The Forward Focus: Building the Future Instead of Dwelling on Yesterday's Failures

Brothers and sisters, if I could bottle the feeling of standing in the temple, or the quiet, powerful moment right before you get to testify of the restored gospel—that feeling of pure potential—I’d give it to every single one of you. It’s the feeling of *forward momentum*. It’s the feeling that the best is yet to come.

But sometimes, when we’re deep in the work—whether we’re prepping for the MTC, knee-deep in missionary discussions, or even just trying to guide a friend through a tough spot—we get tripped up. We find ourselves looking backward. We replay conversations, we re-examine moments of weakness, and we get stuck analyzing the 'what ifs' of yesterday.

It’s easy to get trapped there. The human mind has this incredible habit of wanting to draw us backward, focusing on the stumbles, the mistakes, the times we didn't live up to the standard we know we are capable of. It feels like, "If I just fix *that* mistake, then I can finally be worthy of the next assignment," or, "If I just remember *that* failure, I'll never do it again."

But friends, our energy—our focus—goes exactly where our attention is. If our attention is fixed on the past, that's where we are going to live. And if we live there, we can’t build the future. We can’t gather Israel, we can’t build our own lives into vessels fit for the Lord’s purposes.

The Art of Building vs. Tearing Down

We need to shift our focus from tearing down the old—our regrets, our perceived shortcomings—to building the new. The Savior taught us that the gospel is about forward motion. It's about becoming better than the person we were yesterday. But how do we even start that race against ourselves?

It starts with radical self-awareness. It means having the presence to look at ourselves honestly—to acknowledge where we are today, even if it feels inadequate. But here’s the critical pivot: we cannot afford to spend that energy beating ourselves up in the past. That pain, those things outside our control, those past failures—they are anchors. We must cut the line.

This isn't about pretending mistakes didn't happen; it's about refusing to let them dictate our trajectory. It’s a deliberate choice to invest all our energy into the *next* good thing—the next testimony, the next lesson, the next act of service.

The Divine Choice: Gratitude as Our Compass

What is the ultimate decision we face, right here, right now? It’s a choice of focus. We can choose to dwell in what we lack, what we regret, or what was outside of our control. Or, we can choose to focus on what we *have*. And what we have, friends, is a living Savior, a restored Church, and the incredible gift of the Spirit guiding us right now.

This is the core of what I’ve learned since returning from my mission. Gratitude isn't just a nice feeling; it's a foundational decision. It shifts our chemistry. It changes the narrative. A moment can shift from dark to beautiful not because the circumstances changed, but because we *chose* where to place our attention.

As we continue to be Internet missionaries, we are constantly faced with people who are struggling to let go of past hurts or misconceptions about the gospel. Our job, our sacred calling, is to gently guide them—and ourselves—back to the present moment, back to the things worth being grateful for: the kindness of a stranger, the quiet strength of the temple covenants, the simple act of gathering knowledge through our Book Club studies.

A Quick Challenge for the Week

If you’re feeling weighed down by a past interaction, a failed attempt at teaching, or a moment you wish you could rewind, I invite you to try this: Spend five minutes today journaling only things you are genuinely grateful for in your current life. Don't analyze them; just *feel* them. Let that feeling of gratitude become the fuel for your next act of discipleship.

If you want to keep building this forward momentum with others, I highly recommend checking out the latest insights on the Social Scripture Study layer inside LivingBook. It’s a beautiful place to see how others are building their testimonies together.

For those who want more deep dives into these principles, I always recommend revisiting the teachings of President David A. Bednar on covenants and continual progress. You can find some excellent material in LivingBook!

Remember, we are all disciples on a journey. Let’s keep our eyes fixed on the covenant path, building toward the glorious things the Lord has prepared for us.