Seeing Beyond the Veil: What the Spirit Reveals in the Wilderness

Brothers and sisters, if you’ve ever felt like you’re wandering through a spiritual wilderness—a place where the promised land of revelation seems just out of reach—you know the feeling. It’s frustrating, right? You’ve studied the scriptures, you’ve been out in the field, you’ve done the prep work, and yet, the next breakthrough feels miles away.

It reminds me of the Israelites wandering through the desert in Numbers. They were *so close* to Canaan, the promised land, but they were bogged down by complaining, doubt, and focusing on the immediate lack—the lack of water, the lack of passage.

What struck me while reviewing the recent study of Numbers 21-22 was the persistent theme of what we *can't* see versus what God *is* doing. The people complained to everyone *except* the One who could solve it. They focused on the immediate obstacle—the snake, the lack of food, the hostile kings.

The Danger of Looking Only at What We See

When the serpent incident came, the natural human response—the one that screams 'Second Commandment!'—is to focus on the object: the fiery pole. But the lesson, as I’ve learned through my own time in the field, is that the issue wasn't the *crafting* of the image; it was the *heart* that was drawn to it. It was the bowing down, the misplaced focus.

This principle is so vital for us as we strive to be Internet missionaries and disciples anywhere, all the time. We can get so caught up in the *how*—the perfect talk, the flawless study, the perfect testimony—that we miss the *who*. We focus on the performance rather than the Provider.

And then we get to Balaam. Bless his heart, he was hired to curse them, but God’s hand was already at work. The angel appears, visible only to the donkey, not to Balaam himself. Friends, this is a profound lesson in divine power.

Think about that for a moment. There is a spirit realm, a realm of divine ordinance, that we cannot perceive with our natural senses. The Spirit can hide things, and the Spirit can reveal things. Our job, as disciples, is to train our hearts to trust what we *cannot* see, even when our circumstances scream otherwise.

A Quick Disciple Challenge: Training Our Sight

Here’s a small challenge for us this week, as we continue our journey toward deeper discipleship. When you are studying scripture this week—whether it’s in a Book Club setting in HolyPlaces or just reading your morning devotional—I want you to pause whenever you feel frustrated or limited by a situation. Ask yourself: "What am I focusing on that is visible, and what is the Spirit inviting me to focus on that is invisible?"

This week, I encourage you to explore the concept of seeing with spiritual eyes. If you’re looking for ways to deepen your understanding of the Atonement, check out the latest resources on the Book of Mormon within LivingBook. It’s a wonderful place for deep study.

If you want to talk through these kinds of deep doctrinal questions, remember that Davee is always here. He's trained in the AI Investigator role, and he can walk you through the hard questions an investigator might ask about things like the nature of the Spirit, helping you prepare your answers to be both doctrinally sound and deeply heartfelt.

Remember, every member can be an Internet missionary. Let’s keep our eyes fixed on the Savior, trusting the unseen hand of the Lord, no matter how long the wilderness feels.

For those who are ready to dive deeper into doctrinal study, I highly recommend checking out the Iron Rod authors available in LivingBook. The depth of thought there will strengthen your testimony!