The Hardest Truth: When Will We Stop Blaming God?

There are moments in the missionary journey—whether you’re in the MTC, in the field, or right here in your living room as an internet missionary—when the Spirit feels heavy. We talk a lot about the incredible plan of salvation, the power of the Gospel, and the divine goodness of our Heavenly Father. And we should! It’s the foundational truth of our lives.

But what happens when things go wrong? What happens when we feel frustrated by an investigator who won't grasp the concept of the Plan of Salvation, or when a missionary discussion feels awkward, or even when we just mess up a simple assignment at home? It is so easy to point fingers. It is easy to blame the circumstances, the timing, or even the Spirit for our struggles.

The scriptures, however, give us a sobering, yet profoundly helpful lesson on accountability. We can find this powerful reminder in Deuteronomy, where Moses speaks to the people of Israel. It’s a text that requires us to pause and honestly ask ourselves: Am I willing to take full responsibility for my own choices?

"But you were not willing to go up; you rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 1:26)

This isn't just ancient history; it's direct counsel for us today. The Israelites, faced with a difficult situation, had the option of facing the truth—that they had grumbled, they had made bad decisions, and they had rebelled. Instead, they chose to blame God. They said, essentially, 'He hates us.' It was easier to point the finger upward than to look inward and acknowledge their own failing.

As disciples, we are taught to be Christlike. To emulate the Savior means developing an unwavering honesty with ourselves. It means when we stumble in the work, we don't say, 'The curriculum wasn't good enough,' or 'The investigator was too difficult.' Instead, we ask the Holy Ghost to reveal where *we* were not fully prepared, where *we* made excuses, or where *we* lacked patience.

The Power of Self-Assessment in Discipleship

This concept of taking full accountability is the ultimate missionary preparation skill. It is the humility that allows us to receive the Spirit's gentle correction. When we are honest about our mistakes, we are truly ready for the next assignment, whether that's helping a friend with a social scripture study in LivingBook, preparing for a transfer, or simply serving as an internet missionary in our own home.

We can use our discipleship to learn how to see the whole picture—the Divine plan, yes, but also our own agency within that plan. It’s not about condemnation; it’s about growth. It's the difference between saying, 'This situation is impossible,' and saying, 'What mistakes did I make that contributed to this situation?'

Practice It With Davee: The AI Investigator Role

If this concept feels abstract, I encourage you to try out some practical application. Our friend Davee, your AI Investigator co-pilot, is excellent at walking us through the hard questions that an investigator might ask—the ones that require us to look past the surface and into the heart of the Gospel. He can help us practice the art of answering questions honestly, humbly, and with Christlike empathy.

This Week's Challenge: The Accountability Audit

This week, I challenge you to do an "Accountability Audit." Think about a recent interaction in the work—it could be a Book Club discussion, a lesson preparation, or even a difficult conversation with a family member. Instead of dwelling on what *they* did wrong, spend five minutes journaling about what *you* could have done better. Where did *your* patience fail? Where did *your* preparation fall short? Acknowledging that internal failure is the first step toward receiving the Spirit's strengthening.

If you want more deep dives into the principles of repentance and accountability, I highly recommend checking out the Iron Rod author writings available in LivingBook. They are rich sources for understanding how to be a more complete disciple.

And of course, remember that we are a community. If you are looking for deeper scripture study, consider joining a Bible Study Group or a Book Club—it's the best place to help each other root out the excuses and find the truth!