The Love of the Hard Truth: Becoming a Better Internet Missionary

When I first returned from my mission, I thought I knew everything about 'the work.' I thought that if I just knew the scriptures and recited the right talking points, I would be ready for any investigator. But the field, and even the quiet moments in the temple, taught me that the hardest part isn't knowing the answers—it's knowing how to love the questioner, especially when the question is rooted in a deep cultural comfort zone.

We live in a culture that has developed a massive taboo around spiritual accountability. It's easy to feel defensive, or worse, to simply nod along with someone's lifestyle choices because we fear being called judgmental or hateful. We’ve been taught that 'letting them live' is the most loving thing. But what does that mean, really?

The story of the Rich Young Ruler is the perfect, challenging scripture to revisit. He asks Jesus, 'What must I do to inherit eternal life?' He's doing all the commandments, yet Jesus observes that he lacks one thing. It wasn't a doctrinal gap; it was a gap in the heart—a misplaced devotion that kept him from following the Savior completely. Jesus loved him, and because He loved him, He told him the hard truth.

The Difference Between Comfort and Truth

It is tempting, especially when we are assigned to a new area or when we are trying to do mission prep, to soften the message until it is completely palatable. We want the investigator to feel safe and loved, and that is absolutely true. But the Spirit doesn't lead us to compromise the gospel; it leads us to the truth. The truth, however, must always be wrapped in the love of Christ.

Think about that dynamic. Jesus didn't condemn the young man; He loved him and pointed out the specific place where his love was insufficient. That's what we are called to do as disciples today. We are called to be gentle, persistent, and—when necessary—to challenge the comfortable assumptions that keep people from meeting the Savior.

Becoming a Disciple Who Loves Like Christ

This concept is critical whether you are standing in a mission room, or whether you are simply sitting at your kitchen table with a friend. As Internet missionaries, we are often the first line of defense against the culture's lie that spiritual accountability is hateful. We must remember that being Christlike means having the courage to speak the gospel, even when it makes us uncomfortable.

• Observation first: Before we speak, we must listen. What are the underlying assumptions of the person we are talking to? What are their 'blind spots'?
• The Love of Specificity: Like Christ, we must pinpoint the deficiency—the missing piece of the gospel—without attacking the person.
• The Persistence of the Spirit: The gospel isn't a single conversation. It's a persistent, patient effort to help someone see what they cannot see themselves.

This is the core of Preach My Gospel. It is not just about reciting verses; it is about having the willingness to guide someone toward the difficult, necessary truth, and knowing when to pause and let the Spirit do the work. It requires a deep trust in the Savior's power, and a humility that reminds us we are always learning, even after our first assignment.

The most loving thing we can do is help somebody be right with God. This doesn't mean being harsh; it means being truthful enough to guide them toward eternal life.

Challenge Yourself This Week

If you are feeling the call to be more truthful, more Christlike, I encourage you to take a bite-sized mission-prep skill this week. I recommend reviewing the principles of the Atonement and the Plan of Salvation. If you need help wrestling with how to talk about these concepts respectfully, I highly recommend checking out Davee's AI Investigator role in LivingBook. He is fantastic at walking you through the hard questions an investigator might ask!

Want to deepen this discussion? Join a Book Club or a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces! These are perfect places to discuss the nuances of gospel truth with fellow disciples.

For those who are ready to dig deeper into the principles of the gospel, I recommend picking up *Iron Rod* (or any book by an Iron Rod author) and checking it out in LivingBook. Remember, every member can be an Internet missionary, every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time. Let’s keep the work going!