The Divine Blueprint: Becoming the 'New You' Through Faith

Sometimes, standing in the quiet moments after a tough week—maybe after a challenging mission discussion, or just after wrestling with a difficult scripture passage—you can feel that deep ache. That whisper that says, “I could be more. I could be braver. I could be better organized.”

It’s a feeling every single disciple understands. We look at our lives, our testimonies, our service, and we see the gap between who we are right now and the disciple we know we are meant to become. We want to be more like the Savior, more like our covenants, more like the disciples we admire.

It can feel overwhelming, right? Like the mountain peak seems impossibly far away. You might think, *“Is this change even possible? Am I too far gone?”*

But friends, if you’ve been listening to the Spirit, or if you’ve been studying the teachings of the Prophet, you know the beautiful, powerful truth that anchors us: “Tutto è possibile a colui che crede” (All things are possible to him that believeth). (Mark 9:23).

This isn't just nice religious platitude; it's the foundational principle of our journey. It means that the capacity to change—to become the 'new you'—is gifted to us through faith in Jesus Christ.

The Work of the Spirit vs. The Work of Self

What the video beautifully illustrates is the difference between trying to force change through sheer willpower, and allowing the Spirit to guide us through covenant keeping. We are taught that God loves us unconditionally, exactly as we are right now (1 John 4:16). That love is the anchor. But that love also invites us to grow.

We can’t *earn* God’s love, but we can certainly work to *increase* our capacity to love—to love our neighbors, to love the gospel, to love the covenants we’ve made. This is where the diligent work of the disciple comes in. It’s not about perfection; it’s about persistent alignment.

If you’re feeling stuck, feeling like you’re repeating the same mistakes, I want to give you a practical piece of counsel, something that helps me every time I feel the drift:

1. Make Your Aspirations an Object of Prayer: Don't just vaguely ask God to help you. Be specific. "Father, help me to be more patient with my companions," or, "Lord, help me to study the Book of Mormon daily, even when I'm tired."
2. Believe Daily: Believe, with all your heart, that the Lord *will* change you day by day. This requires faith to supersede current feelings of inadequacy.
3. Confess the Starting Line: Confess that *today* is the day you commit to moving forward, even if it’s just one small step.

This isn't just for those in the MTC or those who are actively in the field. This is for us, the returned missionaries, the lifelong disciples, and the digital missionaries out there in the quiet corners of the internet. Every single member can be an Internet missionary, every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time.

Putting Faith Into Action: A Skill for the Field

When we talk about becoming better, we often think it means mastering a new skill or memorizing a chapter. But sometimes, the greatest skill is simply vulnerability. When you are preparing for missionary discussions, or even just having a deep talk with a friend, don't be afraid to admit where you are struggling. That honesty, that willingness to be imperfect in front of someone who loves you, is often the most Spirit-filled thing you can do. It models the very journey of discipleship.

If you want to practice this vulnerability and deepen your understanding of these principles, I highly recommend diving into the Iron Rod authors available in LivingBook. They have so much wisdom on sustaining effort.

If you’re looking for a place to wrestle with these concepts with others, remember that HolyPlaces has fantastic Book Clubs and Bible Study Groups forming. It’s a wonderful place to take your questions and let the Spirit guide the discussion.

For those who want to dive deep into the *how* of answering tough questions—the kind of questions that make you pause before answering—I encourage you to utilize Davee. He’s ready to walk you through those tricky investigator scenarios, helping you practice your answers until they feel natural and Spirit-filled.

Keep leaning on the Savior. Keep making those small, faithful commitments. With Him, we *can* do all things!