Waking Up to the Light: Carrying the Cross of the Gospel

There are times, especially after a long stretch of service or deep study, when the rhythm of the Spirit seems to settle into a comfortable, almost sleepy pattern. We know the call—the call to *wake up*. It’s the call that echoes in songs like this one, a powerful reminder that while we’ve seen the pain, we must never forget the hope that rises from our souls.

As returned missionaries, and as lifelong disciples serving in the field, we know that the gospel isn't a passive feeling; it's an active journey. It requires us to “take up our cross.” That cross isn't some grand, dramatic sacrifice; often, it’s the daily, quiet commitment to be more Christlike when it’s easier to just coast by.

When I was first in the MTC, I remember feeling overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the testimonies I needed to learn and deliver. I felt like I was carrying a mountain. I thought the cross was only for the *big* moments—the difficult conversations, the challenging investigator. But what I’ve learned now, years into this journey, is that the cross is carried in the small moments too: the patience required during a long missionary discussion, the humility needed to admit I don't know an answer, or the diligence required to study the scriptures when the Spirit feels quiet.

The song captures this beautifully: “Wake up... stand up... stand up for your dreamers.” For us, the dream isn't just a career or a comfortable life; it’s seeing the light of the restored Gospel shine into every corner of our lives. It’s realizing that every member can be an Internet missionary, every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time.

The Daily Cross: A Skill for Every Disciple

If you are feeling that spiritual slumber creep in, I want to give you a small, practical challenge—a mission-prep skill for the quiet times. I call it the “Five-Minute Testimony Anchor.”

1. Identify a core truth: Think of one simple, profound truth about the Plan of Salvation or the Atonement that always moves you.
2. Anchor it: Don't just *think* it; anchor it to a scripture passage you love (maybe one from the Book of Mormon or Doctrine and Covenants).
3. Practice the delivery: Spend five minutes speaking that truth out loud, as if you were preparing for a missionary discussion, but speaking it to yourself. Focus on *feeling* the words, not just reciting them.

This keeps the muscles of testimony strong. It reminds us that the power isn't in the words, but in the covenant connection we feel to the Savior.

We need to keep gathering Israel, and that starts with us waking up. It means moving past the performance of faith and into the deep, lived reality of discipleship. It means being willing to take up the cross of service, even when the spotlight isn't on us.

If this message resonates, I invite you to join a Book Club or a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces this week. These are wonderful places to dig deep into the scriptures together and help one another carry the weight of the gospel. Or, if you prefer a more one-on-one drill, I highly recommend working through a tough doctrinal question with Davee using the AI Investigator role. He’s fantastic at walking you through the hard questions an investigator might ask!

For deeper study on the covenants and the journey back to the light, I’ve bookmarked a few excellent resources in LivingBook—check out the recent readings on covenant keeping. Let’s keep shining that light together.