Guard That Gift: Staying Free in the Lord's Work

Brothers and sisters, if you’re reading this, chances are you’ve been putting in the work. Maybe you’ve felt a genuine peace settle over you lately, or perhaps you’ve finally wrestled through a difficult scripture passage and felt the Holy Ghost whisper a confirmation of truth. That feeling of *progress*—it’s everything, isn't it?

It feels like we’ve finally found solid ground after navigating some stormy waters. We’ve seen the light in the missionary discussions, we’ve felt the warmth of a successful transfer, and we’ve started to really feel the Spirit guiding our efforts in the field. It’s a beautiful testimony to the Savior.

But if you’re like me, you might also be wrestling with a quiet, persistent whisper. That whisper that asks: *What if this doesn't last? What if I slip back? What if I’m not really better?*

If that thought pattern rings true for you, please know you are not alone. That fear is real, and it’s often the spiritual enemy’s favorite tactic. He doesn't usually attack when we're comfortable; he often presses hardest right when we’re starting to feel the solid footing of the Gospel.

The message we’ve been hearing lately, and what I want us to anchor ourselves to right now, is this: Freedom is a gift, but it requires stewardship. It requires us to actively guard it.

The Call to Guard Your Freedom

Paul’s words in Galatians are a powerful reminder of this principle. He doesn't just say, "Christ set you free." He adds the imperative: "Make sure that you stay free. Make sure you’ve been set free. Make sure you stay free AND don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law."

When we think about this in the context of the work—the incredible, sometimes exhausting, work of being disciples—it’s easy to get bogged down in the *feeling* of being good enough, or the *appearance* of perfect adherence. We can get tempted to build our own spiritual "law"—a checklist of what we *should* be doing, how often we *should* feel the Spirit, or what we *should* know to be considered worthy.

But the truth, as the scriptures teach, is that Christ didn't just come to forgive our sins; He came to set us free from the very burdens—the legalism, the anxiety, the performance—that keep us hostage to anything less than God’s perfect will. The Spirit whispers that freedom is a gift, and our job is to *live* in that gift.

This isn't about perfection; it's about participation. Grace initiates, but faith participates. We take the beautiful, overwhelming gift of Christ's atonement, and we actively participate by choosing to walk in the Spirit’s power, choosing to guard our minds, and choosing to share the gospel with the same earnestness we felt when we first understood the Plan of Salvation.

If you're feeling the pull back toward old habits, or if the fear whispers that your progress is temporary, remember that the power that set you free is the same power that empowers you to stay free. We must fight to stay free, not out of fear, but out of gratitude for the liberty we’ve been given.

A Little Mission Prep Thought: Identifying the Bondage

As we continue to be Internet missionaries, one skill I recommend practicing this week is identifying the "spiritual bondage" in your own life or in someone else's testimony. When you are in a discussion, don't just focus on the doctrines. Ask yourself (or the investigator): "What is the thing that feels like it *has* to be true for me to feel safe or accepted?" Often, the answer is a burden—a rule, a fear, a performance metric—that Christ has already set us free from. That’s a powerful point for any missionary discussion!

If you're ready to deepen this study, I highly recommend looking into the scriptures on the Book of Mormon prophets who wrestled with the weight of commandment. It’s a rich area for a Book Club discussion in HolyPlaces!

We are called to be disciples anywhere, all the time. Let's keep guarding that glorious freedom together. If you need a sounding board for these kinds of tough questions, don't forget to check out Davee. He’s ready to walk you through some tough investigator questions!

For those looking for deeper study on this topic, check out the recommended reading in LivingBook. I’ve highlighted some excellent passages on agency and freedom.