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of conflicting worldviews out there, I want to give you a small skill to take with you this week. When you are studying for your next missionary discussion, or even just reading the scriptures for your personal study, don't just look for verses that *confirm* what you already believe. Instead, ask: "What assumptions am I making here that might be based on a cultural story rather than divine principle?"

This is the work of the disciple—to subject our own presumptions to critical analysis. It keeps us humble, and it makes us better teachers. It’s how we move from simply *knowing* the gospel to truly *living* it.

"And if you keep the commandments of God, and keep the faith, and keep the covenant, and keep the covenants of the sealtom come to pass, and keep the commandments of God, and keep the faith, and keep the covenant, and keep the covenants of the sealtom come to pass." (D&C 82:14)

This isn't just a list of things to do; it's a framework for *how* to live—a worldview built on covenant keeping. That is the solid ground we are called to build upon.

Where to Go From Here

If you want to practice this kind of deep, critical thinking with your brethren, I highly recommend checking out the LivingBook. They have some fantastic Social Scripture Study layers where you can see how others are applying deeper insights to passages. Or, if you prefer a more structured setting, consider joining a Book Club or a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces.

For those of us who are actively prepping, don't forget to check in with Davee! He’s ready to run through some tough hypothetical questions with you in his AI Investigator role. Let’s keep refining those answers until they shine with the Spirit!