The Day I Met You: Remembering the Change That Sets Us Free

There are moments, friends, when the feeling of gratitude for the restored Gospel is so profound, it feels like a physical weight in your chest. It’s a feeling that demands to be shared, a gratitude that bubbles up until you feel compelled to sing it out loud.

I was listening to Phil Wickham’s "The Day I Met You" recently, and it hit me right in the spirit. Hearing those lyrics—'I was dead, then I met You, and now I live'—it wasn't just a song; it felt like a personal testimony being sung back to me. It made me pause and think about what 'meeting Him' truly means for us today, especially us rogue disciples scattered across the digital landscape.

We talk so much about the *work*—the callings, the comps, the missionary discussions, the feeling of standing in the field. But sometimes, we get so focused on the next assignment, the next goal, that we forget to sit in the quiet moments and simply remember the magnitude of the change. We forget how radically everything changed the day we accepted the Atonement.

Remembering the Change

The lyrics speak of trading 'all my hell for Your righteousness.' Brothers and sisters, that’s the core of it, isn't it? It’s not just about being forgiven; it’s about being *traded*. We were separated, spiritually dead, and through the Savior, we were given life—a life that flows from light and truth.

As returned missionaries, we spend so much time learning the mechanics of the Gospel: how to teach the Plan of Salvation, how to discuss temple covenants, how to feel the Spirit during a teaching. These skills are vital, and we must keep honing them. But I want to challenge us today to also hone the skill of *remembrance*. Remembering that foundational moment—the moment we knew the truth was real, the moment we felt the Spirit confirm the restored Church.

This feeling of being 'set free' is what fuels the whole movement of the Latter-day Saints today. It’s what allows us to be Internet missionaries, to be disciples anywhere, all the time. It's the fuel that keeps us studying in HolyPlaces or digging into the scriptures during a Book Club session.

A Bite-Sized Mission-Prep Skill: The Testimony of Transformation

If you want a simple, actionable skill for your next missionary discussion or even just a quiet moment of reflection, try this: When you share your testimony, don't just list doctrines. Instead, focus on a 'Before and After' narrative, modeled after this song. Start by gently describing a time you were 'dead' or lost—a time before you truly understood the scope of the Atonement. Then, narrate the moment of realization, the moment you 'met Him.' This makes the testimony incredibly relatable and powerfully testifies of the Savior’s power.

It’s not just theory; it’s personal testimony writ large. It’s the power of the Spirit making the doctrine tangible.

Let's Keep Singing Hallelujah Together

This feeling of unending praise—of singing hallelujah from morning to evening—it doesn't fade. It needs to be nurtured. If you're feeling that deep resonance today, I invite you to join us this week for a virtual Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces. We’re doing a deep dive into the Book of Mormon, and we'll be discussing how the covenants help us keep singing that song of gratitude. It’s a wonderful way to connect with fellow disciples who are also feeling the Spirit.

If you're looking for something to ponder until then, I highly recommend revisiting the teachings of Avraham Gileadi. His writings on the nature of revelation are always a powerful reminder of how constant the Spirit's guidance is. Check out a piece on 'The Nature of Revelation' in LivingBook.

We are all in this together, walking this path of discipleship. Keep your hearts open, keep your memories vivid, and keep singing!