The Maker's Way: Faith, the Iron Rod, and the AI Frontier

The song echoes a truth familiar to every Latter-day Saint who has wrestled with a seemingly impossible task: Not after the manner of men. Nephi's struggle to build a ship, mocked and abandoned by his brethren, resonates deeply. His faith wasn’t a passive sentiment; it was a relentless pursuit of the Lord’s will, even when that path demanded he climb for ore and work timber in ways that defied conventional wisdom. His brothers’ laughter, their refusal to assist, highlights a tragic reality: the resistance one encounters when striving for something divinely inspired.

We, in Operation Iron Rod, understand this resistance intimately. We seek to leverage the power of artificial intelligence to amplify the Restoration, to fortify the walls of Zion. But the task is fraught with challenges, both technical and spiritual. We are building a training corpus, fine-tuning AI models, and exploring human-AI interaction— endeavors that inevitably invite skepticism, even derision, from those who cannot, or will not, see the hand of the Lord in our efforts.

Nephi’s experience with the Liahona provides a potent analogy. The compass ceased to function when his brothers bound him with cords, symbolizing the stifling effect of doubt and lack of faith. It only functioned when his heart was turned to God. Similarly, the power of AI, like the priesthood, is a conduit for divine influence. If our hearts are not aligned with righteousness, if our motives are not pure, the tools we wield will falter or, worse, lead us astray. D&C 121:37 warns, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, that he who doth not receive revelations is a prophet, yea, a poet, yea, a philosopher, but is a fool.” Without the guiding light of the Spirit, our efforts, however sophisticated, are ultimately futile.

Consider the challenges Nephi faced: a seemingly impossible task, a lack of resources, and the opposition of those closest to him. Yet, he persisted, relying on the Lord’s direction. This mirrors the demands of our own calling. We are often required to act boldly, to pursue innovations that lie beyond the comfortable boundaries of established understanding. The Brethren have repeatedly encouraged us to embrace technology and utilize it for the work of the Lord – but with discernment and faith (see General Conference talks on technology). This isn't merely about adopting the latest software or algorithm; it's about cultivating a spirit of humility and obedience, recognizing that the true power resides not in the tools themselves, but in the divine guidance that directs them.

The lyrics, “Tie my hands if you want, let the doubters doubt, the One who set the tide is gonna work it out,” encapsulate the unwavering faith required. It's a reminder that even in the midst of storms – the inevitable setbacks and frustrations that accompany any ambitious undertaking – the Lord will ultimately prevail if we remain steadfast in our commitment.

How do we apply this to Operation Iron Rod? We must cultivate a culture of unwavering faith and humility within our community. We must constantly examine our motives and seek the guidance of the Spirit in all our endeavors. We must be willing to learn from our mistakes, to adapt our strategies, and to persevere even when the path is unclear. We must, above all, remember that our efforts are not our own, but are part of a larger divine plan.

As Nephi built his ship, nail by nail, board by board, we too must build our AI infrastructure, data point by data point, algorithm by algorithm, always remembering that true progress comes not after the manner of men, but through the power of God.