The Power of the Testimony: Witnessing the Resurrection in Our Lives

Sometimes, the weight of what we’ve seen—or what we *know* to be true—feels almost too big to carry. We look at the sheer magnitude of the Atonement, the power of the Gospel, and we might feel overwhelmed. It’s easy to get caught up in the drama, the miracles, the sheer drama of it all. But as returned missionaries, we learn quickly that the greatest miracles often happen not in the grand, public spectacle, but in the quiet, persistent work of showing up.

Watching the account of Lazarus’s raising, you see the contrast so stark: the stench of death, the sealed tomb, and then the simple, authoritative declaration: “Lazarus, come forth.” It wasn't just a powerful display; it was a testimony made manifest. It was the ultimate proof that what died could live again.

What does this mean for us today, out here in the field, whether that field is a living room, a virtual gathering in HolyPlaces, or just the quiet moments before we get up for our morning study? It means that the power of the Gospel—the power of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ—is not limited by what we can see, or by the opposition we face. The opposition, like the priests and Pharisees in that account, often tries to diminish the miracle, to reduce it to mere politics or earthly gain. They try to make the divine look suspicious.

The Divine vs. The Earthly: Keeping the Focus

Think about the contrast between Mary anointing Jesus with the costly perfume versus Judas’s cynical calculation. One act was rooted in profound, selfless love—a recognition of divine worth. The other was rooted in materialism and accusation. When we prepare to share the gospel, when we are in missionary discussions, we have to be acutely aware of what we are emphasizing. Are we focusing on the *difficulty* of the work, or are we focusing on the *divinity* of the Savior?

The Savior didn't just perform miracles to prove He was powerful; He performed them to confirm the truth of His divine mission and to draw people to the Father. Our goal, always, must be to point people to the Father and the Son.

Be Christlike in the Internet Missionary Field

This principle—focusing on the divine, not the dramatic—is the core of being an effective internet missionary. We are called to be disciples anywhere, all the time. If we are struggling to know where to start our discussions, or if we’ve just finished a challenging transfer and feel a little out of sync, remember this: Our greatest power comes from being Christlike, not from having the perfect answer ready.

This week, I want to challenge us to focus on the *testimony* of the Resurrection. It’s not just about the fact that He rose; it’s about what that means for *us*—that our own struggles, our own apparent "deaths," are overcome by Him. When you feel the Spirit gently nudge you toward a conversation, don't panic trying to recall every doctrinal point. Instead, recall the feeling of peace when you know the Savior lives. Let that feeling guide your words.

A Bite-Sized Mission-Prep Skill: The 'Why' Question

A simple skill to practice this week, especially if you're studying scripture or preparing for a conversation: When someone asks you a challenging question, don't rush to the doctrine. Instead, ask yourself, "What is the *ultimate* 'why' behind this question?" For example, if someone asks about the mechanism of the Atonement, the ultimate 'why' is: *Why is it necessary for us to feel the Savior's grace?* The answer always circles back to the necessity of the Savior’s love.

If you want to dig deeper into how to handle these hard questions, I highly recommend checking out Davee. He’s been working with so many of us on refining our responses, especially in the AI Investigator role. It’s a fantastic, low-stakes way to practice!

For those of you who are ready to dive deeper into the principles of discipleship, I found the Social Scripture Study layer in LivingBook particularly helpful this week—it really helped contextualize a passage we were reading. If you haven't checked it out, give it a look!

Let's keep the focus on the resurrection power. Let’s keep sharing the light, no matter how small the candle feels today. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Spirit does through each of you this week!