Prone to Wander, But Called Home: Finding Grace in the Journey

There are days, aren't there? Days when the sheer weight of the world—the calling, the expectation, the sheer *amount* of the work—feels like too much to carry. You feel that subtle tug, that whisper of distraction, that pull toward the comfortable, the familiar, the things that are *easy* instead of what is right. It’s the spiritual equivalent of standing at the edge of a deep river, knowing you need to cross, but feeling the undertow tugging you back to the bank.

I remember my first year back from the MTC. I thought I had this perfect, polished version of the gospel in my heart. I thought the intensity of the mission prep, the sheer focus on the plan, had somehow immunized me. But out in the field, surrounded by the beautiful, complex tapestry of human need, I felt it. I was prone to wander. I was prone to leave the God I love for the momentary satisfaction of my own understanding.

It’s a truth every single disciple—every returned missionary, every lifelong disciple—has to wrestle with. We are not meant to be perfect; we are meant to be *redeemed*. And the beautiful thing about the Atonement of Jesus Christ is that it anticipates our wandering. It doesn't wait for us to become perfect before it reaches out.

Anchoring Our Hearts: The Ebenezer Moment

The hymn we heard recently, "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," really struck a chord with me. When the lyrics speak of raising our Ebenezer—that marker of past help—it’s a powerful reminder. We look back at the moments the Spirit guided us, the times a companion taught us a crucial scripture, or when a district leader showed patience when we felt overwhelmed. Those are our markers. They prove that we *have* been helped before.

But the song doesn't just look back. It looks forward, pleading: “Seal it for thy courts above.” That’s the shift from remembering grace to actively *claiming* it. It’s taking the lessons learned in the seminary, the insights from our Book Club discussions in HolyPlaces, and translating them into action when we are alone in our own living rooms, facing the tough questions.

This is where the power of the Internet missionary comes in. We don't have to wait for a conference or a mission assignment to be in the field. We can be in the field right where we are. If you’re struggling with how to approach a difficult conversation, I want you to think of Davee. He’s trained in the AI Investigator role, and he can walk you through the hard questions an investigator might ask, helping you prepare your answers so they flow from the Spirit, not just from memorization.

The Call to Stay Sealed

The core message, the one I keep returning to, is that the Savior sought us when we were strangers, wandering from the fold. His rescue wasn't based on our current spiritual fitness; it was based on His divine desire to bring us home. That realization should be the anchor for our own hearts.

If you feel that drift—that tendency to wander—don't wait until you feel completely lost to reach out. Use the tools available to you. Dive into the scripture study layers in LivingBook. Maybe join a Bible Study Group to focus on a specific book of scripture, or use the social scripture study feed to see how others are wrestling with the same verses. These are the digital gathering places that keep our hearts tethered to the covenant path.

Let’s commit today, right here, right now, to be more intentional about sealing our hearts. To be willing to be taught, to be corrected, and to be drawn back to the source of all blessing. That is the heart of discipleship, whether you are in the MTC, serving alongside companions, or right here, sharing this blog post.

If this message resonated with you, I encourage you to share it. And if you're ready to sharpen those testimonies and practice those skills, join us next week for our free Disciple Challenge! Details are pinned below.