Noise Canceling Faith: What Matters Most

Just Listen: The Power of Blocking Out the Noise

A few days ago, I found myself at Young Men's camp, surrounded by the usual chaos—laughter, music, the crackle of a fire, and the constant hum of conversation. In the middle of it all, I slipped in my AirPods and turned on noise canceling. Instantly, the world faded. The noise was still there, but it no longer reached me. I could focus on what was right in front of me.

Noise-canceling headphones work by detecting the sounds around us and creating sound waves that cancel them out. It's a little miracle of technology—one that lets us choose what we want to hear and what we want to tune out.

Quiet Confidence: Choosing What Matters Most

Our lives are full of noise, too. For youth today, the noise is relentless—social media, sports, school, friends, family, expectations, doubts. Not all of it is bad, but it can be overwhelming. At camp, I watched as the young men in our ward and stake made a choice. They left behind friends, sports, and the comforts of home. I'm sure not all of them were thrilled to be there. But as they figuratively blocked out the noise, something changed. They grew closer to each other—and to the Savior.

The theme of our camp was "Keeping Covenant." My favorite moment (aside from the metal can in the fire blowing up and nearly taking Luke Reich's leg off) was the faith walk. We walked a path, stopping to hear stories from members of the stake about the attributes of Christ. At the end, we gathered as a ward to share testimony. For many, it was a rare moment to feel the Holy Ghost—a chance to learn and grow closer to the Savior. I'm grateful for the leaders and parents who made it possible for these young men to cancel out the regular noise of the world and focus on what matters most.

The Friend Effect: Why We Need Each Other

I'm reminded of a story about my dad and a young man in his ward. My dad noticed this young man was always alone at church. Instead of letting him slip through the cracks, my dad made a point to sit with him, talk with him, and make him feel seen. Over time, that simple act of friendship changed everything for that young man. Sometimes, the best way to help someone block out the noise is just to be there—to be a friend.

Reflection

What noise do you need to cancel in your life to focus on what matters most? Who around you might need a friend to help them do the same?