Disciples Go Deep
Disciples Go Deep
President Quinn’s Weekly Message
California Santa Rosa Mission
March 17th, 2025
Several years ago, between my junior and senior years in high school, I was hired by a neighbor to dig a three-foot-deep, 150-foot-long ditch for the foundation of a retaining wall in his backyard. The wall required a deep and solid foundation because of the load that would be placed behind it once the landscaping for the yard was completed. I needed the money, so I accepted the job.
From my first shovel of dirt, I realized this was going to be a difficult job. The ground was hard from years of being baked in the hot Utah sun. The ground contained numerous rocks, small and large, hidden just below the surface. A job that I thought would take me a week, ended up taking me several weeks. Slowly, one shovel and pick swing at a time, I dug the long and deep foundation. There were days I saw little progress as I struck rock after rock. It was July in Utah, so I worked under a hot sun. At times I questioned whether I had the strength and the will to complete this enormous task. After several days and much effort, I completed the job. I knew for myself by the blisters on my hands and soreness in my muscles, how much work is required to dig a deep and solid foundation.
The Savior taught the need for each of us to dig a deep spiritual foundation:
“Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6: 47-49
From your first day in the mission, Sister Quinn and I have invited you to “go deep” in building and strengthening your discipleship to Jesus Christ – the rock spoken of in the verses above. Building your spiritual foundation requires daily focused, consistent, and determined effort – just as digging the foundation for my neighbor required of me.
In his most recent conference address, President Nelson taught us the importance of our personal discipleship:
“Now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority.”
President Nelson leaves no questions as to what our priority in life should be – our discipleship to Jesus Christ. It is for this reason Sister Quinn and I have selected the motto “Disciples Go Deep” for CASRM. What are you doing to deepen your discipleship to Jesus Christ?
These is no greater treasure you can take home from your mission than a growing and lifelong commitment to your discipleship to Jesus Christ.
I testify that as you build your spiritual foundation on the rock of Jesus Christ you will have the spiritual strength to withstand the temptations, doubts, and discouragement that may arise in your life. Please remember the lesson from the scripture I shared with you this interview cycle (1 Nephi 18:2) – building our lives after the manner the Lord instructs is much better than after the “manner of men.”
I bear my personal witness that your discipleship to Jesus Christ will provide the greatest strength, love, perspective, and joy available in this life and the next. Sister Quinn and are grateful to be on this shared journey of discipleship with you.
Love,
President Quinn
(630) 881-4030
