Keeping Our Focus on the Gospel, No Matter the Noise

Brothers and sisters, sometimes it feels like the world is determined to give us a constant barrage of headlines—stories so shocking, so deeply disturbing, that they leave us reeling, questioning everything we thought we knew. It can feel like the noise level is dialed up to eleven, and the signal of the Spirit is barely a whisper beneath the static.

I was reflecting this week on how easily our attention can be hijacked. When you are constantly exposed to information—the kind that makes you feel a righteous, burning indignation—it’s natural for your emotions to run high. You want to fight, you want to correct, you want to *do* something immediately. And while that passion, that righteous fervor, comes from a place of deep love, we have to be careful where we point that energy.

The challenge, as always, is filtering the noise from the divine whisper. We are called to be Internet missionaries, disciples everywhere, all the time. That means our primary focus, our *righteous hatred*—if you will—must be reserved for the things that diminish the restored gospel, not for every political skirmish or every piece of sensationalized news.

Recalibrating Our Focus: The Eternal Work

When I hear accounts of systemic wrongdoing—the kinds of things that make one furious—my heart aches for the victims. Empathy is vital, and that righteous anger can be a powerful motivator. But remember what we are doing here, in our discipleship. We are engaged in the eternal work: building Zion, helping souls find the Savior, and preparing hearts for the Second Coming. That work transcends the current political cycle, the latest exposé, or the most inflammatory social media post.

The Spirit teaches us to be Christlike. And what does Christlike look like when the world is screaming at you from every direction? It looks like patience. It looks like returning to the foundational truths we’ve learned in our missionary discussions, the principles we study in our Book Clubs, and the covenants we keep in our hearts.

We need to use these moments of external chaos not as a reason to burn out, but as a chance to *deepen* our internal reserves. This is where the power of sustained study comes in. It’s where the quiet, steady work of scripture study—whether it’s through a dedicated Bible Study Group or simply reflecting on a passage in the Social Scripture Study feed—replaces the need for immediate, reactive outrage.

A Bite-Sized Skill for the Disciple: The 'Why' Question

If you find yourself emotionally drained by the world's drama, here is a small skill I want to pass along. When you feel that surge of righteous anger, pause. Before you react, ask yourself: “Does addressing this specific issue right now move a soul closer to knowing the Atonement of Jesus Christ, or does it just feed my own frustration?” If the answer feels murky, gently redirect your focus back to the Savior. That is the purest, most powerful mission prep.

We are taught to be prepared for the field, but we must also be prepared for the quiet moments of study, the moments of quiet testimony building. That’s where the Spirit whispers loudest.

If you need help wrestling with how to answer the tough questions that arise when you try to share the gospel in a complex world, I highly recommend checking out Davee. He’s trained in the AI Investigator role, and walking through those hard questions with him can really sharpen your testimony-giving skills.

Remember, we are not meant to be overwhelmed by the world’s chaos. We are called to be beacons of light, steady and true, pointing always back to the restored gospel. Let's keep our eyes on the Savior and our hearts focused on the eternal work.

If you feel the Spirit nudging you toward deeper study, I encourage you to check out a Book Club or Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces this week. Let's keep building up our collective spiritual strength together.