From Dry Bones to Life: What the Lord Can Do in Our Spiritual Deserts

Brothers and sisters, have you ever stood in a place—maybe it was a difficult conversation during missionary discussions, or perhaps it was a period of quiet struggle at home—and felt utterly depleted? Like everything good, every vibrant part of your spiritual life, had simply dried up?

If you’ve been there, you know that feeling. It’s the spiritual equivalent of standing in a valley filled with nothing but brittle, unconnected bones. It looks hopeless, right? It looks like the end of the line.

I was studying the Book of Ezekiel recently, and it hit me like a spiritual revelation. This isn't just an ancient story about Israel; it’s a profound, living manual for us, the modern-day disciples. It speaks directly to the power of the restored gospel and the incredible work the Spirit can accomplish when we invite Him to breathe life back into our circumstances.

The Proclamation That Brings Life

The vision itself—the valley full of dry bones—is staggering. They were bones, yes, but they were *dry*. They hadn't seen life, they hadn't felt the breath of the Lord. The initial question, when Ezekiel was confronted with this scene, was one of utter impossibility. Can these bones live?

And what was the answer? It wasn't a human calculation; it was a declaration of divine power. The Lord commanded Ezekiel to prophesy. To speak the word.

“Thus says the Lord God to these bones; Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you, and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live.”

Think about that progression. It wasn't just a puff of air. It was a process: first, the bones came together; then, the sinews and flesh covered them; and finally, the breath entered. The word didn't just *suggest* life; it *commanded* it into existence.

Where Are Our Dry Bones?

As we are all striving to be Internet missionaries and disciples wherever we are—whether we're in the MTC, serving in a stake, or just having a quiet evening studying—we all face our own valleys. Maybe it’s a Book Club where the discussion feels stale, or perhaps it’s a personal struggle where our efforts feel like they are just maintaining a skeleton of routine rather than building vibrant discipleship.

The danger, as the vision warns, is that if we ignore the covenants, if we let the natural pressures of the world—the things that are worldly and temporary—take over, we risk becoming merely a pile of dry bones. We live on what we *were* rather than what we *should be*.

But here is the glorious invitation, the core message we carry in our hearts: God is the God of the unthinkable. What seems impossible to us, the finite beings, is merely a setup for the Savior to demonstrate His infinite power.

A Little Prep Skill: Speaking the Word

If you are preparing for mission discussions, or even just speaking to a friend who is questioning their faith, remember Ezekiel’s role. You don't have to *make* the revival happen; you just have to faithfully proclaim the promises. Your job is to deliver the word—the truth of the restored gospel—with conviction, knowing that the Spirit is the power that brings the life. Be prepared to testify of the power of the Atonement!

If you want to dig deeper into this concept of divine power, I highly recommend picking up *Iron Rod* by an author we trust. Check out the LivingBook and look for something that speaks to revival or divine potential. It helps frame these concepts beautifully.

Join the Community

Don't let your spiritual life become a set of disconnected bones. Let’s keep the breath flowing! If you haven't been in a Book Club or a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces lately, I encourage you to find one. That’s where we build community and keep the momentum going. If you’re feeling inspired, join me this week for our informal study session—details are in the community feed!

Remember, we are called to be disciples *anywhere*, *all the time*. Let’s keep sharing the breath of life!