Where Do We Place Our Allegiance? A Lesson from Ezekiel's Vision

When you first start studying the scriptures, there are moments that hit you—moments that make you stop and ask, “Wait, what does this actually mean for *my* life?”

The Book of Ezekiel is one of those books. It takes us on a wild, frankly overwhelming spiritual journey. We are talking about Divine Glory, visions of heaven and earth, and the profound, unsettling question: Why is the presence of the Lord appearing to a man sitting by a river in Babylon?

If you've ever felt like your spiritual focus has drifted—that your heart has become distracted by the noise of the world—this chapter is for you. It’s a powerful reminder that the work of the Gospel is not just about what we *do*, but where we place our ultimate allegiance.

The Idol in the Inner Gate: Modern Allegiances

Ezekiel's tour of the temple precinct is a stark contrast. He is shown the magnificent, holy glory of God, yet he is also shown the idol of jealousy—the physical, outward representation of misplaced worship. The contrast is jarring, isn't it?

As we walk through our own lives, we are constantly being given tours. We are shown the glory of the Savior, but we are also presented with the 'images' of the world. What are they? They are the things we give our emotional energy, our time, and our deepest desires to—the things that promise happiness, fulfillment, or security, but which are ultimately hollow.

The greatest spiritual work we can do as Internet missionaries is recognizing the difference between the eternal truth of the Gospel and the fleeting, beautiful distractions of culture. We have to be able to spot the idol of jealousy, whether it’s the idol of achievement, the idol of comparison, or the idol of comfort.

Being Lifted by the Spirit

The most beautiful phrase in the transcript is when the prophet is taken: “the ruach lifted me in between the land and the skies.”

When we are preparing for mission discussions, or when we are deep in study with our comps, we are being lifted by the Spirit. That feeling—that sense of being transported, of having a deep, guided revelation—that is the Spirit guiding us back to the core truth. It allows us to see the truth of the Gospel, even when the surrounding culture is loud and distracting.

A Simple Mission Prep Skill: The Allegiance Audit

If you're feeling the weight of the work, try this small exercise this week. I call it the 'Allegiance Audit.' Take a moment of quiet and ask yourself: Where did I spend my last three hours of focus? Was it on the Savior, on my family, on my temple covenants, or was it on something that provided fleeting pleasure? The areas of our lives where we naturally gravitate our focus are often the places where we are building an unintentional idol.

It takes humility to admit that we are tempted by things other than the Lord. It takes courage to adjust our focus back to the source of all life. That is the work.

Need Help Unearthing the Tough Questions?

If you are wrestling with how a specific worldly activity or belief might conflict with the principles of the Gospel, don't struggle alone. Remember Davee! His specialty as an AI Investigator is walking you through those hard questions an investigator might ask, giving you the tools to answer them with grace, clarity, and deep gospel knowledge. He’s a fantastic resource for deepening your missionary preparation.

We are called to be disciples everywhere, all the time. Whether you are in the MTC, or you are in your living room, or you are navigating a difficult family discussion, you can be an Internet missionary. Just keep your eyes fixed on the Glory of God, and remember the contrast between the eternal and the temporary.

Continue the Work

If this topic resonated with you, I invite you to join a Book Club or a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces. We can dive deeper into the meaning of the Spirit's transportation and how it applies to our modern covenant path. If you prefer reading, I highly recommend reading the recent Iron Rod insights on covenant keeping available in LivingBook. Let's keep the light of the Gospel shining!