Making Jesus visible in a world of noise

It often starts small. A small plastic figurine sent by mail, a short message on Facebook, or a conversation at the coffee machine. But the question behind it is fundamental for us as followers of Christ: how do we make Him visible today? Not as a historical figure from a dusty past, but as a living force in a world dominated by algorithms, rapid notifications, and constant distraction.

As someone who works with technology daily, I see how the world around us becomes increasingly 'smaller' through connectivity, but paradoxically often also lonelier. We are always 'on,' but are we truly present?

The master of the moment

In the gospels, we see a pattern in Jesus' ministry that stands in stark contrast to our modern haste. Although He had a mission that encompassed all humanity, He never lost sight of the individual. Whether He spoke to thousands or was on His way to an urgent healing, He had the gift of stopping the world around Him for that one person.

Think of the woman who touched His garment in the crowd. Jesus was on His way to the house of Jairus, whose daughter was dying. The pressure must have been immense. Yet He stopped. He ignored the disciples' haste and the crowd's pressure to truly see and heal that one woman. For the Savior, the 'now' was never an obstacle to His mission; the 'now' *was* His mission.

A lesson from the other side: the principle of one by one

For us as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this principle is beautifully affirmed in the Book of Mormon. When the resurrected Lord visits the Nephites in the land Bountiful, we see a scene that reveals the essence of His character. In 3 Nephi 17, we read that He asks the multitude to bring their sick and afflicted to Him. He heals them, but the manner in which He does so is significant.

In verse 21 we read:

‘And when He had said these words, He wept, and the multitude bore witness of it, and He took their little children one by one and blessed them and prayed to the Father for them.’

This ‘one by one’ is the key. He could have pronounced a collective blessing over the entire group. That would have been more efficient, certainly by our modern standards of time management. But the Savior does not work with averages or target groups. He works with souls. By holding and blessing each child one by one, He showed that true love is always personal.

The bishop's view: from group to individual

In my own life, this principle gains an additional dimension through my calling as a bishop. In that role, I bear responsibility for an entire ward, a diverse group of people, each with their own challenges, joys, and needs. It is a task where you must constantly watch over the whole: the organization, the programs, and the spiritual well-being of the entire community.

Sometimes that responsibility feels too great, and the temptation is strong to think in 'systems' or 'groups' to keep the pressure manageable. But I have noticed that my ministry truly gains strength when I dare to narrow that broad view to the one person sitting in front of me. When we, as leaders, think about how we can help, my starting point is always: one individual at a time.

Even when I think about the needs of the ward, I try not to see an anonymous mass, but the face of that one brother or sister who struggles. If I wonder how we can better spread the Savior's love, I think of one specific person and how I can serve them at that moment. Because ultimately, you can only truly reach the entire group by never losing sight of the individual. It is the art of being the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine safely behind to search for that one sheep.

Making Christ visible in 2026

If we say we want to make Jesus visible in the world, then this means we must adopt His 'one by one' approach. In an age where we often communicate fragmented through screens, undivided attention has become a form of sacred ministry.

Going to church and living our lives during the week is important, but the true visibility of Christ arises in the moments when we dare to switch off the noise. When we put away our smartphone to truly look into the eyes of our neighbor. When in a meeting we not only listen to the facts, but also to the unspoken concerns of a colleague.

Making Jesus visible means that we try to be a mirror of His attention. It means that in a world crying out for attention, we choose the meekness of listening.

Our personal ministry

The figurine I send is just a symbol. We must be the real 'visible Jesus'. We are His hands, His voice, and His eyes in this modern age. The Book of Mormon teaches us that we must act as witnesses of God 'at all times and in all things and in all places' (Mosiah 18:9). That testimony is not always in grand words or deep doctrines, but often in the peace we radiate in a chaotic world.

Let us ask ourselves more often: who needs my 'one by one' attention today? Who in my environment feels invisible in the mass of the digital world? If we take the time for the individual, as the Savior did with the children in the land of Abundance, then He truly becomes visible. Then He is no longer a concept or a figurine on a shelf, but a living presence in our conversations, our deeds, and our community.