The Unfolding Light: Finding Love for Enemies in the Field

Brothers and sisters, sometimes I sit here, remembering the sheer intensity of the conviction people carry—convictions built over a lifetime, woven into the very fabric of their identity. You hear stories, you read accounts, and you think, 'How can someone change so profoundly? How does the Spirit do that?'

What struck me most recently, watching the testimony of Samar, was the sheer power of a single concept: the command to love your enemy. Samar described a life steeped in militant conviction, where the goal was to fight, to kill. It was a worldview built on opposition.

But then, the Spirit whispers, or perhaps, the Spirit speaks through a gentle invitation to read the Bible. Suddenly, the foundation shifts. She encounters Matthew 5:44—a teaching that seems, to her deeply ingrained framework, utterly contradictory to the tenets she held dear. How can a God demand love for those you are taught to hate?

The Power of the Scripture

This isn't just about reciting verses; it’s about the Spirit opening the heart to *understand* the truth. Samar didn't immediately convert; she was skeptical, armed with deep knowledge of her own tradition. But she took the book. She wanted to know what her 'enemy' believed. And that curiosity, that willingness to look, was the first act of discipleship.

This is what I keep coming back to when I think about our calling as Latter-day Saints. We are not supposed to win arguments; we are supposed to invite people into the light. We are called to be Christlike, and Christlike means showing that love even when the world around us screams the opposite. It requires humility, the willingness to be wrong, and the openness to be taught.

Discipleship in the Moment

Think about it: Samar went from a mindset of 'kill the enemy' to a place of profound confusion, questioning, and finally, peace. That confusion—that spiritual wrestling—is where the Spirit often works most powerfully. It’s the space between the old belief and the new understanding.

If you are currently feeling that friction in your own life—the place where your old habits clash with the teachings of the gospel—do not despair. That is often the Holy Spirit gently nudging you toward greater revelation. That is the work beginning.

As we continue to be called to be Internet missionaries, remembering this journey is vital. Our job isn't to debate every point of doctrine until exhaustion. Our job is to point people to the source of life—the restored gospel—and let the Spirit do the heavy lifting. We must model the peace, the joy, and the unconditional love that Samar eventually found.

A Bite-Sized Mission-Prep Skill: Embracing Confusion

My little challenge for you this week, my friends, is to embrace the 'confusion' in your own study. When you are studying scripture or discussing the gospel with someone, don't rush to the 'right' answer. Instead, pause. Ask yourself: 'What is the underlying conviction they are operating from, even if it's incorrect?' Then, gently ask, 'What if there was another way to understand that?' Meeting people where they are, even in their confusion, is where the Savior meets us.

This beautiful testimony reminds us that the greatest declarations of faith often follow the deepest moments of doubt. Let us keep gathering Israel, and let us keep inviting others to the peace found only in Jesus Christ.

If you're looking for more deep dives into doctrine and the nuances of scripture, I highly recommend revisiting the Iron Rod authors. Check out any recent articles on the nature of the Atonement in LivingBook. It’s a rich place to wrestle with these big questions.

If you want to keep this momentum going, join our next Book Club session in HolyPlaces this week! We’re diving into the Book of Mormon, and the discussions are building some powerful testimonies.