When the Soil is Hard: Keeping the Gospel Alive Through Trials

Brothers and sisters, if you’ve been in the field, or if you’ve been out here in the quiet work of discipleship, you know that the gospel isn't always preached into soft, fertile ground. Sometimes, the soil is rocky, or perhaps it’s hardened by disappointment. We’ve all been there—those seasons where life doesn't unfold according to the beautiful, perfect plan we’ve envisioned for ourselves.

It’s easy, when everything is going right—when the callings are smooth, the missionaries are enthusiastic, and the temple recommend process feels seamless—to feel spiritually robust. We can be so wonderfully *spiritual* when things are going well. But then, a setback hits. Maybe a personal goal falls through, maybe a relationship sours, or maybe just the sheer weight of the world feels too much to carry. Suddenly, we can feel ourselves slipping back into the old ways of thinking.

The message we’re wrestling with today, drawn from the deep well of scripture and reinforced by the Spirit, is this: How do we react when the soil around our hearts is hard? We can't afford to let bitterness take root. We can't let disappointment become a stumbling block that derails the beautiful work the Lord has placed before us.

The Trap of Complaint and Complaint

The scriptures warn us—and the Spirit gently reminds us—that when we face difficulty, it’s tempting to look outward and ask, "Why *me*?" It’s easy to feel unjustly treated, to feel *wronged*. We can get caught up in the feeling of being wronged, which the Lord warns can become a spiritual stumbling block—a "skandalon."

“We should be very careful about saying, ‘God, I attend church every week, I pay my tithe, and I do this and that.’ Because, friends, God owes us nothing.”

This truth is liberating, isn't it? We realize that our adherence to the *rituals* of the Church, while good, cannot earn us favor. What truly matters is the active, flowing love—the love that moves us to *act* on what we know to be true. Love, by definition, must flow; it cannot stagnate.

Active Discipleship: A Flowing Current

If discipleship is about channeling the Spirit, then stagnation is the enemy. We receive God’s love, and if we hoard it, if we let it get bogged down by our own hurts or disappointments, it loses its power. We have to pass it on. This is the core of being an internet missionary, whether you are in a different time zone or across the street from your home.

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught us that we must be prepared to teach, and the Spirit prepares us for that teaching. This preparation isn't just for the temple recommend interview; it's for every conversation, every family gathering, every time we are called to bear testimony.

✨ Mission Prep Skill: The 'Why' Behind the 'What'

When you are studying scripture, don't just memorize the verses. Ask yourself: "What does this verse *require* me to do differently today?" If you are studying the Book of Mormon, don't just know the narrative; identify one modern action you can take that mirrors the covenant keeping shown by the people in that book. Turn knowledge into *action*.

Remember, the goal isn't just to *know* the truth; it's to *live* the truth so deeply that it becomes part of your very being. That’s what it means to be a disciple anywhere, all the time.

If you feel yourself getting bogged down by the difficulties of the current season—the challenges in your ward, the struggles in your family, or the doubts creeping in—I invite you to lean into the power of community. We are here for each other. If you’re looking for deeper study, check out the Book Clubs or Bible Study Groups in HolyPlaces. If you just need a sounding board for those tough questions, I highly recommend running through a session with Davee—he's fantastic at walking through those hard questions an investigator might ask.