Guardians of the Spirit: Navigating the Noise in the Digital Field

Brothers and sisters, if you’ve spent any time in the field lately—whether you were out knocking doors, holding a missionary discussion, or even just trying to share a scripture insight in the social scripture study feed—you know that the Spirit is always at work. It’s a beautiful, powerful thing. But lately, I’ve been reflecting on something that felt almost… overwhelming in its artificiality.

We’re all becoming internet missionaries, aren't we? Our phones, our laptops, our ability to share a testimony across time zones—it’s a miracle of modern discipleship. But that same digital landscape is proving to be a minefield. I recently watched a talk from Fr. Mike Schmitz discussing the rise of AI, and it really struck a chord with me as a returned missionary trying to keep my focus on the real work.

The Scams: When the Digital World Tries to Distract Us

What was most jarring was hearing about the fake videos—AI-generated content using people's voices and images to run scams. People being tricked into thinking they need to send money for a blessing, or that a message is urgent because the 'spots are running out.' It’s alarming.

It makes you pause and think: How easily can we be misled? How can we, as disciples, maintain that keen sense of discernment? The core principle remains the same, though: if it doesn't feel right, if it asks for money under false pretenses, or if it bypasses the established channels of the Church, treat it with extreme caution. Our focus must always be on the eternal gospel, not the ephemeral clickbait.

The Bigger Picture: What Are We Losing?

But Fr. Mike went deeper than just scams. He talked about 'amputation'—the idea that every powerful technology, while an extension of human capacity, can inadvertently stunt or weaken a natural human ability. Think about it: The printing press extended our ability to communicate beyond our voices, but it changed *how* we remember and pass on stories. The internet extends our memory capacity, but what does it do to our ability to simply sit in the quiet and feel the Spirit whisper a revelation?

This is a challenge for all of us who are trying to be Christlike in a hyper-connected world. We are constantly being given tools—the best tools!—but we must be mindful that the tool shouldn't become the master. Our capacity to feel, to ponder, to *feel* the Spirit's promptings in a quiet moment of scripture study needs to be protected.

A Skill for the Field: Practicing Spiritual Discernment

So, what's our takeaway for our continued efforts in the work? I suggest we treat this like a modern-day 'testimony refinement' exercise. When you encounter something online—a video, an article, a questionable claim—pause. Don't react immediately. Instead, ask yourself: Does this align with the core, simple, beautiful truths we learn in our missionary discussions? Does this feel rooted in the Savior's Atonement, or does it feel manufactured for engagement?

This week, I want to challenge you to practice 'digital Sabbath' for an hour. Put the phone down, open up your scriptures in LivingBook, and engage in a focused study—maybe tackling a passage through the social scripture study layer, or even joining a Book Club in HolyPlaces. Re-sensitize your spirit to the quiet, enduring power of revelation.

The power of the gospel isn't something that can be deep-faked or scam-ed. It is real, it is eternal, and it requires our focused, humble attention. Let's keep our hearts and minds protected while we continue to share the restored gospel with boldness and wisdom.

If this reflection helped you feel the Spirit’s nudge toward greater vigilance, please share it! And if you want to deepen this discussion, I highly recommend revisiting the core principles of discernment in the Iron Rod writings. They are always pointing us back to the bedrock of truth.