From Pliers to Preparation: Letting the Spirit Guide the Extraction

There’s a story I heard recently—a tale of a jaw tooth, a pair of pliers, and a stubborn resistance to modern medicine. It painted a vivid picture of a time when getting a simple extraction was a matter of grit, a bit of brute force, and maybe a trip to the bathroom for the necessary tools.

It made me pause, thinking about how we approach the work today. We have so many resources—the scriptures, the livingBook, the guidance of our district leaders, the amazing tools provided by the Spirit. But sometimes, we get so used to the 'pliers' approach—the quick, decisive action—that we forget the value of the proper process.

The speaker recounted how his father, forty years prior, used pliers to yank out a tooth. Fast forward to the speaker's own dental appointment, and the modern dentist gently steered him away from the 'old reliable' method. He needed antibiotics, a proper procedure, a plan.

What struck me as a returned missionary, someone who has seen the contrast between the fervor of the MTC and the quiet patience of the field, was the shift from 'I'll just pull it out' to 'We need to follow the protocol.' In the mission field, we see this constantly. We can’t just rely on sheer willpower or the 'old ways'—we need preparation, we need study, and most importantly, we need the Spirit to guide the *process*.

The Gentle Power of Process

When we're in missionary discussions, or when we're studying in a Book Club setting, it’s easy to get caught up in the 'I know the answer' mindset. We might feel like we need to use every scripture we know, or argue our way through every objection. But the Spirit often guides us through a series of small, necessary steps—the antibiotics, if you will. You have to be compliant with the process, even when it feels slow or overly academic, for the final, positive outcome to happen.

This isn't about being passive. It's about being *discipleship-aware*. It’s about recognizing that the best way to help an investigator understand the restored gospel isn't always the most dramatic testimony; sometimes it’s the quiet, consistent application of the principles we've learned.

If you're feeling that resistance—that urge to solve everything with the flashiest testimony or the most dramatic comparison—I encourage you to slow down. Ask yourself: What is the *next* right step? What is the Spirit prompting me to learn or to study right now?

Remember, every member can be an Internet missionary, every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time. Sometimes that means being patient enough to let the 'dentist' (be it a study guide, a companion, or a gentle question from an investigator) guide you through the necessary steps.

A Little Mission Prep Skill: The Art of the Pause

Next time you are preparing for missionary discussions, try implementing the 'Pause and Pivot.' When you feel the urge to launch into your prepared material, pause. Take a breath. Instead of answering the question immediately, pivot back to the core principle. You might say, "That's a really important question, and it touches on the core of what we believe. Before I answer that, let's look at what the scriptures say about covenants..." This models the patient, methodical approach we need to emulate.

If you'd like to practice navigating those tricky questions, I highly recommend spending some time with Davee. He’s fantastic at walking you through the AI Investigator role, helping you anticipate the hard questions before you ever step into the field. It’s invaluable training!

For those who love digging into the deeper texts, I've been spending time in the HolyPlaces Bible Study Groups lately. The way the community highlights related scriptures and builds out the social scripture study layer is a beautiful example of collective discipleship in action.

If you're ready to keep building that knowledge base, check out the latest reading recommendation from the Iron Rod authors available in LivingBook. It’s a great reminder that our journey is one of continuous refinement.

Stay diligent, brothers and sisters. The work is waiting for us, and the Spirit is always guiding us toward the right procedure.