SLIDELL SCROLLS: CHAPTER TEN

Hello from the Holy Land,

Ladies and Gentleman, as I am sure many of you have heard, an announcement has echoed across the land. Coming from the happiest place on Earth, Disneyland has just revealed that they will be implementing a new renovation to their park. This just in: due to immense baptismal potential in the holy land of Slidell, there will be a sporadic installment of a Louisiana division of, "Splash Mountain." Consecrated members and missionaries get in free. :) They're gonna have to catalyze construction, because I don't know if even an amusement park could contain all of our elect down here, they all have fast passes, and it doesn't look like the craze is ending anytime soon.... and with that, welcome my friends to the SLIDELL SCROLLS: CHAPTER TEN. 

I wasn't really in Slidell this week. Now some of you may ask, "well, homeboy Elder Boyd, isn't that your area? Wouldn't you be obligated to reside and labor within the boundaries of your holy land?" And to that, I would say, "why, yes random citizen, indeed that would be the truth." As I have said in previous scrolls, One of the many privileges of zone leadership is exchanges. I just love being given opportunity after opportunity to serve these wonderful missionaries, and exchange magic allows me to do just that. Now, as an exchange magician, I didn't just participate in one.... or a measly two exchanges... but we had a good ole THREEFER this past week- and so most of our scroll will be an accounting of the many miracles we experienced in three separate companionships...

There is a deep and abiding access to divinity that we all hold at the grasp of our fingertips... In one simple conversation with our Heavenly Father, we have an all-access pass to necessary revelation and a greater capacity for joy and His blessings. There is power in prayer. Our particular prayer this week was a desperate plea to find new people to teach. Due to our vacant area, we weren't entirely provided with the time to go out and knock some Slidell doors. Elder Cox and I had prayed about a goal for this week... and felt very strongly that eight was our answer from heaven. However, come Friday morning, we had only spent one full day in our area- and had zero progression on our goal. However, more than ever this week... I have learned that if God gives you an answer to a prayerful goal, he will provide a way for you to achieve it. Elder Cline was my companion for the day- such a wonderful Elder, whom I really look up to- and together we tackled our divine goal and embarked to find the elect. Throughout the day, i could feel God's hand guiding us in our decisions and efforts. We decided to be a little, "spontaneous" and try to visit some souls that we neither of us had ever met before. Each. Person. Was. Interested. Not only that, but some of our conversations went as follows...

"Hello sir, we're your local missionaries..."

...."I want to be baptized. Can you come back and teach my family? We've been praying for y'all to come, and I know this is a sign from God that I need to be baptized. 

I don't think even the word, flabbergasted can describe how I felt. And that's a great word. 

As we continued we enjoyed more elect conversations...

"Hello sir, we have a very special message that can bless your family..."

..."I've been waiting for y'all. I need to be baptized and I want my family to enjoy the blessings of the fullness of the Gospel." 

FLABBERGASTED I SAY.

It was a miracle of a day. And may it be said that in one day, we achieved our goal. And by the end of this week, God added his power to our efforts, and through our faith, we were able to find not eight... but eleven new people to teach. God is constantly aware of our situation. He knows if you're stuck in Mandeville for most of the week and you have gained no progress on your goal. He knows that you have the desire and qualify enough for the spirit to provide answers to your questions. When we give our lives over to God, we will find that he can make a lot more out our lives than we can. As I've tried to become more consecrated myself, cause ya know... I'm all about the free entry to Splash Mountain... I have found that everything I have given over to God, he has given back to me, just better. His hands are much greater than ours anyways, and the altar of sacrifice is really just a multiplier for our blessings and talents. This gospel is so good to the people who will embrace it and change because of it. 

So yeah, that was AWESOME! And this whole week can be wrapped up in that wonderful adventure... Prayer has power, God will provide, and consecration is really just God's way of seeing how far we are willing to go to become true disciples of Jesus Christ. 

On the other end of the spectrum... Mandeville is probably one of the higher class places in the South, so during my time down there, I was privileged to knock a few castle houses bigger than FHS. I've never seen so many garages in my life or been talked to through so many doorbells. Mandeville is definitely an acquired tracting taste... but I had the time of my life sharing this message with people who have their own transportation and access to the Gospel Library app! 

Well y'all, I made a lot of new friends this past week and learned a lot about myself and my individual part in this great work. I know that God is mindful of all of his children, and is constantly aware of your goals. He is just WAITING to give you answers to your questions and to consecrate your efforts for your gain. He, as we speak, is providing a way for you to accomplish every righteous endeavor you undertake... you need only ask for his help. The little boy Joseph Smith had to humble himself enough to pray out loud in a grove of trees... and we all know how his answer went. How much MORE anxious is God to answer our questions if we would just ask him in faith, nothing wavering? I know this Gospel is true. I know that God answers prayers. And I know that God, much like Elder Boyd, loves each and every one of you. Wish us luck this week, y'all... we about to pedal for five straight days in the Louisiana heat and humidity- but there is no greater work we could be doing, so have no need to fret. I hope y'all have a lovely week and see many mighty miracles as you pray and set goals in your life. HAVE A BLESSED ONE Y'ALL. ELDER BOYD LOVES YOU!!

Too hot, hot darn,

Elder Boyd

Weekly Facebook Post 

As two grown two-footers we are honored to be representatives of the restored church of Jesus Christ.

Y'all, I have come to recognize the fulfillment of what I like to call, "primary promises" as I've served for this short time in Louisiana. As children we sing...

"I hope they call me on a mission..."

"I'd love to see the temple, I'm going there someday..."

As we try our best every day, we eventually become what our Heavenly Father wants us to be. I have no regrets because every decision I have made, has lead to the fulfilling of these promises.

If today you are a little bit better than yesterday, than that's enough. And if tomorrow you are a little bit better than you were today, then that's enough.

You are enough.

And as you realize that and do your best every day, you too might grow a foot or two and fulfill all of the primary promises you have made to our Heavenly Father.

#LBRMSingingSunday
Ft: Elder Cox: One of the best two footers I know..

*Sadly, no pics this week.  I think Elder Boyd was super busy today.  I didn't hear too much from him today.  Always thankful for his letters, tho!!  <3
*EDIT: Something happened to Elder Boyd's phone service yesterday.   We now have pics!