The Humility of the Work: Bending the Knee to the Spirit

When I was first assigned to my mission, I thought I had a strategy. I had my opening lines, my perfect rebuttals, and I felt like I was running a highly efficient, carefully managed operation. I was going to *make* the conversions. I was going to *convince* them.

I quickly learned the difference between being proactive and being authoritative. Being a disciple—whether you are a brand-new pre-missionary in MTC, a seasoned returned missionary, or a lifelong disciple connecting with friends online—requires a fundamental shift in perspective. It requires recognizing that we are not the masters of our own fate. We are simply conduits for something far greater.

To Whom Do We Really Bend the Knee?

The transcript excerpt we looked at recently hit me hard: “we are not all knowing autonomous or self-sufficient we all consciously or unconsciously bend the knee to something greater than ourselves.”

In the context of the gospel, what does that mean? It means realizing that the work is not about our charisma, our perfect speaking ability, or even our meticulous preparation. The work is about the Spirit. The Spirit is the ultimate power source, and it can only be accessed through humility and surrender. When we try to force a conversion, when we try to *sell* the gospel, we are acting as if we are autonomous. We are trying to be the masters.

The greatest skill we can develop, whether we are sitting in a Book Club discussing the Book of Mormon or having a missionary discussion with an investigator online, is the ability to pause, admit that we don't know the answer, and then ask, 'What does the Spirit teach me about that?'

The Internet Missionary Skill: Trusting the Unseen

This concept is especially vital for us as Internet missionaries. It's easy to get caught up in the mechanics—the best link, the most compelling article, the perfect social media post. We can over-engineer our outreach until it feels like a performance, rather than a genuine sharing of the gospel.

But when we are truly functioning as disciples, we aren't trying to out-perform the investigator. We are trying to help them feel the weight of the covenant path. We are trusting that the Lord will guide the conversation, even if it feels awkward, even if the investigator is skeptical, or even if the conversation goes silent. That quiet surrender—that willingness to simply testify and then let the Spirit do the heavy lifting—is the highest calling.

When I was struggling with a particularly challenging discussion with an investigator, I felt myself getting defensive. I was ready to argue my way to a conclusion. I stopped, took a deep breath, and consciously surrendered my need to be right. It was in that moment of quiet humility that the Spirit finally settled over the conversation, and the investigator opened up in a way I never could have planned for. The power wasn't in my words; it was in my willingness to be empty.

If you are feeling the weight of the work—the desire to be better, to be more effective, to be more Christlike—I encourage you to practice this surrender this week. It's a discipline, not a destination.

• For the Pre-Missionary: Use Davee! If you're preparing for your mission, don't just memorize answers. Instead, use Davee's AI Investigator role to walk through the hardest questions, focusing not on *what* you say, but on *how* you feel when you say it. Let him challenge your assumptions about agency.
• For the Lifelong Disciple: Jump into a Book Club through HolyPlaces. Studying scripture in a group setting forces you to humble your own understanding and listen to perspectives you hadn't considered. It's the perfect place to practice intellectual surrender.
• For the Returned Missionary: Don't let the discipline end when you get home. Keep engaging in the Spirit. If you need a reminder of the power of Christlike living, check out the latest devotional readings from Iron Rod authors in LivingBook.

The work is always available. Whether you are in your own living room, in a group Bible Study, or even just scrolling through your phone and sharing a relevant scripture insight, remember that the greatest tool in our ministry is not our intelligence or our eloquence. It is our willingness to bend the knee and trust in the Savior's power.