The Unexpected Encounter: Finding the Living Miracle in Your Own Calling

Sometimes, when you’re deep in the work—maybe you’ve been studying for hours, or perhaps you just finished a tough missionary discussion—you feel like the Spirit has quieted down. You look around the room, or you look at the scriptures, and you’re waiting for the big, undeniable 'Aha!' moment. You're waiting for the miracle.

It’s easy, when we’re so focused on the magnitude of the gospel, to think that the Spirit’s confirmation has to look like a pillar of fire or a sudden, dramatic vision. But if we’ve been in the field, or if we’ve been through the MTC, we know that the Spirit often works in the quiet spaces—in the moments right after the tears dry up, or when we think we have no words left.

The account of Mary Magdalene on that Sunday morning is a profound reminder of this. She goes to the tomb, expecting one thing, and finds another. She sees the stone rolled away, and her initial reaction is pure, heartbroken confusion. She runs to Peter and the other disciple, but the truth she encounters isn't what she expected.

The Power of the Unseen

What strikes me most about this narrative, as we study it for our own missionary preparation, is the sequence of discovery. First, the empty linen cloths. Then, the realization that the burial shroud wasn't just left behind—it was *folded*. The evidence was there, but the understanding was not.

When we are in the process of learning to share the gospel, sometimes we are like those disciples: we see the evidence—the beautiful doctrines, the restored priesthood, the power of the Book of Mormon—but we haven't yet fully grasped the implication. We have the facts, but we need the Spirit to reveal the *meaning*.

And then, the encounter with the resurrected Christ. He doesn't appear in a blaze of glory that forces everyone to kneel. He appears when she is weeping, when she is focused on the loss. And when she finally sees Him, the recognition is so immediate, so profound, that her cry isn't just a greeting; it’s a declaration: “Master!”

Be Christlike in the Moment

This calls us back to the core of discipleship. To be an effective internet missionary, or even just to be a good disciple in your own home, isn't about having all the perfect answers memorized. It’s about recognizing the Savior when He appears—even if He appears disguised as a friend, or as a quiet prompting to study a certain passage.

The Lord tells His disciples, “Peace be with you, as the Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.” It’s a commissioning that echoes across time and space. It means that the authority, the power, and the Spirit that brought Him back to life are the same power He is lending to us today. We are sent to share the peace, the truth, and the knowledge of the Atonement.

My challenge to you this week, as you prepare for your next missionary discussion or as you ponder your own testimony, is to pay attention to the *quiet* moments. Where does the Spirit whisper confirmation when you least expect it? Don't wait for the dramatic revival; look for the gentle nudge toward scripture study, the unexpected kindness from a neighbor, or the clarity that comes after a challenging conversation. Those are the miracles that sustain us.

If you want to deepen your understanding of how these principles apply to modern discipleship, I highly recommend revisiting the teachings on the Atonement. Check out the latest readings on the Iron Rod in LivingBook. For those who want to discuss these concepts further, join a Book Club or a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces—it’s a wonderful place to wrestle with these questions together.

Remember, every member can be an internet missionary; every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time. Let’s keep sharing the light!