What is the most efficient way to grow spiritually? If asked that question in the past, I probably would have started creating a list of gospel to-dos (such as service, temple attendance, scripture study) and then tried to narrow the list down to my final answer.

But after listening to a Magnify podcast episode with Latter-day Saint Carrie Skarda I have completely changed my mind. I am now convinced that incorporating stillness into my gospel life is the most productive thing I can do.

Carrie is a psychologist and the author of The Power of Stillness. On the Magnify podcast, she discussed how our society is very geared toward productivity. This can affect our spiritual lives because we assume we need to go, go, go in order to be doing the right thing.

“But sometimes the most productive thing we can do is to just be still,” Carrie says. “It’s to just stop and receive that gift of connection with the Spirit or with God that He invites us into all the time. We don't think of that as being productive, but it may be the most effective thing to do for our spiritual growth.”

So rather than adding to our gospel to-do list, we can focus on finding moments of stillness in what we are already doing as Latter-day Saints. From temple attendance to prayer, stillness is built into the gospel—the structure is already in place.

I love how Carrie puts it: “[An] attitude of stillness and mindfulness brings a richness back into my gospel life and my religious practice that allows me to feel more satisfied and full from it. So it’s not necessarily about doing something differently. Mindfulness isn’t a substitute for scripture reading or sacrament attendance or temple attendance or Come, Follow Me study.

“It brings a new way of approaching those religious practices that allows us to be more nourished by them.”

We can focus more on connecting with God while reading the scriptures, and less on completing a set of chapters. We can train our usually overstimulated brain to appreciate the quiet of the temple, even if that quiet is sometimes uncomfortable to sit in at first. We can silence notifications during the sacrament ordinance and think about the Savior’s sacrifice.

Finding spiritual stillness can also come in bite-sized portions: taking a deep breath and expressing gratitude to God for something in your life. Sharing a one-liner of testimony or encouragement to a friend. Or taking a moment to think a positive thought about another person.

Pondering stillness naturally leads me to think of Elder David A. Bednar’s recent general conference talk, “Be Still, and Know That I Am God.” The very title of his talk emphasizes the blessings of stillness—through being still we come to know God.

“The principal purposes of sacred time and holy places are exactly the same: to repeatedly focus our attention upon Heavenly Father and His plan, the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement, the edifying power of the Holy Ghost, and the promises associated with the sacred ordinances and covenants of the Savior’s restored gospel,” Elder Bednar says.

So every gospel “to-do” I have is meant to help me focus on the Savior. My gospel life is not a checklist to complete but a nourishing lifestyle designed to help me experience stillness so that I can come to know God.

And the consequences of coming to know God are too good to miss. As Elder Bednar says, “I promise that as we build the foundation of our lives on the ‘rock’ of Jesus Christ, we can be blessed by the Holy Ghost to receive an individual and spiritual stillness of the soul that enables us to know and remember that God is our Heavenly Father, we are His children, Jesus Christ is our Savior, and we can be blessed to do and overcome hard things.”

To learn more about how stillness can bless your life, see the links below:

▶ Expert tips for enjoying spiritual stillness—no matter what’s on your plate
► Does your mind wander while you’re praying? You’re not alone (and why that’s OK)
▶ The quote about eternal progression bringing me an incredible sense of peace

You can listen to the full episode of Magnify on your favorite streaming platform, or in the player below.

The Power of Stillness

Using Latter-day Saint vernacular and examples, The Power of Stillness explores ways in which mindfulness can help deepen our conversion to the gospel. Infusing our homes with more stillness, silence, and space can reinvigorate the joy inherent in our faith and help us feel calmer, more present and engaged in our lives, and more spiritually connected to our Savior.

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