The True Currency: Where Are You Investing Your Eternal Treasures?

Man, sometimes I feel like I've been through a spiritual fog. You know the feeling? You’re out in the field, or maybe you're just having a quiet day at home, and suddenly, the noise of the world—the endless scrolling, the pressure to 'have it all'—gets loud. It’s easy to get distracted, to focus on the temporary things: the perfect career, the biggest house, the next promotion.

But if you're anything like me, after being back from the field and going through the process of missionary discussions, the things that truly anchor you are the things that cannot be bought or lost: the covenants, the Spirit, and the deepening of your relationship with the Savior.

The Lord has given us a constant reminder about this—the principle of spiritual investment. It’s not about giving up on the world, but about correctly prioritizing it. He taught us that our focus needs to be on things that will last forever. When we talk about 'treasuring things in heaven,' we're talking about making sure that the investments we make today—the time spent studying scriptures, the courage to share a testimony, the willingness to serve in a difficult transfer—are investments that pay eternal dividends.

It’s Not About Gold, It’s About Grace

When we look at the passage, the Savior tells us to buy 'gold refined in fire' and 'white garments.' A lot of people, when they hear that, immediately think literal gold or literal clothes. But the context—and the Spirit—whispers a different message. This passage is a profound teaching on stewardship. It means that the currency we use isn't temporal wealth; it's our devotion, our effort, and our willingness to be faithful when it’s hard.

Every time we dedicate ourselves to the work—whether we are in the MTC, serving as companions, or simply having a Book Club discussion with a friend—we are engaging in a spiritual investment. We are polishing our own souls, refining them in the fires of commitment. These are the things that matter to the Brethren, and more importantly, they matter to God.

Your Disciple Life Is Your Field

One of the greatest gifts of the modern era is that we don't need to be physically in a mission field to be an Internet missionary. Our entire lives are fields. Our social circles, our workplaces, our families—these are all places where we can be disciples. This means we must constantly ask ourselves: *Where am I investing my energy?*

If we spend all our time and energy accumulating earthly status or comfort, we are spiritually poor, no matter how financially secure we are. But if we spend our time deepening our knowledge (like through HolyPlaces or a Bible Study Group), or if we dedicate ourselves to preparing others for the gospel, we are acquiring treasures that will never diminish.

The Savior's challenge isn't to deny the world, but to not let the world become our master. It’s a challenge to keep our priorities straight: the Kingdom of God always comes first.

A Mission-Prep Skill: The Spiritual Inventory

Today, I want to challenge you to perform a 'Spiritual Inventory.' Don't just list your possessions; list your *investments*. Where did you spend your time this past week? Did you spend it consuming content that distracts you, or did you invest it in something that helps you become more like Christ? Did you spend time with people who will draw you closer to the Savior, or people who will pull you away?

When you evaluate your week, look for the spiritual return. Did that time feel restorative? Did it help you testify of the plan of salvation? If the answer is yes, that was an investment in heaven. If the answer is draining and hollow, it was an investment in temporary earthly treasures.

Don't Let the Noise Distract You

If you feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of things to do—the calls, the curriculum, the preparation, the service—remember that the Spirit is the greatest guide. Don't try to be a perfect disciple; just be *present* in your discipleship. Be Christlike in the small, mundane moments. That's where the real refining happens.

If you want to dive deeper into the mechanics of how to answer the hard questions that come up in missionary discussions, I highly recommend spending some time with Davee. He's fantastic at walking you through the investigator's perspective and helping you formulate answers that are both truthful and deeply rooted in the Spirit. We've been working through some complex questions about eternal progression, and the clarity was amazing.

And for those of you who love deep study, check out the latest Book Club discussion on the covenants in LivingBook. Learning the deep truths of our Restoration is the ultimate spiritual investment.