Homesick for Heaven: Finding the Eternal Perspective in Our Daily Work

There are moments, friends, when the weight of the world—the sheer volume of the work, the endless cycle of preparation, the constant need to feel *enough*—can press down on you. You’re out in the field, maybe you’re in a tough missionary discussion, or perhaps you’re just wrestling with a scripture passage late at night, and a feeling washes over you. It’s a deep ache. A longing.

It’s the kind of longing that reminds you of the ultimate destination. It’s the feeling of being homesick for Heaven.

When I heard this piece by Phil Wickham recently, it hit me right in the chest. The lyrics—talking about wanting to walk with Moses, dancing with David before the throne, and seeing the Savior who wears our scars—it’s not just pretty music; it’s a spiritual compass pointing us toward the eternal.

As returned missionaries, we talk a lot about the *process*: the callings, the comps, the training, the daily grind. And that’s vital! We need to know how to pass the knowledge down, how to keep the momentum going in the ward and the stake. But sometimes, we get so focused on the *how*—the perfect talk, the right lesson plan, the next transfer—that we lose sight of the *why*.

The Eternal View: Keeping Heaven in Focus

That feeling of homesickness isn't a distraction; it’s a divine nudge. It’s the Spirit whispering, "Remember the destination."

This is what I’ve been trying to keep at the forefront of my own life lately. When I feel myself getting bogged down in the day-to-day mechanics of being an internet missionary—the social media outreach, the virtual lesson planning, the need to always be ready for a spontaneous visit—I try to anchor myself to that vision. I think about that moment when I’ll finally be able to see the Savior face-to-face, not just in the temple, but in the fullness of glory.

This isn't meant to make us complacent or stop us from doing the necessary work. Far from it! If anything, knowing what awaits us—the reunion, the grace, the eternal family gathering—should fuel us. It should give us the stamina to keep showing up, even when the Spirit feels a little distant, or when the culture around us seems resistant to the gospel.

A Bite-Sized Skill: Practicing the Vision

Here’s a small thing I want to share as a mission-prep skill this week. When you feel that ache for the Savior, don't just listen to the song and move on. Pause. Take two minutes. And instead of just thinking, "I hope to see Him," try to visualize one specific moment. Maybe it's seeing your own children running to His arms, as the song suggests. Or maybe it's remembering a time in the temple where the peace was so profound it felt like you were already there.

That act of focused visualization—that intentional remembering of the eternal promise—is a powerful way to anchor the Spirit and keep the *why* alive when the *what* gets overwhelming.

Where to Connect Next

If this feeling of longing, this yearning for the Savior's presence, is something you've been wrestling with, I encourage you to dive deeper into the scriptures together. Have you checked out the Book Club feature in HolyPlaces lately? It’s a wonderful way to study doctrine with others, keeping that eternal perspective shared.

For those who want to talk through the *how* of keeping that vision alive in our current discipleship journey, I’ll be hosting a casual study session this Thursday evening. We can discuss how to weave that eternal longing into our daily service efforts. Details are in the community feed!

Keep letting that longing guide you, brothers and sisters. It means you know the destination, and that knowledge is the greatest fuel for the work.