When the Questions Come: Finding Strength in Doubt on the Path to Zion

Brother, sister, friend—if you’ve ever found yourself staring into the vastness of your own questions, wondering how a loving God can allow suffering, or questioning the neat little answers we sometimes offer, then I need you to sit down right where you are. Take a deep breath. You are exactly where you need to be.

I remember my own early days in the field, right after my first few transfers. I thought I had the answers, the polished testimony, the perfect script for every investigator. I was so focused on *performing* the gospel, on being the perfect disciple, that I forgot the most important thing: that discipleship isn't about having all the answers; it’s about bringing the questions.

It’s so easy, when we’re zealous, to fall into what Pastor Craig calls “bumper sticker theology.” We hand out platitudes—*‘Everything happens for a reason,’* or *‘Just trust the process.’*—with the very best intentions, but sometimes, those words feel hollow when the pain is real, when the loss is profound, or when the spiritual questioning hits you right in the gut.

The truth we need to carry with us, especially as we become more active as internet missionaries, is that doubt doesn't disqualify you from the covenant path. In fact, confronting those deep, messy questions is often the very thing that leads us closer to the Savior.

This message from Life.Church really resonated with me because it spoke so plainly about the reality of questioning—whether it’s about a friend who walks away from the faith, or a moment when your own faith feels like it’s wobbling on the edge of a cliff.

The Benefit of Doubt

This isn't a time for platitudes; it’s a time for wrestling. It's a time to bring those hard questions—*‘Why do bad things happen to good people?’* or *‘Where is God when I’m hurting?’*—into the light, not to solve them instantly, but to examine them honestly. That vulnerability is where the Spirit can whisper the real truth.

If you are feeling that tug right now—that little whisper of doubt in the middle of a seemingly perfect Sunday service—please know that whisper is not the enemy; it’s your spirit trying to deepen its connection with the Savior. It means you are engaged in the work.

As we continue to build up our capacity to be disciples anywhere, all the time, we have to normalize this. We need to treat doubt not as a failure, but as a spiritual workout. It’s the resistance training for our testimonies.

If you’re looking for ways to process these deep theological waters, I highly recommend checking out the Benefit of Doubt Bible Plan linked in the video description. It’s a wonderful, gentle way to start that conversation with the Spirit.

For those of us who are in the process of missionary preparation, or those of us who are returned missionaries feeling the weight of teaching others, remember this: Our job isn't to be flawless theologians; our job is to be faithful disciples who know how to sit in the discomfort of the question alongside the investigator. We point them to the Book of Mormon, we point them to the scriptures, and most importantly, we point them back to the Savior’s Atonement.

If you want to practice navigating these tough conversations, I encourage you to join our next study session. We’re diving deep into the scriptures in HolyPlaces this week, and we’ve got a Book Club scheduled that is perfect for working through difficult passages together. It’s a safe space to wrestle!

Keep leaning on the Spirit, brothers and sisters. Keep asking the hard questions. That’s how we grow into the disciples the Lord desires.