The Art of Listening: Turning Our Platforms into Ministry Tools

Brothers and sisters, if there’s one thing the Spirit has been pressing on my heart lately, it’s the difference between *talking* and *connecting*. We are so skilled at crafting the perfect testimony, at structuring a compelling talk in a missionary discussion, or at writing a powerful devotional thought for our LivingBook study groups. We have every tool imaginable—our phones, our voices, our carefully prepared thoughts.

But sometimes, when we get excited about sharing the gospel, we forget the fundamental skill that precedes the sermon: the ability to truly hear. It’s easy to be ready to teach, to correct, or to offer the perfect scripture reference. It feels natural, right?

Recently, I was reflecting on a talk featuring T.D. Jakes, and it really hit home how often we treat communication like a performance—a TED Talk, or a polished address for a district leader meeting. We focus on the *mic*, the platform, the perfect articulation. But the message I took away, the one that feels like a divine nudge for all of us rogue disciples, was about the power of the *ear*.

Listening: The Ultimate Missionary Prep Skill

Jakes spoke about how much of our modern communication is simply us talking *at* each other, not *to* each other. And while this principle applies to our homes, it screams loudest in the field. When we meet with investigators, or even when we’re studying in a Book Club setting, our instinct is to fill the silence with doctrine. We want to prove our knowledge, to show how deep our understanding of the Plan of Salvation is.

But the Master’s way—the way of the Savior—is to listen. To truly hear what is unspoken, what is fearful, what is confusing. He taught us to understand, not just to respond. The counsel was profound: “To better understand, just listen, don’t run away, don’t try to fix the person.”

This isn't just soft advice; it's tactical. When you approach a new area, or when you are doing your own mission prep, remember that the Holy Ghost often speaks in the quiet spaces, not in the loudest pronouncements. Being an effective disciple anywhere, all the time, means mastering the art of the attentive heart.

Don't Live in Your History; Live in Your Destiny

Jakes shared that we risk living in our "history"—the labels others place on us, the mistakes we made, the limitations we accept. In our discipleship journey, it’s easy to get stuck in the "history" of what we *were*—the missionary who struggled, the returned missionary who feels inadequate, or even the lifelong disciple who feels settled. We can let the past define our potential.

But the Spirit calls us forward. He calls us to our destiny. And that destiny, friends, requires us to be students first. It takes courage, like he said, “to come out of your bubble and talk and listen and learn and not always show up as a teacher, but to come into the room as a student.”

This is the heart of the Internet Missionary. We are constantly entering new "rooms"—a neighbor’s living room, a family gathering, a quiet moment of reflection in HolyPlaces. We must approach these moments with the humility of a student, ready to learn what the Spirit is whispering through the other person.

The True Currency

If we boil it down to one principle for all of us—whether we are in MTC, serving in a stake center, or just having coffee with a friend—it’s this: “The currency of relationships is your greatest resource is better than any dollar amount in the world.”

Let’s commit this week to practicing radical listening. Before you formulate your next thought, before you reach for your scriptures to prove a point, just breathe. Listen for the underlying need. Be present. That is how we build the Zion of the modern day.

If you need to sharpen this skill, I highly recommend diving into the insights shared by the Iron Rod authors on communication and testimony building. If you’re looking for a structured way to practice this, check out a Book Club or Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces—it’s a wonderful place to practice discipleship with others!

For those who want to deepen this understanding of communication and purpose, I’ve left a resource link below. And remember, Davee is ready to help you workshop those tricky questions you might face in your next missionary discussions. Don't hesitate to ask him!