From the Valley to the Mountain Top: Remembering the Glory

There are times, especially when the work feels heavy, when the challenges pile up like the shadows in the valley. The day-to-day of missionary life, or even the daily discipleship right here in the community, can feel like navigating a deep, shadowed ravine. You build your walls, you build your temples—both physical and spiritual—and sometimes you wonder if the effort is worth it.

But then, a song comes on, or a friend shares a memory, and suddenly, the vision shifts. You remember the peak. You remember the glory.

Listening to The City Harmonic sing 'Mountaintop' was a profound reminder that our perspective—the view from the summit—is what sustains us when we are deep in the valley. It’s a beautiful, visceral reminder that the promise isn't just *that* we will get to the mountaintop; it’s that the *seeing* of the glory changes us fundamentally, no matter where we are planted.

The Mountain-Top Perspective

As returned missionaries, or even as disciples who have been in the field for decades, we know that the memories of the Savior’s power are what anchor us. We talk about the covenants we’ve made, the times the Spirit has been so evident in a missionary discussion, or the feeling when you finally get that testimony to click into place for someone. Those moments—those 'mountain tops'—are the fuel. They are the proof that the gospel works.

The song lyric, “We’ve been to the mountain top. See the glory of our God,” isn't just nostalgia. It’s a declaration of change. It’s the assurance that the experience of the gospel—the *work*—changes your very bones. It changes you from the inside out.

Being a Disciple Anywhere, All the Time

This concept rings so true for us rogue disciples. We are called to be internet missionaries, to be disciples everywhere, all the time. We don't always get the dramatic, visible 'mountain top' moment. Sometimes, the mountain top moment is simply showing up for your weekly Book Club in HolyPlaces, or taking the time to walk through a difficult question with Davee in an AI Investigator session. Those moments are sacred.

If you're feeling the weight of the valley right now—maybe you're struggling to find the right words in a missionary discussion, or maybe you're just feeling spiritually dry—I encourage you to lean into the memory of the glory. Remember what you’ve been taught. Remember the power of the restored gospel. Remember that you are building something eternal.

A Bite-Sized Mission-Prep Skill

As you prepare for whatever the Lord has for you next—whether that’s a transfer, a new assignment, or just a deeper study—I want to pass along a little skill I learned recently. When discussing feelings of doubt, instead of just saying, “Trust the Lord,” try grounding it in a specific covenant or scripture you *know* to be true. For example, instead of just saying, “Be patient,” you could say, “Remember the promise in Doctrine and Covenants 121:7—that if we keep our covenants, the Lord will bless us.” Specificity carries weight, friend. It shows you’ve done the homework and you’re ready to teach.

Let’s keep building those temples, both literal and spiritual. Let’s keep remembering the glory.

If this message resonated with you, please consider joining a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces this week. It’s a wonderful way to build community and keep the focus on the scriptures together. If you need help wrestling with tough doctrinal questions, don't forget to check out Davee for an AI Investigator session!