Therefore, What? When Knowing Isn’t the Same as Becoming

Therefore, What? A Lesson I’m Still Learning

There’s this quiet little question that’s been sitting with me all week, and I can’t shake it. It’s not loud. It doesn’t demand attention. But it lingers. It lingers in my thoughts during traffic. It shows up in conversations, and it whispered to me while I sat in the chapel at the temple this week.

“Therefore, what?”

President Boyd K. Packer used to ask this question-a soft challenge, really-after someone would speak or teach. “Therefore, what?” As if to say, Okay, you’ve said the words. You’ve shared the insights. You’ve made your point… but now what does it actually change?

It pierced me a bit. Because I think I’ve had seasons in my life where I’ve known a lot of truth. I’ve listened to all the devotionals. I’ve posted the quotes. I’ve even taught the lessons…sometimes with tears, because it felt so real and right. But then Monday came. And I was impatient with my husband. Or I scrolled endlessly instead of praying. Or I said “yes” to something I didn’t mean just to avoid disappointing someone. Again.

It’s not that I don’t believe. It’s that sometimes I forget to live like I do.

I remember a few months ago, sitting in the temple, asking for answers. I had this big decision hanging over me. And I wanted God to give me some grand vision or heavenly download…anything that felt concrete. Instead, the quiet thought that came was, You already know enough. Just do the next right thing you’ve been avoiding. Oof. It wasn’t new. It wasn’t profound. It was painfully simple.

It was my therefore, what? moment.

I think of the Savior, how often His teachings ended with invitation. Action. “Go thy way and sin no more.” “Come, follow me.” “Sell all you have and give to the poor.” He didn’t just preach comfort-He preached transformation.

And I wonder how often I’ve wanted the comfort without the change.

That’s hard to admit. Especially as someone who loves to encourage others. I want to be a woman who lives aligned, who practices what she teaches, who doesn’t just post about grace and forgiveness, but actually offers it. Even when it’s inconvenient. Even when it’s slow and hard and unnoticed.

So lately, I’ve been trying to catch myself in the little daily sermons. You know, the quiet ones. The nudge to put my phone down during dinner. The choice to listen instead of defend. The moment where I want to criticize, but the Spirit whispers, Try compassion first.

Not perfectly. Not even consistently yet. But more often.

Because if all I do is know, and I never become-then what was the point?

So I’m carrying this question with me:

You’ve heard the truth. You believe the doctrine. You’ve felt the Spirit.

Therefore… what?

And maybe you’re in a season like I’ve been. One where it’s easier to say the right thing than to live it. If that’s you, just know-I’m right there beside you. And I think heaven is a lot less interested in how eloquently we speak, and a lot more interested in how humbly we walk.

Let’s try again today. Not because we have to prove anything. But because what we believe actually matters.

And when it does? It changes everything.

Even if only a little at a time.