Making Room: Advent as Preparation for the Everyday Coming of Christ

Sometimes, when we hear the word 'Advent,' our minds immediately jump to twinkling lights, gift wrapping, and, yes, maybe a little bit of chocolate. It feels like a seasonal checklist we need to complete to have a 'good' Christmas. But as I was reflecting on some recent teachings, I realized we might be missing the *real* heart of what this season calls us to do.

It’s easy to treat sacred times like cultural milestones—things we *do* to earn a feeling. But the Spirit whispers that the preparation isn't just for the big, visible arrivals of the Savior. It's for the quiet, constant, and most personal one.

The Intermediary Coming of Jesus

What struck me most while listening to the insights on this topic was the distinction between preparing for the Christmas arrival and preparing for the Second Coming. Both are vital, of course, but the speaker highlighted something else: the *intermediary* arrival. This is the Savior coming into our lives right now—when we pray, when we open the Book of Mormon, when we gather in His name, or even when we are just trying to be more Christlike in the mundane moments between meetings.

If we treat Advent as just a ramp-up to a holiday celebration, we risk treating the Savior's presence as something conditional—something that only shows up when we’ve decorated the tree enough. But the core message is that Advent is about being **devout** (resolute, wholehearted) and **joyful** (a joy independent of our circumstances).

This rings so true for us as we strive to be effective internet missionaries. We can plan our talks, we can study our scriptures, we can even plan our next missionary discussions, but what about the moments when the Spirit prompts us to simply *be* with someone who is struggling? Where is the room for that unplanned, spontaneous outpouring of grace?

If Jesus showed up in your life *today*—not at a grand, scheduled event, but right now, needing space in your schedule, your heart, your focus—would there be room? That’s the challenge Advent presents to us, whether we are in the MTC, serving in the field, or right here in our homes.

Making Room for the Spirit

Making room isn't about clearing your calendar for a week of quietude (though that can be wonderful!). It’s about making room in the *priority* spots. It’s about realizing that the greatest work we do—the work of discipleship—is the work of making space for the divine. It’s choosing the abiding sense of well-being that comes from knowing the Father loves us, even when our circumstances are messy or painful.

This concept of choosing joy, choosing to abide in His love regardless of the noise around us, is pure preach my gospel doctrine in action. It’s the spiritual muscle we need to keep flexing.

If you’re feeling the pull to deepen your personal study, I highly recommend diving into the LivingBook. Sometimes a structured Book Club or a deep dive into the Social Scripture Study layer can help us focus on these principles. If you're wrestling with how to answer a tough question from an investigator, don't forget to tap into Davee’s AI Investigator role—he's always ready to walk you through those hard questions!

Let's make this season—and every season—a time of wholehearted, joyful preparation, not just for what's coming, but for the Savior who is already present with us.

What does Advent mean to you? Is it a time to decorate, or is it a time to declutter our hearts?

If you're ready to focus on that deep, abiding joy, join us for our free weekly Disciple Challenge this week! We’ll be discussing how to build that resilience in our daily lives.