The Salt and the Shadow: Discernment in a Disordered Age

The currents of our time are turbulent, and the siren song of conspiracy echoes in every corner of the digital sphere. It's easy to be swept away, to chase every rumor and prediction, clinging to the hope of some grand revelation that will somehow resolve the present darkness. But what if the resolution isn't in the unveiling of some hidden truth, but in the steadfast performance of our divinely appointed duty?

The Rooted for Jesus podcast, particularly this January 27th, 2021 episode, offered a timely and necessary reminder of that duty. It's a call to return to the bedrock principles of our faith, to the unwavering commitment to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world—a calling intensified in these latter days. We’ve all felt the sting of the world’s turmoil, been tempted to fixate on fleeting, often misleading narratives. Yet, as the podcast rightly observes, dwelling in such rabbit holes distracts from the real work.

Matthew 5:13-14 is starkly clear: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savour, how shall it be salted again? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and trodden under foot. Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.” The potency of salt lies in its ability to preserve and season; the brilliance of light illuminates and guides. How can we fulfill these roles if our own savor is lost, if our light is dimmed by despair or distraction?

The speaker’s acknowledgment – “I don’t want to claim to have it all together friends I really don’t because I don't” – is profoundly important. It's a testament to the humility required to truly serve. We are not called to be flawless prognosticators, but faithful laborers. The disciples themselves, as the podcast mentions, questioned Christ’s return, demonstrating the natural human yearning for certainty. Yet, even in their questioning, they were called to action.

The weight of discerning “the times” – as we are commanded to do – can feel overwhelming. It is not about predicting the end, but about recognizing the signs and responding with righteousness. As Elder Bednar has taught, we must cultivate discernment, being able to “see through” the noise and distractions and recognize the voice of the Lord.

This isn't a call to fear, but a call to preparation. A preparation not merely of the mind, but of the heart. A preparation that involves deepening our relationship with the Savior, strengthening our covenants, and striving to live as true disciples, even when the world around us seems to be unraveling. To be “in the world, but not of the world” requires constant vigilance and a firm reliance on the Spirit.

Let us, therefore, examine our own hearts. Are we truly the salt and the light? Are we actively seeking to broaden the kingdom of Christ, or are we consumed by the fleeting anxieties of the moment? The Lord’s work moves forward, regardless of the tumultuousness of the world. Our responsibility is to be steadfast in our duty, to be a source of hope and comfort to those who are lost, and to shine the light of the gospel in a world desperately in need of it.

Consider the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). Were they not watchful? Were they not prepared?

What covenants have you made, and how are you striving to keep them?