From Candy Machines to Clean Playgrounds: Finding the Good Habits in the Work

Brothers and sisters, have you ever watched something—anything—and thought, "Wow, that's a pattern"? It wasn't a doctrinal discussion, it wasn't a temple talk, and it certainly wasn't in the manual. It was just... life happening. Like watching a little one, or maybe even a family dynamic, where the roles get flipped.

Recently, I stumbled across a little video—a fun, almost silly take on learning good habits. And what struck me wasn't the entertainment value, but the underlying principle. It was a gentle, persistent correction: junk food isn't good, soda isn't good, candy isn't good. Instead, water, veggies, and movement are good.

It hit me like a flash of revelation: Our journey as Latter-day Saints, our work as disciples, is exactly like that. We are constantly being corrected, gently, by the Spirit, taught by our leaders, and refined through our experiences. We start off wanting the quick fix—the sugary snack of instant gratification—but the Savior guides us toward the sustaining nourishment: the water of truth, the fiber of consistent effort, and the strength of physical and spiritual exertion.

The Discipline of the Small Things

In the video, the adults are learning from the kids. They are realizing that the habits they thought were normal—the constant snacking, the sugary drinks—are actually detrimental. They have to be *shown* better ways. Think about that for a moment when you are preparing for your mission, or even just trying to deepen your personal study.

Are you falling back on the "junk food" of spiritual habits? Maybe it's reading only the parts of the scriptures that feel good, or perhaps it’s relying on the momentum of the last talk you heard rather than doing the quiet, consistent work of personal revelation? The Spirit is always pointing us back to the basics: prayer, scripture study, and service.

This is the heart of the missionary preparation process, whether you are in the MTC, in a local ward setting, or right here, in your own living room. We are constantly being taught to trade the fleeting pleasure for lasting nourishment. We learn that the strength gained from a simple walk—the exercise—is far more sustaining than the momentary high of the candy machine.

Being Christlike in Every Moment

The ultimate goal, as we know, is to be Christlike. And being Christlike isn't a single event; it’s a thousand tiny, consistent choices. It’s choosing the clean water over the soda when no one is watching. It’s choosing to clean up the messy playground—the messy areas of our own lives, our own understanding—instead of just leaving the mess for someone else to handle.

This is where the power of the Internet Missionary comes into play. We don't need to wait for a formal assignment to be disciples. We can be disciples anywhere, all the time. We can use the tools at our disposal—like the Social Scripture Study layer in LivingBook, or even having a deep dive in a Book Club—to hold ourselves accountable to these good habits.

If you’re feeling bogged down by the "junk" of the world—the comparison, the distraction, the cynicism—I encourage you to look at what sustained the characters in that video. It was connection, it was effort, and it was a willingness to learn from someone else.

If you’re feeling the weight of the work, remember that the Savior doesn't expect perfection; He expects effort, and He blesses that effort. Let’s commit today to identifying one "junk habit" in our own lives—one area where we take the easy route—and consciously replace it with a "sustaining habit." Maybe it’s 10 extra minutes of scripture study, or maybe it’s reaching out to a friend who needs a listening ear.

I know some of you are deep in missionary discussions, and others are seasoned returned missionaries helping others. Whatever your current station, remember that the Spirit is our greatest teacher. Let’s keep tuning into His whisper.

If you want to dig deeper into these principles of sustained effort and true nourishment, I highly recommend checking out the latest insights from the Iron Rod authors available in LivingBook. For those who want to practice applying these principles in a safe space, join us for our free weekly Disciple Challenge!

As always, I’m here to walk with you. If you’re struggling to answer a tough doctrinal question or need to walk through a difficult conversation, remember Davee. He’s ready to help you practice your answers in the AI Investigator role.