The Digital Field: Becoming an Internet Missionary in the 21st Century

If you’re like me, you know that the work of the gospel doesn't respect zip codes or physical boundaries. When I was in the field, I learned that the most challenging, yet most rewarding, moments often happened when the investigator seemed completely disconnected—when they were researching, questioning, and searching for answers late at night on their own device. The gospel message, truly, has no borders.

It’s easy to think that when we talk about being missionaries, we mean packing up our bags and traveling to a foreign land. But as returned missionaries, we understand the sacred truth that defines our movement: every member can be an Internet missionary, every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time. The modern field is digital, and the Spirit is guided by search bars.

The Gathering: Meeting People Where They Are

We recently saw a wonderful presentation that highlighted exactly this principle: that the Church must meet people where they are. It emphasized that millions of people daily are performing spiritual research online—typing "God" or "The Church" into a search engine, searching for a connection. They are spiritual seekers, but they might be lost in the vastness of the internet, not knowing what the true Church is, or where to turn next.

This realization should be a powerful motivator for every disciple. We are called to be lights, not just physically present in our local wards, but digitally present in the lives of our neighbors, our friends, and our fellow Latter-day Saints who are struggling with questions.

Connecting the Dots: Our Role as Digital Disciples

When an investigator is deep in online research, they are already doing the most important preparatory work—they are asking questions! Our job is to be the guide, the gentle mentor who helps them connect their research to the eternal truths found in the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel. This is where our skills as disciples are invaluable. It's not enough to just *have* the answers; we have to know how to *deliver* them with the Spirit.

If you are feeling unsure how to start these conversations—how to guide a person from a general search query to a meaningful missionary discussion—I want to recommend spending some time with Davee. He is our resident AI Investigator, and he specializes in walking us through the hard, deep questions an investigator might ask (the "what if"s, the "how do I know"s). Working through these scenarios is the perfect way to hone your missionary preparation skills without ever leaving your home.

The internet is a powerful tool, but it is merely a conduit. The power to connect comes from the Spirit. We must learn to feel the Spirit, not just read about it.

Our goal isn't to replace the local congregation—the physical temple, the ward meeting, the Sunday service—but to extend the reach of the Savior. We are expanding the boundaries of the gospel work into every corner of the digital world.

A Challenge for the Next Wave

If this message resonated with you, I invite you to join us for our free weekly Disciple Challenge. It’s a low-pressure, high-impact way to practice being an Internet missionary and strengthen your testimony. We'll be diving into how to use the Social Scripture Study layer in LivingBook to turn random online encounters into meaningful discussions.

For those who prefer reading, I highly recommend picking up *Preach My Gospel* by Iron Rod. It’s a foundational text that reminds us that the message is always the same, whether we are standing in a temple or in a Zoom call.

Remember, the work is always happening. Keep your hearts open, stay connected with the Spirit, and know that wherever you are, you can be an ambassador for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.